Best of 2019 Part 5 - September and October

As the year wore on I started restricting my outings to Point Roberts and the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Ladner. The cheaper gas and Lighthouse Marine Park were the attractions for the Point. From there,  Reifel was a short drive away after crossing the border back into Tsawwassen.

September 2019

I don't see many small birds at Lighthouse Marine Park in Point Roberts, but on the 2nd there were  House Finches present. I looked closely at the photos hoping that these were Purple Finches, but the head shape and colours made me decide they were House Finches.

House Finches - Lighthouse Marine Park, Point Roberts WA - September 2, 2019

I mentioned in an May post that I'd seen a Warbling Vireo in my backyard. Here's the photo proof. This was a first for my yard, possibly a bird migrating southward.


Warbling Vireo - Backyard, North Delta BC - September 4, 2019

It was also time for shorebirds to migrate south. Here's a Greater Yellowlegs at Reifel preparing for the journey.

Greater Yellowlegs - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Ladner BC

September 8, 2019

On the same day I took this shot of a collection of shorebirds at Reifel. The image is cropped for effect. The birds with the reddish caps are Dowitchers, the others are Yellowlegs.

Dowitchers and Yellowlegs - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Ladner BC - September 8, 2019

I visited Point Roberts as well on the 8th and got a couple of good shots there. Here's an adult and an immature Glaucous-winged Gull looking for food on the rocky shoreline.

Glaucous-winged Gulls - Lighthouse Marine Park, Point Roberts WA - September 8, 2019

I occasionally see Kestrels in Point Roberts, this one was right over the park.

American Kestrel - Lighthouse Marine Park, Point Roberts WA

September 8, 2019

We have a Bewick's Wren in our yard year round. It's more often heard than seen. I got lucky on this day to get a shot in our front yard Lilac bush.

Bewick's Wren - Front yard, North Delta BC - September 10, 2019

Back in Point Roberts, here's a shot of Cormorants perched on the pilings at LHMP. There's usually a mix of Pelagic and Double-crested there.

 

Cormorants - Lighthouse Marine Park, Point Roberts WA - September 14, 2019

Another permanent resident in our yard is the Downy Woodpecker. They feed on the suet we put out and will also eat Sunflower hearts at our seed feeder.

Downy Woodpecker - Backyard, North Delta BC - September 24, 2019

And finally, a few more shots from Point Roberts towards the end of the month.

Northwestern Crows - Lighthouse Marine Park, Point Roberts WA - September 28, 2019

Sanderling - Lighthouse Marine Park, Point Roberts WA - September 28, 2019

Harlequin Ducks - Lighthouse Marine Park, Point Roberts WA - September 29, 2019

And finally, a Loon quite close to shore.

Common Loon - Lighthouse Marine Park, Point Roberts WA - September 29, 2019

October 2019

Not quite as many shots for this month, locations are either Point Roberts or Reifel.

Here's a comparison between the adult and first winter White-crowned Sparrow, both at Point Roberts.

White-crowned Sparrow - Lighthouse Marine Park, Point Roberts WA - October 5, 2019

White-crowned Sparrow (Imm) - Lighthouse Marine Park, Point Roberts WA - October 5, 2019

Another Yellowlegs photo at Reifel, almost an action shot. I think these are all Greater.

Greater Yellowlegs - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Ladner BC - October 12, 2019

And finally two birds offshore at Point Roberts on a sunny October day.

Common Loon - Lighthouse Marine Park, Point Roberts WA - October 27, 2019

Red-breasted Merganser - Lighthouse Marine Park, Point Roberts WA - October 27, 2019

That's it for September and October, one more post to go.