Friday 28 September 2012

Last of the summer spiders

As Autumn approaches, the spiders are making a noticeable presence in our hedgerows and around the garden. Here are a few seen today in my back garden and nearby hedge:

Steatoda bipunctata

Zygiella x-notata - very rusty coloured individual
Araneus diadematus
I noticed the little zebra spider salticus senicus is still jumping around on the wall of my house when the sun's out too.

Saturday 15 September 2012

A few pics...

Well, I didn't get any time to go birding in Canada as my work schedule was very tight. However, I did manage to see a few things on my travels (1200 miles in 6 days) and below are a few of the photos and record shots I managed to get.

Western Gull, Juvenile - English Bay, Vancouver

Western Gull, Juvenile - English Bay, Vancouver

Pelagic cormorant, Vancouver
1st winter Ring-billed Gull, Vancouver


California Gull, Vancouver

California Gull, Osoyoos, BC (also next 2)



Glaucous-winged Gull, Vancouver

2nd winter Glaucous-winged Gull, Vancouver

2nd winter Glaucous-winged Gull

Juvenile Glaucous-winged Gull, Vancouver

Clarke's Nutcracker, BC

Brewers Blackbird, male, Osoyoos

Brewers Blackbird, Osoyoos

Northern Flicker, Osoyoos


Western Tanager, Osoyoos

Gray Jay, BC

Gray Jay, BC

Say's Phoebe, Vernon


Juvenile California Gull

Ring-billed gull, Osoyoos


record shot of female red-winged blackbird

Cassin's Finch

Cassin's Finch

Least chipmunk - well marked for a western one

Red Squirrel

Black bear - best photo I could get!

Saturday 8 September 2012

Beautiful British Columbia

The weather here is great. Since arriving it hasn't dropped below 26 degrees. Birds have included:
California gull
Ring-billed gull
Western gull
Glaucous-winged gull
Great blue heron
Northern flicker
Sage thrasher
Bald eagle
Golden eagle
Northern Harrier
Tree swallow
Varied thrush
Pine siskin
Clarke's nutcracker
Stella's jay
Gray jay
Osprey
Turkey vulture
Red-tailed hawk
Merlin
Western tanager
Brewers blackbird
Red-winged blackbird
American robin
Fox sparrow
Common nighthawk
American coot
Red-breasted nuthatch
Red-necked grebe
American black tern
Cassin's finch
'Oregon' junco
And a black bear.
Not bad considering I haven't had a chance to go birding!
More to follow...