Vancouver Bound

Not that more than a handful of people read this anymore, and I am grateful for all of you, my musings now, are mostly for myself these days.  I am heading west, once again, to Vancouver, kidney stone and stent firmly in place, reminding me every day that my July 10 surgery to have the infernal device removed, along with the stone, can't come too soon.  I must admit I am reluctantly getting used to it, if one could ever get used to back spasms every time one has to go pee.  In fact, I was able to spend a whole day birding west if Toronto last week, in Happy Valley, Luther Marsh and the 16 Mile Creek Boardwalk.  

My targets for the day, though not lifers, were birds I hadn't seen this year and really wanted to get photographs of.  Last year at Happy Valley Conservation Area, I heard, saw and did not photograph the Acadian Flycatcher.  This year, I heard, hardly saw and did not photograph the Acadian Flycatcher.  So I am 2 for 2 on that count.  Better luck is hoped for next year.

Next I headed to Luther Marsh, somewhere in the middle of nowhere.  I only found it with the help of a 

GPS and actually had no idea where I was.  However, I did know approximately where the Dickcissel had been seen, only a few miles from where I found one last year.  Perhaps it was even the same bird returning.

As I stalked the fields, another birder was just on his way out and assured me it was there, as he had heard and photographed it.  And good as his word, within minutes I was hearing it sing, though not exactly as it sounded in my iBird app, but close enough.  It moved about, alighting atop some low bushes and allowed me time to listen, and photograph this lovely bird.  I had photographed a female last year, but not the male.  So, it was fun, stalking and watching the bird for about half an hour.

I then made my way to Oakville where a Cerulean Warbler had been reported just that morning.  By then I was starting to tire, as I have while living with a stent in me, and was not rewarded with that particular blue and white bird.  I thought for a moment I had seen a flash of blue and white, but it turned out to be a Blue Jay.  I finished off with a stop at Colonel Sam for a good look at the baby Grebes and the mom and dad first year Orchard Orioles.  It was a good day and my first full day of birding since this whole kidney stone saga began.

Work has since taken me to Bluefield, WV, where I found my annual Carolina Chickadee in its usual spot behind the Bluefield Blue Jays ball park.  Now, I am on my way to Vancouver, via Charlotte NC and Chicago IL, for a visit to the Vancouver Canadians, the Toronto Blue Jays lone Canadian farm team.  I am staying, as I usually do, an extra day, and hope to add one or two lifers to the North American ABA list, including the elusive Black Swift.  Sure wish I had time and money to head up to Anchorage again.  That was a trip I'll never forget and hope to repeat one day soon.