I chose that date as the migration of shorebirds would be in full swing and the tides high enough to force the flocks off the foreshore into Reifel's ponds. Fortunately I just happened to be booked in Tuesday September 8. Prior to mid-March one could just turn up at the sanctuary and bird away. Due to Covid19 I and others had to book visits beforehand. That's what happened to me a few weeks ago during a visit to Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta. Most often when a rare species is found word spreads quickly. It's still there as I write a week later. For many, the Brunswick Point ATFL was a lifer. That bird was found by Grant Edwards who shared his find via the BC Rare Bird Alert allowing numerous other birders to get on the bird. Over the last ten years I have only seen two myself including one a few nights ago at Brunswick Point. In birding parlance the ATFL was a "really, really good bird" occurring in the Lower Mainland perhaps once or twice every couple of years. I wouldn't be the first bird I would miss but that's just one of the many aspects that makes birding so fascinating. I and others tried for Colin's bird but we all dipped. He couldn't have been happier to share his find with others in the birding community. As it turned out a few weeks later, Colin found and photographed an Ash-throated Flycatcher (ATFL) while on one of his regular walks at Colony Farm. John with Canada Jay/Photo Carlo GiovanellaĪ few months ago, fellow birder Colin Classen and I were chatting about finding rarities, the ones that turn up once or twice a year or in extreme cases once in a decade. Please keep this in mind when you read the article.įollow the link below to read the whole story. *Note: Since the article was published just a few weeks ago cases of Covid-19 have begun to rise and the health authorities are asking everything to take even more precautions. To those I I urge you to get out on your own, with your family unit or in a safe group and take walk in the forest, listen to the birds, take a very deep breath, relax and try to put everything into perspective. Nature is perfect and it will see us all through these uncertain times. I've met many who are despondent and are having a tough time with the isolation. We have had numerous walks around the Lower Mainland and we even have some new faces attending. One example is the Langley Field Naturalists, other groups are also offering walks that follow strict social distancing and health protocols. Despite the current situation with Covid-19 many groups and clubs are still offering opportunities for seniors and others to get out in a responsible manner. Birding has seen a huge spike in popularity in recent years among all age groups but particularly seniors. A few weeks ago Black Press contacted me about an article they were putting together about birding for seniors.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |