Bird watching: barn swallow
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions a nice sighting. When I was a kid, I only noticed tree swallows. Perhaps other kinds were around, but tree swallows were all I saw. Visiting a farm the other day, my son and …
Category: bird watching
Bird watching: daytime owl call
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions a call he heard. Bird watchers will naturally love the spring because there is so much action. Birds are singing from trees, flying in front of you as you walk…they’re ubiquitous, and trying to …
Bird watching: hawk by the road
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions a sighting. As a passenger in a car driving along a highway today on Vancouver Island, I spotted a hawk with a red-banded breast perched in a tree. The tree might have been an …
Bird watching: California quail
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions California quail. Nanaimo is a place where, be it flora or fauna, you might see something unexpected. With its mild climate, so many exotic things can live here – such as the California quail. …
Bird watching: song sparrow, part II
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor brings up a favourite. Birds seem to reach out to me sometimes. Perhaps, on the other hand, it’s just that I listen more closely to them. It surprises me to think how I must’ve ignored …
Bird watching: varied thrush, continued
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor is happy to announce that the varied thrush is back. Especially this time of year, the varied thrush is recognizable by its song: a long single note that might continue for five seconds of more. …
Bird watching: why do birds sing in autumn?
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions autumn singing. We’ve had a rainy, stormy fall — hard to believe, and somewhat of a relief, after the past summer’s unbelievable heat. However, between the rainy, stormy episodes have been a few nice …
Bird watching: barred owl, part 0
Self-tutoring about owls: the tutor mentions an encounter. Barred owls didn’t live on Vancouver Island until, depending whom you ask, the 60s, 70s, or 80s. However, they may be the most common owl here now. I’ve had four encounters with …
Bird watching: the kingbirds: some irony
Self-tutoring about the kingbirds found in Canada: the tutor makes an ironic observation. Most people likely agree that, in Canada, Vancouver Island is close to as far west as one can go. Yet, the eastern kingbird lives here, but not …
Bird watching: red-breasted nuthatch, part II
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor continues about the red-breasted nuthatch. Continuing from yesterday’s post, I want to talk more about the red-breasted nuthatch’s voice. The commanding, repeating tone it makes that’s rather like an alarm from a timer has been …