Approaching White Lake on my yearly pilgrimage to the BC interior, I was greeted by this sign. The Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory is located close to the lake – it was incredibly liberating to bird without a phone or camera, using only a notebook. Photographs never capture the reality of birds: the Bullock’s Orioles I saw glowed a smouldering amber illuminated from within by a flame of golden-apricot.

Nighthawk Hill

I love the coast, but the antelope-brush & sage-brush grasslands of interior BC are one of my favourite places – most people in Vancouver are unaware we have a xeric shrubland biome only a few hours drive away.

Grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems on our planet, yet receive scant attention: old-growth forests are easy to comprehend, but few of us think about old-growth grasslands. Our primate brains and maniacal culture see only empty fields that could host parking lots and big-box stores.

I didn’t get many great photos on my trip, but here’s a selection.

Chipping Sparrow

A Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) at E.C. Manning Park.

Pygmy Nuthatch

I fell in love with these birds – Pygmy Nuthatchs (Sitta pygmaea)! So small, so cute.

Clark’s Nuthatch

I’ve been trying to find this bird for a few years, and I was shocked to stumble across one at Nighthawk Hill.

Yellow-breasted Chat

What incredible weirdos! Take a listen to their song.

American Three-Toed Woodpecker

On my way back home, I stopped again at E.C. Manning park – near the parking lot I heard some drumming in the trees. I expect to find a Downy Woodpecker, but instead I found a pair of Three-Toed Woodpeckers (Picoides dorsalis)!

Mountain Bluebird

These male Mountain Bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) are surreal to see – the blue is almost unnatural.

American Kestral

A male American Kestral (Falco sparverius) in a rain shower at Swan Lake near Princeton, BC.

Brewer’s Sparrow

I know New World Sparrows (Passerellidae) don’t get many folks excited. It’s too bad, as they’re a remarkable family with many extremely widespread and successful species (like Song Sparrows and Fox Sparrows). I’ll admit that this Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri) took me some time to ID after the fact.

Lark Sparrow

Lark Sparrows (Chondestes grammacus) are wonderful to see (and hear). They are the only species in their genus, too.

Vesper Sparrow

Finally, a Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) – a somewhat nondescript sparrow, except for the two conspicuous outer white tail feathers.

That’s a quick summary of my trip. Tomorrow I start the first day of gull nest observation, so expect to see weekly updates from now…

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