Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: Dinusaur on August 28, 2015, 09:43:41 PM

Title: West Coast Bird Id
Post by: Dinusaur on August 28, 2015, 09:43:41 PM

Just came back from a vacation in Vancouver and Lake Louise. Though it was mostly a sight seeing vacation, I did take my traveling lens (Nikon 80-400) with me just in case. Well, in between I took a few shots here and there. Please help with the ID of the following. I have given my initial impression. Thanks in advance.

1. Male Oregon Dark-eyed Junco? Saw it at Grouse Mountain in Vancouver. Initially I thought of it as a Towhee.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/638/20776154910_03e0de9590_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xDVe2q)

2. Some kind of Shearwater? Seen during a whale watching trip in between Vancouver and Victoria
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/770/20937911466_946e77e195_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xUdgBy)

3. Western Gull? Seen during a whale watching trip in between Vancouver and Victoria.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/670/20964157375_64111820a4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xWwMBe)

4. Rhinoceros Auklet? Seen during a whale watching trip in between Vancouver and Victoria.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5624/20964149985_7935b0457a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xWwKpP)

5. Dare I guess 1st winter Heermann's Gull? Seen during a whale watching trip in between Vancouver and Victoria.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5816/20777489049_53a6ca40d4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xE34BP)

6. Yellow-rumped Warbler? Lake Louise.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/636/20964059545_97310c7172_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xWwhwv)

7. A white-throated sparrow? Lake Louise.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5693/20341549554_1ff1684c15_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wZvKZC)

8. White-throated Sparrow - tanned variety? Lake Louise.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/666/20964099855_cf59e46cd1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xWwuvv)

9. Probably a juvenile of the same bird as in 37?
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/567/20776036470_8a70b59176_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xDUBPm)

10. Juvenile Herring gull? Sorry no legs to show.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5697/20342029464_425b0d8124_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wZydDW)

Title: Re: West Coast Bird Id
Post by: thouc on August 29, 2015, 10:26:48 AM

I'm not so familiar with the West Coast birds, but I take a stab at it.

1. Yes, Oregon Junco.
2. Common Murre
3. Yes, I think you are right, Western Gull.
4. Yes, Rhinoceros Auklet.
5. Could be a Herring Gull (not dark enough for Heerman's)
6. Yes, Yellow-rumped Warbler of the Audubon variety.
7,9. Not sure about these juvenile Sparrows.
8. White-crowned Sparrow
9. The lack of dark wing tips make me think juv. Glaucous-winged Gull.

Title: Re: West Coast Bird Id
Post by: winz on August 29, 2015, 11:16:42 AM

3. Could it be Glaucous-winged Gull?  Western Gull has black wingtips.  Do you have another photo showing more of the wingtips ?

Title: Re: West Coast Bird Id
Post by: thouc on August 29, 2015, 11:34:21 PM

Could be Glaucous-winged, it might be the lighting making the mantle look darker.

Title: Re: West Coast Bird Id
Post by: Dinusaur on August 30, 2015, 10:03:14 PM

Not sure if these additional photos will be of any help to id the gull definitely. They were all sitting on a rock together with a bunch of juveniles and cormorants. I have no flight shot of any.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/593/20833019669_cc623163b0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xJWEWi)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/564/20399087243_762cf43253_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/x5ADWK)