A lot of birders don't bother with gulls. I get it, If they aren't stealing your lunch they're confounding you with the near impossibility of distinguishing between species unless you are dealing with breeding adults and sometimes not even then. But, they are fascinating creatures, and worth the effort to get to know. If I hadn't started paying attention, I wouldn't even have known that these small, beautiful Bonaparte's Gulls come and visit us this time of year.

#bonapartesgull #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birdphotography #explorebc #canada #birdingbc #vogel #oiseau

Spotted Towhees are very common here, and we have them year round, but you don't need to be rare to win my heart. I love these guys.

#spottedtowhee #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birdphotography #explorebc #canada #birdingbc #vogel #oiseau

I don't know what his friend said to this Song Sparrow before he scooted off, but apparently it was quite shocking.

#songsparrow #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birdphotography #explorebc #canada #birdingbc #vogel #oiseau

I met this Savannah Sparrow a few days ago in very non-savannah conditions - the end of a jetty two miles into the ocean during a brief break in the rain.

#savannahsparrow #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birdphotography #explorebc #canada #birdingbc #vogel #oiseau

If there is bird out there that is poised to take over the world. it's Starlings. There are plenty of other birds out there who are smart enough, crows come to mind, but Starlings aren't just smart, They're devious, ruthless, and dressed to kill.

#starlings #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birdphotography #explorebc #canada #birdingbc #vogel #oiseau

Another reason I love this time of year - Surf Scoters!!! They are like cartoons come to life!

#surfscoter #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birdphotography #explorebc #canada #birdingbc #vogel #oiseau

A brief bird break, so I can introduce this river otter, both because he's a fine fellow and because he scared away the gulls I was trying to photograph.

#riverotter #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #explorebc #canada #birdingbc

In my experience, Pacific Wrens have two modes. They either hide. so deeply inside a shrub or a bush or a really dense tree so that even though you can hear them perfectly, you will never even catch a glimpse of them. Or they find a spot of perfect light with a beautiful soft background and and toss out one perfect pose after the next.

#pacificwren #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birdphotography #explorebc #canada #birdingbc #vogel #oiseau

Cooper's Hawks crack me up. They maybe fearsome predators, but they always look like they just remembered they're supposed to be someplace else.

#coopershawk #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birdphotography #explorebc #canada #birdingbc #vogel #oiseau

I wish I could puff myself up like this House Sparrow. I'm not sure if he was preparing for a job interview, or perhaps going to confront a noisy neighbour, but it's clearly a handy skill to possess.

#housesparrow #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birdphotography #explorebc #canada #birdingbc #vogel #oiseau