Flicker Dad

Just  fed  his  young  ones.

Yellow bellied sap sucker

This moment of good fortune  was like a gift. He was probably curious about me. My white patterned shirt may have seemed like a thick birch bark so he had to come close, and then I turned around. He didn't stay long. Only three shots. TG

Momma Flicker

She  delivered  food  and  is  about  to  leave  in  search  for  more.  No  red  on  this  one  as  that  is  the  Dad's  colour  feature.

Father Flicker

This  parent  and  his  lady  flicker  are  tending  their  young  right  here  in  the  middle  of  Courtenay.  B.C.  on  Vancouver  Island.

Mr. Martin,..Purple Martin, that is.

Down  at  Royston  Ships  Park  there  are  some  nest  boxes  put  up  years  ago  to  bring  Martin  numbers  back  up  again.   It  worked.   Numbers  are  much  better  these  days.   We humans  took  down  so  many  old  dead  tree  snags  that  they  had  a  housing  crises.   Now   with   nest  boxes  on  shoreline  pylons  form  Oregon  to  Vancouver Island,  Purple  Martin  are  doing  fine.

CrossBill...Is this my good side?

Four  different  birds  flew  into  a  tree  in  front  of  me.  I  was  not  moving  at  all  and  I  think  they  were  curious.  No  sign  of  fear  yet  the  bore  quickly  and  left  to  enjoy  a  new  sunny  spring  morning.

Not with Mate?

Not  sure  who  this  CrossBill  is  flying  with  but  I  doubt  it's  the  mate.  TG

CrossBill...Came to look me over.

This  one  and  three  others  flew  into  a  short  tree  in  front  of  me  down  at  Royston  Ships.   I  was  thrilled  of  course.   Have  not  seen  these  for  quite  some  time.

Father of Many

This  one  was  making  a  new  nest.   Saw  him  doing  that  back  in  March  at  a  different  hole.  Good  of  him  to  pose  for  me  here.   I  appreciate  that.  TG

Nesting material...Just like a bird

He  was  putting  a  nest  together  in  a  new  hole.   I  got  a  glimpse  of  this  behaviour  back  in  March  but  no  photo.  Glad  to  get  a  shot  this  time.   Did  he  have  young  back  in  March?    I  did  see  two  tiny  ones  last  week.  At  this  rate  we  will  be  over-run.  Tony

Flicker sounding on metal electrical box

This  one  was  making  a  metalic  racket  on  an  aluminium  switch  box  on  a  sports  field  light  in  Lewis  Park  Courtenay.

Black Fronted Warbler?

Delighted  to  catch  this  little  guy  at  Dyke Road  Bird  Lookout.  Never  saw  one  before.

Black Fronted Warbler....or Audubon's?

At  first  I  thought  ' Siskin'...then  checked  and  found  Warbler  to  be  a  better  fit.

Wild, yet lets one get 30' close

Could  be  a  farm  escapee.  Yes,  this  is  soft  yet  interesting  and  sort  of  graceful....Hybrid?

Gold Crown Sparrow

There  may  well  be  another  name  for  this  one  yet  seems  OK  for  now.

Miss SweetPea

This  smooth  young  lady  has  a  certain  charm  lacking  in  the  male  brutes  of  her  tribe.

Their Bark is usually a Loud repeated HONK!

These  Lions  at  Fanny  Bay .  Vancouver Island  tend  to  Honk  loudly  day  and  night.  Speaking  with  a  resident  on  the  dock;  He  said  their  loud  honks  carry  for  miles  on  the  water   and  along  the  shoreline.   He  wishes  they  would  have  some  quiet  time. TG

Come Aboard ??....' NO! ' is the constant answer.

This  BIG  guy  is  coming  on  board  regardless.   They  usually  ignore  Loud  Protests   unless  it  happens  to  be  Junior  asking.   Junior  moves  on   sometimes  when  the  size  difference  is  a  big  one. Tg

Lyrics are Honk Honk

These  two  are  belting  out  the  usual  loud  song.   Often  sounds  like  '  Honk  Honk '.  One  Lion  will  honk....Can  I  come  up  on  deck?   The  answer  is  Always  a  loud  ' NO '   and  when  they  scrap  they  sink  teeth  into  each  other's  neck.  You  can  see  the  marks  here.  
These  flesh  wounds  are  very  common  and  never  seem  to  bother  them  at  all.  Guess  the  salt  water  prevents  infection.

Aloof and Judgemental

Pete  ' Mollycat '  mentioned  how  they  have  an  aloof  expression  at  times.  Well  that's  correct.   This  smug  customer  thinks  I  am  a  pipsqueak.   Compared  to  his  huge  bulk,  he  has  good  reason  to  harbour  a  little  contempt.  TG