Cems again

Common Raven Corvus corax with Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 

Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata 

Northern Parula Setophaga americana 

Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus

Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis 
(giving my camera the ol' cloaca salute)

Find the Brown Creeper Certhia Americana

Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii

Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus

George modelling his Wunderbird hoodie

 Up until two days ago, it had been about nine months since I’d birded the cemeteries. That’s weird, I guess, but it’s been a weird year, eh. George was able to rouse me from my hermitage for a lazy bimble round the mount in search of Gray-cheeked Thrush, which he needs for his cem list. We got out at ‘the circles’ on Mountain View, and I have to admit, I was rusty for the first few minutes. A confiding Northern Parula quickly blew the cobwebs out, and I wandered over to a bluff to check for skulkers. A catharus thrush popped up to eye level and offered close views through the bins. Ah, a Swainson’s Thrush with no spectacles…or buffiness…and very cold grey colouration throughout…then it was gone. Something didn’t add up, so I grabbed my Sibley’s to double-check and…yup. A Gray-cheeked Thrush. D’oh. I felt bad for not alerting George right away, and worse when we didn’t spot any at my ‘guaranteed GCTH spots.’ Ah well, that’s birding, eh.

  Over the lookout north of the cems, it was cool to watch as a Common Raven and a Turkey Vulture had a friendly contest to see who could soar in tighter circles.

  Other highlights included a flighty Canada Warbler (I seem to always spot them on the same day as GCTH), great close looks at a ground-foraging Blackpoll Warbler, and a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher — apparently it’s a good year for them. We logged 36 species in total. Several Eastern Cottontails, including a kit, were also seen at ‘the circles,’ my first for the cemeteries.

  All in all, it was a lovely afternoon out on the mountain. The leaves on some trees were already fully aflame with autumn’s fires, and gloves were needed at times, as it was crisp at times up there. The promise of winter is definitely in the wind (I reckon I use that line a lot). I’ve mentioned it before, but after breathing the foul yellow-grey skies of Korea on my last sojourn there, I will never take Canada’s gorgeous fresh air for granted.