Red-winged Blackbird

Here's another old friend whose rich warbling fills the spring air - especially at Rithet's Bog, where I photographed this one on Thursday. This is a male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). I saw about a dozen of these staking out territories amongst the bullrushes that line the bog. Their song at this time of year is one of my favorite bird songs - it always sounds to me like someone just bursting with happiness.

American Coot

Rithet's Bog in Saanich (Greater Victoria) continues to provide some interesting bird life during this cold season. The pond where this photo was taken was occupied by about 50 Mallard Ducks and this single American Coot. He was very busy foraging among the small plants poking up from the ooze.

Awkward Adolescent

When I first saw this duck I wasn't too sure what it was. Then I saw that distinctive long flat bill and knew it was a Northern Shoveler Duck. However, it seemed to have some of the characteristics of both the male and the female of this species so I asked for advice from a local birdwatchers website. I was correct in my identification of this bird as a Northern Shoveler; it's an adolescent male - and he certainly does have that adolescent gawkiness. The photo was taken at Rithet's Bog in Saanich.

More of Rithet's Bog

Springtime offers such a lovely contrast between winter's bare branches and the first brilliant greens of the coming summer. - Fern

Rithet's Bog

In a brief window of mild spring sunshine this week Benjamin Madison and I went for a lovely stroll around Rithet's Bog in Saanich. There is a huge variety of wildlife and several distinct ecosystems. I have a special love of the bulrushes, as you can see. - Fern

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

Here's another new (for me) kind of duck that I saw while out at Rithet's Bog the other day. The two birds on the left are a pair of Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) Ducks, especially characterized by that extra large bill. (The black and gray bird on the right is an American Coot.)

Wild Strawberries (Fragaria)

While strolling along the path that surrounds Rithet's Bog I noticed these familiar blossoms. I've entitled this post "Wild Strawberries" although they are probably more properly called Coastal Strawberries (Fragaria chiloensis), an ancestor of the common garden strawberry, or Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca). And, given that that part of the bog is quite close to the residential areas that surround the bog, these berry plants might even be escapes from a nearby garden. In any case it was nice to see them and their promise of one of summer's most distinctive and delicious flavors.

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Here's another resident of Rithet's Bog, the aptly named Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia). This little bird was singing like he was going to burst and he was a delight to hear. It's not just random chirping - read what Wikipedia has to say about the songs of Song Sparrows:

The song sparrow's song consists of a combination of repeated notes, quickly passing isolated notes, and trills. The songs are very crisp, clear, and precise, making them easily distinguishable by human ears. A particular song is determined not only by pitch and rhythm but also by the timbre of the trills. Although one bird will know many songs - as many as 20 different tunes with as many as 1,000 improvised variations on the basic theme. Unlike thrushes, the song sparrow usually repeats the same song many times before switching to a different song.

Song sparrows typically learn their songs from a handful of other birds that have neighboring territories. They are most likely to learn songs that are shared in common between these neighbors. Ultimately, they will choose a territory close to or replacing the birds that they have learned from. This allows the song sparrows to address their neighbors with songs shared in common with those neighbors. It has been demonstrated that song sparrows are able to distinguish neighbors from strangers on the basis of song, and also that females are able to distinguish (and prefer) their mate's songs from those of other neighboring birds, and they prefer songs of neighboring birds to those of strangers.

(Click here to hear a sample song, repeated 5 times in a minute.)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Another of the the environments that is present in the Greater Victoria area is Rithet's Bog on the Saanich Peninsula. I went out there yesterday to see how the bog is celebrating spring. The Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were filling the air with the sweet songs that mark their territories amongst the bullrushes and were wearing their most striking plumage. Other species were also quacking, honking, chirping and singing - I saw about a dozen different kinds of birds in the few hours it took me to walk around the bog. I am happy to note that sightings included a Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), a bird I have been hoping to sight ever since I heard they live in this area. The forty or so fuzzy photos I took of it as it cruised overhead are good enough for identification but not for publication.

Rithet's Bog

I mentioned in yesterday's post that it was challenging to photograph Rithet's Bog because it's not a bold or dramatic environment. However, I hope these photos capture a little of what a delightful spot it is to spend a summer afternoon.

Green Tunnel

Though I've lived in Victoria for many years now I still discover new things regularly. I discovered Rithet's Bog thanks to fellow local blogger, Jabba, of Cafe Jabbaccino, when she mentioned it in a recent post on her blog. There is a trail around the perimeter of the bog which includes this lovely green tunnel. I found the bog a challenge to photograph. It is a slightly dwarfed environment full of small things, different from the broad vistas of mountain and ocean more typical of these pages. Tomorrow I'll post a few more photos of life in and around the bog.