Saturday, April 17, 2010

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 The forty or so fuzzy photos I took of it as it cruised overhead are good enough for identification but not for publication.
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5 comments:

  1. Stefan JanssonApril 17, 2010 at 8:32 AM

    That's a fine bird photo.

    I think I will borrow your description, quacking, honking, chirping and singing and rename my bird set at flickr.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JoJoApril 17, 2010 at 10:42 AM

    What a gorgeous bird!

    Here's my turkey vulture story: We were living in Fairfax, in west Marin County, CA in the mid-90's. Our townhouse backed up to open space - a grass & bay tree covered hill. After our Thanksgiving dinner, we didn't know what to do w/ the carcass of the turkey, so we decided to toss it up under the trees behind us, for the animals.

    We woke up the next morning and heard a weird sound out back. When we looked out, there were about 10 turkey vultures on the ground & in the trees, fighting over the carcass....we never did THAT again!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dean LewisApril 17, 2010 at 11:36 AM

    Beautiful shot of a beautiful bird!
    And cool bokeh, very complementary :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. JabbaApril 17, 2010 at 12:22 PM

    I haven't been out to that bog yet this season, you're inspiring me to take a trip though. I love the combination of these birds with the plants....so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Benjamin MadisonApril 17, 2010 at 1:30 PM

    STeffe, you're welcome!
    JoJo - nice story.
    Dean - thanks - I have another almost identical photo of this same bird with a burgundy background because of a passing SUV....
    Jabba - I would still be in ignorance of this bog were it not for your blog entry about it last year.

    ReplyDelete

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