Thrushes

Mountain Bluebird - Campbell Valley Park, BC A late spring migrant stopped in a local park called Campbell Valley Park which is very close to the US-Canada border in Langley. Our little blue visitor was only there for the day and must have continued on his way north to places unknown. Most of our Mountain Bluebirds will stay East of the Coast Mountain Range in British Columbia or Alaska's drier interior. Bluebirds have two cousins, Western and Eastern Bluebirds with both of those birds told by the amount of rusty red on their chests. Michael W Klotz 2022 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Mountain Bluebird - Campbell Valley Park, BC
Varied Thrush - Edgewater Bar Campground, BC During a bird count in Derby Reach Regional Park this spring our group came across a decent sized flock of Varied Thrush feeding in the grass and forest edge along with some American Robins and a mixed flock of sparrows. As we made our way down the edge of the Fraser river, this very cooperative bird flew up and perched on a moss covered stump and started begging for his photo to be taken. We thanked him, added him to the tally and move on down the path. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Varied Thrush - Edgewater Bar Campground, BC
Varied Thrush - Milner, BC The Christmas Bird Count was a success this year, even with COVID on the forefront. Carli and I counted farmlands around the headwaters of the Nicklmekl River where you are bound to find some fruit trees still clinging to the last of their rewards. This apple tree is always good for a stop. Last year's feature bird was a Red-breasted Sapsucker. I always thought the count was on Christmas day and never joined in but the counts around here are all coinciding weekend days in mid December and the first weekend of January. Find a circle for next years count! Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Varied Thrush - Milner, BC
Western Bluebird - Kruger Mountain, BC Picture
Western Bluebird - Kruger Mountain, BC
Mountain Bluebird - Call Lake, BC One of the first birds to arrive on any open field in BC are the Mountain Bluebirds. We have seen pairs looking for their next meal in the spring snow. This male was calling from fenceposts along Telkwa High Road with the dainty mews that are signature of the Bluebirds. These hardy little songbirds can be found as far north as the western interior of Alaska in the summer and winter as far south as Mexico. This birds will come to a feeder if you are willing to put out cut worms! Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Mountain Bluebird - Call Lake, BC
Townsend's Solitaire - Granville Park, BC Solitaires are close relations to the American Robin being in the thrush family. They are mostly high altitude birds in the summer nesting season, but mostly eat Juniper berries in the winter. The can be found on the west coast from Alaska to Mexico even heading to the more arid regions for a winter food source. This beautiful bird however was found in a park in downtown Vancouver making his way through a berry bush. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.comPicture
Townsend's Solitaire - Granville Park, BC
Townsend's Solitaire - Willowbrook, BC On an outing to White Lake, we came across several of these gray thrush along the hillside of the farmland in Willowbrook, BC. They frequent the mountains in the summer months and the winters in the valleys inland. They make a habit of eating juniper berries in the winter and will protect a source of the berries with a bit of gusto. They, like most thrush, have a very gentle and pretty song which is heard as a whisper sometimes and this was not exception. Michael W Klotz 2020 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Townsend's Solitaire - Willowbrook, BC
Mountain Bluebird - Centennial Beach, BC In the spring, we see these beautiful little blue birds as they head through to the drier parts of BC. They usually stop for a couple of days to refuel on the beaches and grasslands here before they head up the Fraser valley to the nesting boxes or abandoned woodpecker holes. There has been a remarkable comeback thanks to the Bluebird trail folks through out BC. this was taken at Centennial beach, Tsawwassen, BC. Michael W Klotz 2020 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Mountain Bluebird - Centennial Beach, BC
American Robin - Stanley Park, BC American Robins are one of our most common birds here on the West Coast. They are a year round bird here and not much for a birder to get excited about. In the spring, however, they can be one of the most striking birds with their fresh
American Robin - Stanley Park, BC
Townsend's Solitaire - University of BC, BC An uncommon winter visitor to these parts is a small slaty-grey thrush that usually lives in the mountains during breeding season. The small Robin-like bird flycatches when the weather is warm enough for insects but also eats some fruit and berries when the flying food is sparse. The favorite is the Juniper berry and both male and females will defend a winter territory with a good supply of these berries. This was taken in the fruit garden outside the forestry building at UBC. Michael W Klotz 2020 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Townsend's Solitaire - University of BC, BC
Mountain Bluebird - Meadow Lake, BC Mountain Bluebirds are one of the most striking birds of the summer in the interior of British Columbia. This hardy little thrush is found in dryer areas where there is a good perch with an open view of the area. Mountain Bluebirds migrate as far north as Alaska in the summer. Bluebirds have been pushed out by European starlings and House Sparrows in the past 40 years and were on the decline. There are now bluebird trails that allow for suitable nesting sites with out the competition. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.comPicture
Mountain Bluebird - Meadow Lake, BC
Varied Thrush - Vancouver, BC Varied Thrush are a secretive bird and when you get a chance to have one pose out in the open, you take advantage of the moment. This bird was photographed on the north side of Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. There were several birds here in the marshy margin of the forest all looking for something to eat. These birds are no where else but the west coast from Alaska south to the northern tip of Baja California. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Varied Thrush - Vancouver, BC
Mountain Bluebird - Surrey, BC Migration has started and one of our first visitors is the Mountain Bluebird. There were three of these brightly colored thrushes that mad landfall in Surrey's Big Bend Park. The two males and one female were making their rounds in the meadows near some cottonwoods. This small fir made the perfect vantage for hawking insects in the early spring morning. Several other known birders were also there getting the first glimpses of spring color in Greater Vancouver. Thanks for the spot John. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Mountain Bluebird - Surrey, BC
Mountain Bluebird - Along the north side of the Thompson River there are some great farm fields and fence posts. In the spring and summer the Bluebirds flycatch from these posts and make great subjects. In BC there was a great decline of bluebird numbers due to House Sparrows, Starlings, and Raccoons, among other things. A great many people have put substantial effort into the return of nesting birds. Here is a link for just such a group. Michael Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Mountain Bluebird - Pritchard
Hermit Thrush - Delta, BC We have a couple of these spotted type thrush stay for us for the winter, but only on the coast where the water acts as a heatsink keeping temperatures warmer than the inland areas. Hermit Thrush are usually heard before seen and are only found in dense undergrowth. This particular bird must have been hungry as she was searching the open shoreline for food. It is rare that you catch a glimpse of these shy birds in the under-story, but even rarer to see them in the open, posing for a picture. One of the things I like best about these birds are they way they can throw their melodious voices like a ventriloquist. This was taken along Brunswick Point in Delta along the south side of the dyke. Michael Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Hermit Thrush - Delta, BC
Townsend's Solitaire - Haynes Lease Ecological Reserve, BC
Townsend's Solitaire - Haynes Lease Ecological Reserve, BC
Western Bluebird - Pritchard, BC This is a great bird for British Columbia, thanks to a posting from the Duplika's. Western Bluebirds are not near as common as the Mountain variety here in BC, and certainly not this far north. This male was busy feeding his nestlings with the female bringing butterflys and grasshoppers. The trip between Pritchard and Chase is fantastic new route I will be sure to take again. Michael W Klotz 2020 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Western Bluebird - Pritchard, BC
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Mountain Bluebird -- Anarchist Mountain, BC
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Townsend's Solitaire - Kingsvale, BC
American Robin - Ladner, BC Spring has these Robins flocking together and searching for food in Ladner's Wellington Point Park. These thrush are know for their long migrations, hence the name, Turdus Migratoriuus. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
American Robin - Ladner, BC