Vancouver Island, Canada

7th-25th September 2011

Esquimalt Lagoon

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

I hadn't expected to see Trumpeter Swan on this trip as I thought mid-September would be a bit too early.  The six birds Erin and I found among the numerous introduced Mute Swans at Esquimalt Lagoon were, therefore, a pleasant surprise.

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

Feeding among the grasses on the shingle banks was a large flock of Brewer's Blackbirds.

female Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)

The females are quite drab birds, and the immature males are only slightly more colourful....

immature male Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)

...The males, however, are a beautiful irridescent purple when the sun shines on them.

male Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)

There was another very approachable flock of gulls at the lagoon that were almost exclusively California Gulls.

1st winter California Gull (Larus californicus)

I did, however, spot another couple of Heermann's Gulls at the edge of the flock.  This time they were winter-plumaged adults.

adult winter Heerman's Gull (Larus heermanni)