Last February, we decided to visit Victoria in February to enjoy this beautiful city and area in the off-season; hoping to enjoy early flowers and blossoms. The only problem was that it was cold and very snowy! So we tried again this year. Although it was on the cool side, we did not have snow and we had very little rain. The area did not disappoint, and the plum/ cherry blossoms were out along with many early flowers. We had nice views of the Olympic Mountains and even managed a side trip to Port Renfrew. We were also fortunate to see many different species of birds.
Black-bellied plovers, surfbirds and black turnstones in flight.Harlequin ducks.Male Anna’s hummingbird.Barred owl.Northern pintails.Black oystercatchers.DunlinMale bufflehead.Female Anna’s hummingbird with a feather for its nest.Red-breasted merganser.Golden-crowned kingletLesser scaupsChestnut-backed chickadee.Ruby-crowned kingletBewick’s wrenPacific wrenGreat-blue heron
In the Pacific Northwest, January is a good time to spot short-eared owls and northern harriers. In the last two weeks, I have managed to see both species (in different locations) on four or five occasions. The following is a sampling of photographs I have taken.
Short-eared owl, AbbotsfordNorthern harrier (male), Samish FlatsShort-eared owl, Abbotsford. (Notice the differing eye dilations- one eye in the shade)Squabbling short-eared owlsRed-winged blackbird fearlessly chasing a short-eared owlShort-eared owl, during the “golden hour”.Short-eared owl over a saltwater marsh, DeltaNorthern harrier (female)Short-eared owl (classic flight “pose”)Northern harrier (male)Short-eared owl, taking offNorthern harrier, huntingShort-eared owl, landing
Baby tree swallows awaiting feeding from mother. Washington State, July.American kestrel. Washington State, July.Great grey owl mother and owlet. BC Interior, July.Great grey owlet, flapping its wings. BC Interior, July.Osprey feeding its chick. Abbotsford BC, July.Break-up of sea ice. Davis Strait, Nunavut. August.Polar bear on cliff. Baffin Island, Nunavut. August.Polar bear on sea ice. Davis Strait, Nunavut. August.Polar bear on sea ice. Davis Strait, Nunavut. August.Icebergs. Ilulissat, Greenland. August.Mountains of Kluane National Park. Yukon. September.Droplets of fog on spider’s web. Abbotsford. September.Northern hawk-owl. Kluane National Park, Yukon. September.Arctic ground squirrel. Southern Yukon. September.Belted kingfisher. Abbotsford, BC. October.Belted kingfisher. Abbotsford, BC. October.Bull elk establishing dominance. Banff National Park, Alberta. November.Great grey owl. After watching for about 15 minutes, it flew up and landed beside me. Alberta. November.Harbour seal. Surrey, BC. November.Black bear. Metro Vancouver area. November.Dunlin in flight. Surrey, BC. November.Bald eagle. Harrison Mills, BC. November.Juvenile bald eagle. Harrison Mills, BC. November.Barrow’s goldeneye. Vancouver, BC. December.Northern pintail “couple”. Surrey, BC. December.Taiga flycatcher. Included because it is rare. This is the first reported sighting in Canada. Vancouver, BC, December.
The following photos are amongst my favourites taken in 2025. (Some of the photos have been featured in my blog earlier this year). 2025 proved to be another great year for nature photography with travel to Guatemala, Belize, Nunavut, Greenland and a short trip to the Yukon Territory. Each time I head out with my camera, I wonder what I will encounter. I am often pleasantly surprised. The key to successful nature photography is to get out, often! I hope 2026 will prove to be as satisfying. Wishing all who view this blog a healthy and happy 2026!
Northern hawk owl, diving for a rodent. Delta, BC, January.American bittern. Willband Creek Park, Abbotsford BC, January.Northern pygmy-owl. Chilliwack, BC, January.Red-tailed hawk, Abbotsford, BC, January.Kulshan (Mount Baker), in Washington State, January.The rare orange-collared falcon, Tikal, Guatemala, February.Spider monkey, Tikal, Guatemala, FebruaryOcellated turkey, Tikal, Guatemala, February.Malachite butterfly emerging from pupa, Belize, February.Malachite butterfly, after emerging from pupa, Belize, February.Slaty-tailed trogon, Jade Jungle, Belize, February.Howler monkey, Crooked Tree, Belize, March.Vermillion flycatcher, Crooked Tree, Belize, March.Morelet’s Crocodile, Belize, March.Great horned owls, mother and owlet, Delta BC, April.Pacific wren, near Rolley Lake, BC, April.Northern-pygmy owl, “launching”. Elk Mountain, BC, April.“Motherhood”. Mother robin trying to keep two babies happy. Abbotsford, BC, May.Western tanager. Naramata, BC. May“The forest takes over”. BC back roads. May.Ruddy duck (male). Okanagan, BC. May.Rufous hummingbird. Abbotsford, BC. June.Helmcken Falls, BC. June.
This September, I had the opportunity to be in the Southern Yukon for a week. It was not enough time! There is so much to be seen. I did however see enough to prioritize a return visit in 2026!
An initial view of the majestic mountains of Kluane National Park, near Haines Junction.The Canada jay (whiskey jack). It is found in every province and territory of Canada, and is a very “cheeky” resident of boreal forests. It was this jay (and another one) that told me of the presence of the rare intruder posted below.Northern hawk-owl. It was chased away by the Canada jays but returned, giving me great photo ops. This is only the third northern hawk-owl that I have seen.This owl flew from a tree top, right past me and landed on a post 15 feet away, to give me “the look”.Looking west into Kluane National Park, from Haines Junction.Sheep Mountain. Kluane National Park, on the Alaska Highway.Dall sheep (thin-horn sheep). The nineteen white spots are all sheep on the slopes of Sheep Mountain.Kluane LakeKathleen Lake, Kluane National ParkFresh snow on the mountains. From north of Whitehorse.Kathleen LakeKluane National ParkWeather front moving in. Kluane National ParkOn the Alaska Highway.Arctic ground squirrelHarlan’s hawk Wood bison bull (Yukon Wildlife Preserve)Musk oxen (Yukon Wildlife Refuge)Woodland caribou (Yukon Wildlife Preserve)Mountain goat (Yukon Wildlife Preserve)
In August, Mary and I took an excursion with Adventure Canada entitled “Circling the Midnight Sun”. This trip took us along the coast of Baffin Island, across Davis Strait and along the coast of Greenland. On the sea portion of this excursion, we traveled 1449 nautical miles, crossed three time zones and crossed the Arctic Circle four times. We had an exceptional time! The following photographs were of four polar bears, sea ice, whales and icebergs seen along the way.
Polar bear on iceberg, far out at sea!Bowhead whaleI never expected to see a polar bear sleeping high up on a cliff!Humpback whaleFin whale
A few photos from early July taken in southern BC.
Fritillary butterfly on a wild asterYellow-breasted chatFoxgloves. (It is an exceptional year for foxgloves on the mountains of the Fraser Valley!)Bull thistleEastern cottontail (considered invasive, it was introduced to BC in the 1960’s)Great-grey owl, snuggling its owletMale great-grey owl. In the nesting season and with recently fledged owlets, the male is the principle provider for the owlets and female.Female great-grey owl, spreading its wings to dissipate heat on a hot day. It was closely guarding the two fledged owlets.Wild chicoryFireweedChilliwack River ValleyWestern wood pewee
The following photos are a selection of some of the many I have taken in the province over the last few months. As is usually the case, most pictures I am showing are of birds.
Black bear in the neighbourhood. I believe this is one of the cubs we saw last year with its mother. Now on its own.Townsend’s warblerCalifornia quail.Western tanagerRuddy duckMount SlesseGreat horned owlet with its motherSleepy barred owlRufous hummingbirdHelmcken FallsCinnamon teal and blue-winged tealSavannah sparrowNicola LakeEdith’s checkerspotWildroseSpa’hats FallsYellow-bellied marmot familyOsprey with troutHungry fledged robins.Swallowtail butterfly
The following pictures were taken in the vicinity of Crooked Tree, in Belize with Eagle Eye Tours in February and March of this year.
Gartered trogonYellow-tailed orioleBarred antshrikeNorthern jacanaWhite ibis and Snowy egretSnail kiteLimpkin with snailYellow-crowned night heron (juvenile)Great blue heronNorthern jacana adult flying to two juvenile northern jacanasAgami heronYucatan woodpeckerRufous-browed peppershrikeVermillion flycatcherLittle blue heronRinged kingfisherRinged kingfisherSnail kite with snailGreen heronYucatan jayJabiru. (A large stork that stands five feet tall and has a wing span of eight feet.)American pygmy flycatcherCommon tody-flycatcherRusset-naped wood rail with chickGreen kingfisherGreater black hawkWhite-necked puffbirdBlack collared hawkYellow-headed Amazon (endangered)Snail kite (mature male)Black collared hawkGreater black hawkGreater black hawkAcorn woodpeckersOspreyJabiruBlack-crowned night heron
The following photos were taken on the February/ March tour with Eagle Eye Tours and were taken in the vicinity of the Jade Jungle Lodge and on day tours from this lodge.
Emerald toucanetSlaty-tailed trogonSquirrel cuckooViolet sabrewingBlack-headed trogonBand-backed wrenToday motmot. (A very difficult bird to photograph, inhabiting dark undergrowth).Central American pygmy owlAcorn woodpeckersRufous-tailed hummingbirdGrace’s warblerLesser yellow-headed vultureFerruginous pygmy owlCentral American pygmy-owlSwallow-tailed kiteButterfly emerging from chrysalisKeel-billed toucanWhite hawk
