So there I was sitting on the beach watching the gulls doing their gull stuff on the shore when I noticed that one of the group was doing his own thang. He was doing that foot vibration motion in the sand that you used to do as a kid on the mudflats to make you sink deeper (and oh yes, we used to get in trouble). It looked so amusing; the other gulls milling about, preening or napping and here is this one, head bent over in earnest, jiggling his feet.

He must have been finding some pretty tasty stuff, because he was repeatedly dipping his head to eat until a bigger gull came over and scared him off. Funny, the larger gull didn't do the foot jiggle, just stood around in a bossy, big-gull way. Hmph.

Awoke to a thin layer of snowfall and these delicate, light caperings of the Steller's Jay.

I do like a Kingfisher, Belted or otherwise. With their squat bodies, chunky heads and large bills, it's a wonder they don't topple head-first into the water.  In our coastal area, we get the Belted Kingfisher but I believe in the States and Mexico, my southern neighbours, the Ringed Kingfisher and the Green Kingfisher can also be seen. Now mind you, I do get to enjoy the sparkling iridescence of the Common Kingfisher when I visit my folks in Britain. My Princeton Field Guide's Birds of Europe describes the Common Kingfisher thus:

   Beautifully bright colours; crown and wings greenish-blue (look more greenish from some angles depending on how light falls), back and tail bright blue (shifting from azure to cobalt!) underparts and cheek patch warm orangey brownish-red, throat and a patch on neck-side snow-white.

I love the exclamation point. Even the authors can't curb their enthusiasm. In fact, the book is much like that... the usual short ID comments but interspersed with enthusiastic adjectives and notes obviously based on personal observation.

But I digress from my Belted Kingfisher, who is not so showy, but still a lovely slate grey and white. The female sports a rusty halter-top and the juveniles show some rust as well.

So what brought me to this topic? Oh yes, I was watching him along the creek at MapleWood Flats and while he sat on his branch, scanning the clear water below, he was talking to himself, almost under his breath.

Rattle, rattle, pause, rattle, pause, pause...

and up go his crest feathers as he thinks he spies a fish. Nope, he settles and goes back to his muttering rattle.

Sitting on the bench in Lost Lagoon the other day I was treated to the appearance of the Common Merganser. He swam back and forth in front of the bench, along with some Mallards and Coots, now and again straying off but always returning. I thought this to be very unusual as CMs are usually quite shy and flighty. I finally twigged on to his boldness; I was unwittingly scrunching some plastic in my backpack as I removed the hand warmers from their packaging and putting them in my pockets to keep my gloveless fingers warm. The Merganser kept coming close as heard the crinkle of the plastic like a dog or cat with a package of treats. I tested this by letting him paddle away and then scrunched the plastic in a tantalizing manner. Sure enough, he did an about-face and motored back to me. Spoiled bird.

Nevermind the Mallards looking so cute at my feet with their soft, soulful eyes. Don't do the blinky thing with me. You aren't starving, Mr. Glossy.

A visit today in the drizzle at Cates Park brought us to a flock of Common Mergansers patrolling just offshore for food. They paddled along, full steam, with heads underwater. Now, these birds were shy and fidgety, definitely keeping an eye on us as they cruised by. We hunkered down with the dog between us to seem less intrusive.
A little further off were Pelagic Cormorants, showing their white side bum patches as they dove for food.

Joined up with the Birds on the Bay bird group for a walk on the shore trails of Mud Bay. The sun was shining and it was a real treat to come out from under the shadows of the cedars and hemlocks and onto the flat open expanse of the Fraser Valley's delta with its open skies and golden winter grasses.
I saw my first Eurasian Widgeon! He was sitting with the American Widgeons and the sun was causing his head to glow quite a cinnamon red. He didn't know how great he looked because he was napping.
As we started heading back to the parking lot, we spotted a male and female Northern Harrier which are familiar sights over these fields. We all stopped to have a look as our guide pointed out the various ID markings. We must have looked rather odd because we were actually facing the main highway at this point, watching the Harriers on the other side. A couple, out for their morning walk, asked us quizzically what we were watching. "Honda Civic", replied my husband deadpanned, tracking the whizzing blur with his binoculars.

Here we are, admiring the puddle ducks.

Several members mentioned the Long-billed Curlew that could be found over in the Blackie Spit area. Since it was just a fifteen minute drive away we went over to have a look but no joy; just some napping American Widgeons and a loon off in the distance. But here, read this blog for the irony!

Much joy to be had today. I found a whole colony of Bird's Nest Fungus growing close to my house. It's like having my own personal stash of BNF. Previously, I have found only one here and there, found by chance and I agree it is marvy to happen upon something you did not expect to find but knowing there is a cluster of them growing nearby makes me very happy. They were full of their little "eggs" and sitting all industriously around the base of a tree right next to the main trail for all love.

These little splash cups launch the small "eggs" or peridioles out of the cup when struck by rain drops. The airborne peridiole trails a sticky kite tail behind it called the hapteron which catches on branches or twigs. Once some distance from the parent fungus, the peridiole dries up, splits open and releases spores. Amazing. It makes me happy.