UBC, January 31
I brought my camera to the UBC Volleyball Pride Night, with the UBC Thunderbirds going up against the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack. I vaguely thought I could take photos of the games even though my gear isn’t really suited for sports action shots… Still, I felt naked going out without it, so there we go.
But! I’m glad I did bring it, because I spied this pretty little thing just outside the parkade, doing that thing that kinglets and warblers do: very short hops, a little bit of flapping, then back to their perch or the ground. Hell, even when I’m not looking for birbs, my subconscious will be sure to find them. It’s a curse. Or a gift. Either / or.
The recent rain has clearly left it disheveled, exposing its red and yellow crown and telling me it’s a male. Thanks, rain! I’ve seen Ruby-crowned Kinglets with their crest out just once, but never a golden-crown.
Oh, and UBC trounced TRU in both women’s and men’s matches. So that was a bonus!
David Lam Park, February 3
I saw this precious little guy on the lower seawall path between David Lam Park and Brush With Illumination. It would fly up the little concrete wall, poking around here and there but mainly focusing on all the pits and crevices. What was it hoping to find, I wonder? Liquid water, maybe? Moss or fungal growth? Tiny bugs?
David Lam Park, February 4
Kingletpalooza continued on the David Lam Park seawall, with several ruby-crowns doing their thing and mostly ignoring the big lumbering bipeds around them.
(I counted at least 3 but these little birbs are so fast I swear they can teleport.)
This next image shows the best view of the males’ namesake red crest, usually hidden under their dun olive outer layers. With more than one male around, I was hoping they’d get all fighty and territorial and fully floof their crests out, but alas things stayed peaceful!
Epilogue: Reifel Sanctuary, February 6
More on my Reifel visit soon, but I spied several Golden-crowned Kinglet flitting about, into, and behind the bushes, never giving me a good shot. But then, just as I was about to head out, I see this little guy near the big feeder on the northeast corner — you know, next to the two bird blinds? — hovering about then finally coming to rest and posing for me.
