![IMG_8124](http://ibycter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_8124.jpg)
Catherine and I got the new year off to a good start with an early-morning trip to Boundary Bay, in the hopes of seeing some owls. We did not manage to see any except for a solitary Short-eared Owl from a distance, but we made up for it with some other great birds!
![IMG_7835](http://ibycter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_7835.jpg)
We weren’t the only ones out there, several other bird-spotters had already arrived.
![IMG_7850](http://ibycter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_7850.jpg)
Harriers were the most common raptors we saw flying over the beach and grasslands.
![IMG_7872](http://ibycter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_7872.jpg)
We saw a couple of dives for voles, but no captures.
![IMG_7906](http://ibycter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_7906.jpg)
I like the light tones of the frosty ground in this one.
![IMG_7911](http://ibycter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_7911.jpg)
In between feeding, this female flicker was investigating this hole. Perhaps she nested in it previously, or is planning to!
![IMG_7895](http://ibycter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_7895.jpg)
This gorgeous pup was having a great outing!
![IMG_8034](http://ibycter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_8034.jpg)
A House Finch male was a bright splash of colour on the dead branches.
![IMG_8068](http://ibycter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_8068.jpg)
An odd posture as the finch changes positions.
![IMG_8155](http://ibycter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_8155.jpg)
This female was a bit more shy.
![IMG_8094](http://ibycter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_8094.jpg)
A harrier doing a close flyby.
![IMG_8170](http://ibycter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_8170.jpg)
There were a bunch of Kildeers on the icy fields, but seemed to disappear when they stood still.
![IMG_8189](http://ibycter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_8189.jpg)
Our final cool bird was the European Starling, which was posing nicely for us on a sunny branch.
Was there on the 31st and enjoyed many of the same scenes. Thanks for the great pics!
Nice! I hope to go back soon, if possible. Would like to see a Long-eared Owl.
Did you see the Golden Eagle on 72nd?