Birds of February

 My best-ever jay shots.

No month can possibly live up to the first of the year - most common species get added to the list in January. This month is not only the shortest, but not great for migrants - a bit early for the spring arrivals, a bit late for anything else. Plus I started the month with a knee injury, so couldn't get out much.

However, it's a good chance to mop up the winter birds I've missed, and prepare for the frantic season to come.

February 2015
7 species (3 lifers) - year total 102
Jack snipe
Song thrush
Jay
Nuthatch
Black-tailed godwit
Red-throated diver
Green sandpiper 

Above: regular snipe. Below: the only reasonable shot of a jack snipe, just before it landed back on the marsh.

Bird of the month is undoubtedly the red-throated diver (see previous entry), which has settled on a local marine lake for the time being. It was great to tick off another couple of species I've missed several times, even if my views of green sandpiper and jack snipe were brief and distant.