American robin

One of my favourite birds over here, and easy to see and photograph.

We're here to see our daughter before travelling. I wasn't sure how the day was going to turn out and as my body clock told me it was past midday I got up at 5.00 to go for a walk to Stanley Park. As the day developed it emerged that I went back there two more times, but that's fine by me. It's a beautiful place and a brilliant pace to reacquaint myself with the birds.

As far as they are concerned it is still winter. Lost Lagoon is full of winter wildfowl and I didn't see any spring migrants. But I did see a hummingbird! Amazingly enough Anna's hummingbird overwinters this far north, because it's mild enough for there to be enough nectar-producing plants all year round. And a new species for my life list too: a fox sparrow.