This is only the second record for the Citrine Wagtail in North America and the first for Canada. The previous record is of this bird that turned up in Starkville Mississippi for two days in 1992.
Citrine Wagtail’s normal breeding range is in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and it migrates to India and east to Burma in the winter. To get to North America it had to cross much of northern Asia just to get to the Bering sea, and then cross the Bering Sea and go down the West coast through Alaska to British Columbia.
This bird has been at the same location for a few weeks now, at Courtenay on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Not the greatest shots, but could not get very close, even with 7D & 700mm.
Congratulations on these fine captures. Great background info - it's humbling to imagine and reflect on the efforts this bird made to end up where you found it.
Dec 13, 2012 at 11:16 AM
David Leask Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Huge congratulations Tony on these firsts and fine pics.
These guys are small and fast if the wagtails over here are anything to go by.
You got down real low too!
Martin
p.1 #18 · My 1st, 1st in Canada, 2nd in N. America
Shiva dancing wrote:
Congratulations on these fine captures. Great background info - it's humbling to imagine and reflect on the efforts this bird made to end up where you found it.
Thanks, Steve. I wonder if it will ever make it back home. Not likely.
