Asking for help to ID 2 birds - one seen in Arizona , the other in BC Canada (1 Viewer)

[hgee]

Hi
I would be grateful for help to ID 2 birds seen on trips to the US and Canada
The first bird (Photo 1) was taken near Panamint Valley ( Death Valley) in Nov 2011
The second bird ( photos 2a -2c) was seen at Vaseaux Lake BC Canada in June 2015
(sorry the second set are not sharp!)
If anyone can help with IDs that would be great!
Thanks

 

[kuzeycem]

First one is a Blue Grosbeak. I'll leave the second to someone else, not fair for me to have all the fun

 

[qwerty5]

I'm not experienced with western Empidonax, but I'd say Willow (contrast between throat and face, almost no eye ring, primary extension looks a bit short though).

 

[hgee]

First one is a Blue Grosbeak. I'll leave the second to someone else, not fair for me to have all the fun

Hi ; I have looked at my NatGeo Guide and yep thats the one! Thanks!
I have visited the US/Canada about 8 times since 2006 and I am finally compiling a list of birds seen
A quick look tells me I saw a male Blue Grosbeak at the Desert Museum in AZ a while ago so the female is nice too!
You won't believe this but when I looked at the photo my first thoughts were " that beak is distinctive , maybe a female , maybe a Cardinal or a Grosbeak?" so nice to know I was on the right lines
How about the other bird?!

 

[rkj]

I agree with Willow Flycatcher for the second bird.

 

[hgee]

I agree with Willow Flycatcher for the second bird.

thanks for your help folks!
I found the second bird too difficult to ID - it is an LBJ as far as I'm concerned and my experience
with N American birds is limited so nice to know my out of focus shots were still good enough
to get an answer!
Thanks again!

 

[hgee]

As this has been so successful I am going to post another ID challenge
This time a Hummer species seen in CA in 2017
Watch this space