Coastal Waterbird Count, December 10th, 2017.

South side of Cowichan Bay.
Robin Lawson, Claude Lahaise, Kathy Coster, Richard Campbell, Gail and Steve Mitchell & Carol Milo were observers and saw:

Mute Swan, 6; Bufflehead, 120; Common Goldeneye, 4; Hooded Merganser, 7; Horned Grebe, 4; Double-crested Cormorant, 11; Great Blue Heron, 2; Bald Eagle, 1; Mew Gull, 1; Iceland Gull (Thayer’s), 3; Glaucous-winged Gull, 15; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Northwestern Crow, 4.

Kurlene and John did the count on the north shore of Cowichan Bay and saw:

Trumpeter Swan, 18; Gadwall, 3; American Wigeon, 109; Northern Pintail, 2; Surf Scoter, 32; Common Goldeneye, 20; Common Merganser, 2; duck species, 30; Double-crested Cormorant , 5; Bald Eagle, 6; gull sp., 87; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Northwestern Crow, 2; Common Raven, 1; Bufflehead, 49.

On sunny Sunday Dec. 10 Lyn and Jim Wisnia saw 25 species total in their two Coastal Waterbird Survey areas. The large gathering of Western Grebes right in the bay was impressive, and the lone Eurasian Wigeon right next to the boat ramp was a treat.

Verdier Point:
Mute swan, 4; American wigeon, 169; Mallard, 1; Surf scoter, 17; Bufflehead, 16, Common goldeneye, 40; Barrow’s goldeneye, 3; Hooded merganser, 2; Red-breasted merganser, 31; Pacific loon, 3; Common loon, 1; Horned grebe, 10; Western grebe, 258; Double-crested cormorant, 3; Bald eagle, 1; Mew gull, 17; Ring-billed gull, 1; California gull, 1; Glaucous-winged gull, 131; Gull sp. 1; Northwestern crow, 2.

Mill Bay:
Canada goose, 69; Mute swan, 5; Eurasian wigeon, 1; American wigeon, 39; Mallard, 26; Bufflehead, 26; Common goldeneye, 15; Barrow’s goldeneye, 6; Hooded merganser, 8; Common merganser, 1; Red-throated loon, 1; Pacific loon, 1; Common loon, 1; Horned grebe, 1; Red-necked grebe, 1; Western grebe, 150; Double-crested cormorant, 3; Mew gull, 303; Glaucous-winged gull, 35; Gull sp. 41; Northwestern crow, 5.