This morning the bay was very slow with not much to cheer about. AÂ few Purple Martins flew over Hecate Park and low over the water in reduced numbers were Barn Swallows which eeked out a living. Just a couple of Ring-billed Gulls were out on the mud and were closely watched by about a…
Not having been birding much of late I ventured down to the Dock Road in hopes that this lovely weather had brought down some shorebirds. Not many were seen but a few Least and a couple of Westerns and three Semi Plovers. There were some stars to be had though and topping the bill so…
SOUTH SIDE Gail Mitchell, Linda Hill, John Scull, Kathy Coster, and Barry Hetchko counted: belted kingfisher    2 great blue heron    10 purple martin         39 osprey                     3 glaucous-wing gull   9 unidentified gull     11 common merganser 4 bald eagle                 2 northwest crow         1 1 harbour seal & 1 river otter…
Pale Swallowtail Earth Day brought glorious sunshine to Cowichan Bay and the Cowichan Bay Dock Road, 22 species of humanoids turned out for this wonderful Wednesday. When all was said and done there were 38 species of birds seen and heard by the group. A bit slower than what I was expecting, that’s nature for…
The contents of this report contains mature subject matter viewer discretion is advised. 12 eager April fools turned up for our annual Swan and Goose counters annual days holiday up to the Nanaimo Estuary, three cars were loaded up and Zan who had been out on the tiles all night was picked up in Ladysmith….
Just like life all things have to come to an end and so endeth the 6th season of the swan and goose count. Like Downton Abbey, will we be back next season? Only time will tell. The lord of the manor is not getting any younger and as for the dowager duchess, she seems to…
This week saw 8 counters head out in 2 vehicles and we put all the girls in together and Barry who needed some tender care after a couple of weeks with the girls came in with myself and the Marshalls. It had to happen sooner or later and a dramatic change occurred as more than…
It nearly got us, but the rain moved around the 5+5 birders that took part in the count this week, I say 5+5 because only 5 left the dog park, 4 were found at A&W and one hitched a ride at the farmers market south of town, what a crew I have too work with….
Hi Birders: Another incredible day both for birds and weather was had by the counters this week. Our day started with 7 of us leaving the dog park in two cars and it was not long before we found another stray standing on the side of the road, Bob, so we took him along as…
South Side of the bay The early hour and time change seem to have limited the size of the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre team. However, Dave Aldcroft, Gail Mitchell, and John Scull were there and counted: 2 double crested cormorant 17 great blue heron 2 canada goose 40 trumpeter swan 30 mallard 4 northern pintail…
This week iI managed to pull myself loose of the apron strings and join the other 6 participants and I was so pleased I did as it was a wonderful count. What was so surprising was the number of swans which was almost identical to last weeks count, with 496 adults and 184 immature, add…
Eight birders — David Aldcroft, Diana Aldcroft, Kathy Coster, Pamela Williams, Robin Lawson, Gail Mitchell, John Scull and Tony Sneep — counted birds in intermittent showers. Horned grebe 1 Double crested cormorant 10 Mute swan 2 Green winged teal 1 Greater scaupe 10 Surf scoter 4 Bufflehead 58 Common goldeneye 52 Barrow’s goldeneye 4 Hooded…
There are times when life throws you a wobbly and such is the case for me lately, for the second time in as many months I have got the flu bug and had to stand down this week and let the troops do the job that they have been trained for. They turned in a…
Hi Birders Once again we had a tremendous day with one after another great birds, they just kept coming much to the enjoyment of the 7.5 birders present this week, I say .5 because Bob once again slept in and was picked up at A&W. He must have known that it was going to be…
Hi Birders This week we only had 7 people for the count, which meant only two cars, so to give him some experience of being in close quarters within the ladies car Barry was dispatched to the back seat. He seemed to come out of it pretty well unscathed although his photography payed a heavy…