Hi Just three eager participants this week and big thanks to Kathleen for the driving duties and of course Daryl for her meticulous notes on the spreadsheet. It is now getting very close to departure time for the swans, the immatures are getting a lot whiter and are harder to find in the flocks and…
Hi Birders This week saw a major explosion of counters with 9 people in two vehicles moving in slow procession around the route. I brought old Derrick in this week so that we would finish in a timely manner and it was a good move as we were done by 2:30pm. There are times when…
Two counters, one experienced and knowledgeable and one inexperienced, confused and scopally challenged, set off to do the north side of the bay. The weather cooperated and we had a total of 458 birds and 20 species which included 6 Horned Grebes and 2 Gadwall. Again Mallards, Glaucous Winged, Mew Gulls and Buffleheads were the…
BOB’S REPORT Four birders set out along the usual track, without stalwart leader Derrick, but fearlessly facing the prospect of making our own decisions, all day. Daryl led the charge from the back seat. At Somenos Lake, 108 Ruddy Ducks still parked on the calm surface. But Trumpeter Swans, our raison d’etre, were scarce for…
Hi This week saw a major drop in swan numbers with just 440 birds being found, where the others were hiding, who knows. We did manage to find two Tundra’s one of which was the neck banded P927 which incidentally thanks to Peggy Smith was seen in Forest Grove OR in January 2010 and in…
North side of the Estuary: With two birders off in another hemisphere trying to escape the Canadian winter, the remnants of the team enjoyed a fine warm February 10th. Despite the hazard of the bright setting sun in our eyes, we counted 711 birds of 16 different species. Glaucous-winged Gulls, Mew Gulls and Mallards made…
Hi The morning saw just 3 participants and with Bob looking a little ragged around the edges I sent him home even though he never had a doctors note. So it was left up to Daryl and myself to complete the task at hand. Another good count of swans this week with the major flock…
Hello Birders This week saw a major rise in numbers of Trumpeter Swans with the highest total #635 this is the best for two years. We also had 3 adult Tundra Swans and 5 Mute Swans. In the raptor species we had a Peregrine Falcon, Merlin and a high number for this season of Red-tailed…
Hi Birders It always amazes me that so many weather forecasters can only get get conditions right about once a week, well much to our delight their forecast of rain on Wednesday did not materialize. Six eager beavers set out and it was not long before we were adding Canada Geese to our list and…
Hi Birders This week saw eight eager birders turn up for the count and although the Goose numbers were normal we seem to have lost a large proportion of our Swans. The Ruddy Ducks on Somenos Lake were gone, hopefully back to Quamichan Lake. The Hawks suffered this week with low numbers for Red-tails and…
Hi Birders Well I finally made it out to a count this year and it was nice to see all the happy counters, even got a hug from one enthusiastic follower. Eight people in two cars headed out from the dog park and before we had even got past Somenos Lake we had over 400…
South side of the Estuary: Sunday morning was a bit chilly but dry. Cowichan Bay, the mountains, and the sky were so beautiful in the early morning light that it was a challenge to keep our attention on the birds. Four eager counters, Christina Cutbill, Gail Mitchell, Hilary Stead, and John Scull counted 348 birds,…
Here are the results as I found them from the reports. Count Totals 108 species, 28,730 individules Participants # 51 New for count: White-winged Crossbill #1 New Highs Greater White-fronted Goose #37 Cackling Goose #36 Tundra Swan #3 Eared Grebe #2 Eurasian-collared Dove #49 Anna’s Hummingbird #143 Common Raven #506 Red-breasted Nuthatch #140 Red-winged Blackbird…
Hi I have to admit that it was something I didn’t know was going to happen, after slogging around on the Christmas Count I was feeling good, so it came as a shock when going out to feed the birds on Tuesday morning that I slipped, stumbled and then fell, putting a dent in my…
Hi With only one participant willing to brave the weather, I was dragged screaming and kicking from my sick bed to accompany old Derrick along for the count. To say the weather was bad, is I think an understatement, let’s say it was the worst we’ve ever had on a count by far. With the…