The herons are back

The recent, record-breaking heat-wave, described as a heat dome, caused shocking devastation on some many fronts. Our Violet-Green Swallows abandoned their nest. We watched four adults swirling around in front of the birdhouse on one of the hot afternoons and then they were gone.  I knew that no young had fledged as I had been…

Hi Birders Well spring has arrived with all sorts of weather so I guess it must be April. Rufous Hummingbirds abound and are coming into feeders and stationed along the Dock Road on hydro lines. Chipping Sparrows are making an early debut with one at my feeder and another on Corefield Road. First sighting of…

A total of 8 species of waterbirds (111 birds) were observed on the North Side of Cowichan Bay at high tide at 6 PM on September 13, 2015, a partly cloudy day by Daryl Johnson, Christine Gilbertson and Carol Hartwig. Double-crested Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 8 Mute Swan 12 Mallard 3 Common Merganser 3…

One of the most welcome signs of Spring is the chorus of frogs. If you are lucky enough to have a wetland area near where you live, you will know what I mean. The tiny Pacific Tree Frog (also called the Pacific Chorus Frog) is the one most common to me. The Scientific name for…

          Some say I have a gift for this and others just think I’m lucky, but the way I slipped that wonderful count day in among two stinkers, well you be the judge. This week saw a bumper crop of counters with three vehicles heading off with 10 counters and picking…

Hi Birders I am so sorry for the delay in the report, but things have been a little hectic this week, what with filming the swans, digging the garden, getting ready for our wedding anniversary and all sorts of other things that take place in everyday life. Or I could tell the truth and say…