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 most numerous. The total numbers were down but we figured many had headed north to feast at the Herring Spawn. Admittedly Daryl was the major counter while I fiddled with the scope and tried to sort inshore from offshore, but hopefully redeemed myself by keeping a watchful eye on Daryl as she dangled off cliffs in her dedicated counting. We noted a couple of the Trumpeter Swans acting very “Muteish” in their postures and wondered if they had fooled anyone during the Swan counts as they are being counted from quite a distance. Of course that would only happen if Derrick wasn’t there! We did have a canoe full of hunters paddle through and shortly after some loud blasts echoed over the estuary. Hopefully this didn’t skew our already completed duck count.
Kurlene and Daryl
Cowichan Valley Naturalists
With Nature, For Nature.