Nature Cowichan

Hi
When you got to go, you got to go, as was the case for the swans and geese this past week with a mass migration from the valley.
Just 47 Trumpeter Swans were counted and even the remaining few looked eager to leave us to go north.
A group of four immatures on Sahilton Road looked strange without their mum and dad to show them the way, but I’m sure they know which way to go.
This week there was nearly as many participants as birds with 8 volunteers ready to do battle. John once again joined us and we had cameras coming at us from all directions. One neat gadget he had was one of those headcams which had a mount with a large sucker on it which was placed in many spots on Christina’s truck although her hybrid Ford looked like it had been attacked by a giant pacific octopus by the time we’d finished. He told us that it could withstand speeds in excess of 150km, but we just fell short of those speeds.
Somenos Lake had a few lingering Ruddy Ducks and a very active Marsh Wren was busy building one of his many nests, we were lucky to get nice close up views as he went about his yearly chore.
A large eagle, thought by me, to be an adult Golden Eagle flew around the base of Mt. Richards and a Northern Harrier glided over fields on Richards Trail.
By the time we got to A&W we knew that it was going to be slow for swans and it did not get much better from then on in.
Yellow-rumped Warblers were heard and seen and a couple of Evening Grosbeaks played hard to see in Cottonwoods at the bottom of Corfield Road.
The four immature swans on Sahilton Road were gone the next day so they just wanted to get a little bit more greenery in their bellies before setting off.
One lucky counter had seen a pair of Cougar kits earlier in the week and it is nice to know that this much maligned animal is doing okay besides all the adversity thrown its way.
Well we wizzed around the route and were on our way down into Cowichan Bay when low and behold we spotted the Kozee Wrap truck parked at the pub, now this was strange as old Derrick had indicated that he would be busy in a Victoria attic and would not be able to come and count birds. The next day I confronted him and he said he was under the pub looking at a job. Now I personally have been found under and behind a pub a few times in my life so I did not accept his lame excuse.
Our day ended on the Dock Road where our last Trumpeter Swan of the season was recorded and to cap off a wonderful day a male Rufous Hummingbird sat up on the hydro wires as we left.

Big thanks this week to Christina (see I do remember your name) who finally lead the group and to all other participants who have made this a wonderful counting season, what would we do without you, your company over the weeks has been a real joy.

Next week when I have had time to recover I will talk more about numbers and the ups and downs of the past season.

Take care and enjoy this wonderful weather

Derrick

Attachments added.
Copy of 2012-13 Winter Swan & Goose countCopy of 2012-13 raptor count

Hi
This is a report for all those who like nature.

Last Thursday while walking the Cowichan River Dike in Cowichan Bay I came across a puddle with something moving in it, but as I got close it stopped; this puddle was really murky so it was not possible to see what was in there, so on my merry way I went. This morning, four days later I walked past the same puddle and something moved again; this time I had my wife with me and she got one end of the puddle while I waited at the other. Her big boots made a swish across the puddle and washed a small fish up onto the side, not sure what species it was but I scooped this little fellow up and put it down in the river to hopefully grow up to be a big keeper.
The question is how did the little fishy get in the puddle in the first place some 10 feet up from the river. Was it a bird that accidentally dropped it, or some little rascal with a net who put it in the puddle? I have read about critters falling from the sky, maybe that’s what happened to him.
The big thing is how long can a fishy stay in a puddle that is passed over by scores of people each day and survive?
I will never know the outcome of this most strange occurrence, I can only think that something good will come from this.

I have been getting reports of Rufous Hummingbirds from some friends who like to rub it in that they got one before me, well mine are to say the least late on arrival and it is now a week later than usual and I still don’t have one.

On Sunday as I finished breakfast I turned to look at my feeders and was blessed to see two male Evening Grosbeaks scoffing up some sunflower seeds, what a wonderful finish to breakfast. Better than any strawberries and pancakes.

Again on Sunday the boss and I went down at mid-day to the Dock Road to check on my swallow boxes and as we crossed the field a pair of Short-eared Owls took off, they were probably roosting in the field and us two ninnies disturbed them. As soon as they became airborne a group of Ravens descended on them and chased them up in the sky where they were met with a Northern Harrier giving them grief, they finally descended and hopefully got back to dozing again.

Finally as we got back to the car a Red-tailed Hawk of the Harlan’s sub-species flew and landed in a Cottonwood close to us for a wonderful view.

Second finally as we came home from the bay at lunch time today a Mourning Cloak butterfly was cruising down Tzouhalem Road.

Isn’t spring lovely.

Until I write again, enjoy, as you never know what nature will throw at me next time.

Now for a snooze.

Derrick

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 I plain forgot, so is life in the fast lane these days. anyways enough of this dribble.

The day got off to a great start with 8 birders full of enthusiasm and and this week we were joined by John from back east who wanted to film and record what we got up to as he is interested in Citizen Science and Swans of course, well he came to the right group for this, as we are about as much scientific as you can get. With precision stops and a route that was drawn up under meticulous conditions, reports and data to the highest standards.

What can I say about this week, raptors were down and so were swans, but there was a big change around in swans with many having disappeared and new stock taking their place. 9 Tundra Swans were found, a new high all time record for us, with 8 adults in one location along Koksilah Road east.
A lovely male Eurasian Wigeon was seen on Sahilton Road and Northern Shovellers and Lesser Scaup were on Jim’s pond.
The weather was kind to us with hardly any rain, but the wind was a little nippy and some participants had to be coaxed out of the cars on a few occasions.
A nice female Northern Harrier crossed in front of us in Cowichan Bay and a single Turkey Vulture was seen on Koksilah Road east.
Lots of swallows this week with birds being seen at several locations.
Yellow-rumped Warblers put in a appearance and a wonderful Audubon’s sub-species flitted around at the bottom of Corfield Road, they are so welcome in the spring and bring joy to all who get to admire them.

I’m sure I have forgotten some things, but when I let things go more than a day, they are gone.

This coming Wednesday the 27th see’s the last count for this season, so please if you thought of joining us come along and watch as we go about our business of counting the swans and geese. You never know you might end up on film. Remember the Big Year?

Happy Birding
Derrick

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 much gesturing can be seen with the adults. They are eager to get north now that the weather has turned for the good and already I have read of birds in Alaska.
Our day started slow with numbers down in the the Somenos area, but Quist’s Farm came through with 75+ swans.
Tom Windsor Road had a flock of 100+ geese but no raptors which I think is a first for us.
Hwy. 18 had a small flock of swans and a few more geese.
By the time we had reached A&W for a rest stop we did not have much for Daryl to tally. This was all to change as we reached Corefield/Sahilton Roads with almost 250 swans and over 200 geese. Now everyone was happy we got some nice closeups of the birds and our numbers were heading up.

It was about this time when one of the female participants dropped a bombshell and informed us that she had lead her husband to believe that the counts continued all year and that she would be gone every Wednesday, when pressed as to what she got up to once the counts finished she became rather evasive.

As we left the Sahilton Road area our star of the day was spotted, a single Turkey Vulture flew out over the fields across the highway and slowly drifted across towards Koksilah Road west.
A new spot was found on Koksilah, but the swans played real hard to see and so a guestimate was made of the numbers.
Between Riverside, Bench and Wilson Roads we added another 115+ swans and then it was off to Dougan’s Flats where some swans that had flown over from our previous spots and joined up with over 140 geese.
Both neck banded swans from previous weeks were seen again this week P927 and 01UK.
Koksilah Road east once again had the major flocks with 170+ swans and 120 geese.

Our Raptor count took a downturn this week, I guess the adults are all getting ready for baby making duties. Although I had seen a pair of immature eagles attacking the heronry in Cowichan Bay later in the week.

As we left the bay our day was done and a few drops of rain started so it was a good time to finish.

Happy Birding
Derrick

PS
I have just received a good report of an American Bittern in Cowichan Bay, this represents a new record for the Cowichan Bay checklist area, only wish i had found it.

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 birders leave home not knowing what they will find and just now and again you get a real surprise and this week was one of those wonderous times when you experience something you’ve never seen before.
Now I know some would say it would be me making a mistake in identification or missing a few Canada Geese in a few large fields, but no this was a great week for strange encounters.
The first strange happening was a Seal swimming in Somenos Lake, I had spotted it while scanning the far shore and it stayed up long enough for some to get their bins on it. I think this is the first record for a Seal in the lake and can be added to a ever increasing tally of oddballs found in Somenos. Also at this location a Mink scurried across the road while all but one of us was looking the right way.

The second was the first Swallows of spring flying around and over the marsh and lake.

The third and by far the best was a group of Elk numbering near 40 that were lazing in a field for us to admire, it is not often we as birders are afforded such a wonderful sight and we have to thank Kurlene (spelling) for taking us to this wonderful location.

Well I guess I should say something about birds as this is what we were out there for. Good high numbers of Swans this week with 2 Mute’s and 4 Tundra’s being added to our large list. Canada Geese were down, but with me having trouble with my eyesight this week and seeing only those that jumped up and bit me it is no wonder we were missing a few hundred.

Eagles and hawks were about normal and a adult Cooper’s Hawk and a hard to identify Northern Harrier in Somenos Marsh made for some reasonable numbers this week.

Well I think everyone can say that this week was a good one and to all those who were going to come but changed their minds you missed out on some very nice nature.

With just a few weeks of counting left before we retire into summer and our beautiful white birds disappear north to make more swans I would encourage all those out there who thought they would but never did, just do it, life is to short to put things off.

Blessed are those that care about our natural environment.

Derrick

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

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 most of the route, except for the faithful band on the green farmland by the Highway near Mt. Sicker Road. Finally, late in the day, the recorder’s pencil got frantically busy with a windfall of more than 160 swans along Koksilah Road east (north of Bench School) mixed with over 400 Canada Geese. An old acquaintance Neck-band 01UK was in the crowd.

Two adult Tundra Swans could also be picked out. That added to the two Tundras earlier at Bench Road for a respectable total of four for the day. At Bench Road another regular, Blue-band P297, kept its head down at the back of the flock, trying to avoid our notice, but with Kurlene’s thorough knowledge of the back roads, we made a deft flanking movement and had an excellent close view.

The raptor count produced only one Red-tailed Hawk, but 19 Bald Eagles were still on the job, and remarkably, two Peregrine Falcons — one patrolling over winter corn fields, and the other perched in a favorite bare tree.

Without Derrick’s strong guiding hand, the happy-go-lucky team was easily distracted by non-Count observations, like Indian Plum coming strongly into leaf at two sites, and a headless Pileated Woodpecker high up in a tall snag — which on scopal examination proved to be only a large, woodpecker-shaped black hole. Despite Christina’s firm hand on the steering wheel, we may have set a record for “longest swan day”. But all were ready for more next week: –Wednesday, 10 am at the Beverly Street Dog Park, everyone welcome.

Bob

DERRICK’S REPORT

Being waylayed for the early part of the count I headed to Bench Road at about 1:00pm and there I sat waiting, but the counters were a no show, so I headed off to Kelly Road to check out another view for the birds off Koksilah Road west, alas no swans were visible. Back to Bench Road surely the group would be here by now, but no? Where were these eager counters, i sat and waited again, but in the end I thought they must be going so fast they could be in Cowichan Bay by now, so off I went to the Dock Road whereIi walked the dog for twenty minutes and still no counters. By this time my throat was getting dry and my eyes were getting tired so I headed home for a cuppa and a snooze.
Little did I know that these four counters were having so much fun that they were running almost 2 hours late.

I do feel sorry for Bob as he is easily lead and the three woman took advantage of this and kept him out birding to an unholy hour, this poor lad must have been tired and hungry by the time they dumped him out at Beverly Street at 3:45. I do hope Daryl fed Bob some biscuits to keep him going. Too much Indian Plum I think for these ladies.

Next week will see the return of the professional gang and there will be much order returned to the group, none of this staying out most of the day having fun.

Derrick

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 Ridgefield WA in November 2011, thanks Peggy good info. Just shows you how these birds move around the west coast.
Four participants this week, that’s a increase of 100% from last week and big thanks to Kurlene for driving us around in good time.
Eagle numbers were down but Red-tailed Hawks jumped back up again and it is noteworthy how many of the red-tails were in the exact same location as previous weeks. A juvenile Coopers Hawk brought us too a standstill on Francis Street just down from the fisheries building. All in all low numbers for raptors.
Good numbers of Ruddy Ducks were on Somenos Lake and a male Eurasian Wigeon took a lot of finding on Corfield Road.
The weather held off for most of the count which was a good thing as Daryl and Bob who went awol on Koksilah Road west while looking for swans and we had to turn the vehicle around and go look for them, but they did find just under 60 swans at this location.
Many swans were flying around this time and it was hard to know if we had counted them before or not, but we stuck to our rules of not counting birds that were headed into an area that we had not counted yet. Only birds that headed into a previous counted area were added.
The day ended in the rain at Cowichan Bay and it was here that we had our best sighting of the day on the Dock Road, I was counting swans on the far side when Kurlene spotted some shorebirds flying in, it took a while before they showed their heads up out of a dip, but when they did it was 4 Dunlin a common winter migrant, but a hard species to find in the Bay due to all the the little muddy spots spread out over a vast area. They do sometimes sit out on the log booms and if you had a boat close inspection could be had.
Well that was it another count finished and with the last few in sight it will mean another years successful swan and goose hunt under our belt.
Once 5 years have been achieved we can then start making some sense of what we have here in the valley.

Until we meet again

Keep your chin up and a smile on your face.

Derrick

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 up two thirds of the total. A tight, contented flock of Greater Scaup were new to the count. Buffleheads remained numerous, while January’s big flock of American Wigeon were nowhere to be seen. Small numbers of Trumpeter Swan, Horned Grebe, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye, and Hooded Merganser went about their business here and there in the calm water. One Pacific Loon and 6 Surf Scoters were visible further offshore.

A challenge of the Coastal Waterbird Survey is that every observation must be entered as Inland, Near-shore, or Off-shore. Near-shore includes on-shore; Inland means near the shore but over the land. Near-shore means the birds are near enough to see properly, and Off-Shore means they are barely visible in the distance. This is not to be confused with Far-shore, which are also difficult to see, but the birds are actually Inland or possibly Near-shore, depending on how near they are to the far shore. If you can’’t decide, you are allowed to call it Unknown-shore. We hope this is clear. For a while we didn’’t know which numbers to write where, but finally we sorted something out.

Bob and Daryl

Go to Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre website for south side of the Bay.

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 having moved again, not sure why these birds keep changing locations but we watched as a farmer on a ATV scared a large group of swans and geese from his fields, they sure don’t like those four tracks.
The best spot today was Corfield Road with a major flock of swans. Koksilah Road east had the largest group of geese.
On Corfield Road Daryl brought my attention to some Evening Grosbeaks that were coming to a feeder behind the hatchery and really this was our only look at any good dicky birds, unless you count the California Quail and assorted sparrows on St. Catherine’s Drive.
We did have the flock of Greater White-fronted Geese on Sahilton Road and some Cacklers on Koksilah Road east. 5 Dusky Canada Geese were on Corfield Road showing their dark bellies which really stood out.
Immature Bald Eagle numbers were low this week, maybe due to the adults setting up nesting territories and chasing the youngun’s away.
The Ruddy Ducks were back at Somenos Lake although I never bothered to count them this week, but it looked like a 100 or so.
Today was the highest number of adults counted on our trips this season although immatures were down a few from last week. We never did see a Tundra Swan, so I’m sure there was another flock of swans out there somewhere away from our prying eyes.

We finished at the Dock Road where I found a flock of Greater Scaup for Daryl to see, a tricky species to identify from a distance. Something to remember Greater Scaup like salt water estuaries and inlets and Lesser Scaup like lakes and ponds. You very rarely see Lessers if at all on the ocean side waters.

That’s it for this week, short but sweet, as I’m rushed off my feet and have to get on with the cleaning before “she who must be obeyed gets home”.

Have Fun
Derrick

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 Hawks #7.
We started off slow as usual with 6 participants soon getting into the swing of things. Somenos Lake lacked any Ruddy ducks this week, but some Common and Hooded Mergansers were seen along with a couple of adult Bald Eagles. A group of skulking Double-creasted Cormorants tried in vain to avoid my prying eyes.
Quist Farm had lot’s of American Wigeon and just a few swans and eagles. Westholme had hardly any birds with just with just 14 trumpeter’s trying to hide in the sedges.
Richard’s Trail fell flat as has been the case for most of this season.
As we got to the top of the trail a Red-tailed Hawk sat down on a hydro pole to our “RIGHT” this was met with a correction as the location was dispatched to the following car by walkie-talkie. It appears that one of the counters does not know her left from her right and twisted and turned like a contortionist so that she had the bird on her left, which made no earthly difference as the bird was clearly on the cars right. After this all conversation went totally down hill over the airwaves, as the following car lost all confidence in our sightings.

Onwards we went adding eagles and red-tails, but a lack of swans was sadly lacking.

After a quick stop, it was Sahilton Road next where a major flock of swans was found, just under #180 birds were seen along with #550 Canada Geese, #18 White-fronted Geese and #14 Cackling Geese. On Corfield Road I spotted a Peregrine Falcon but before the group could get on it, it flew off behind some trees.
Off to the west we failed to find anything of note until Riverside Road where #24 swans and a handful of Cackling Geese were found. Bench Road came next and we had the blue necked banded tundra swan again at this location with just over #60 Trumpeters.
At Dougan’s Flats we hit the major flock with #280 Trumpeters and #355 Canada Geese, all birds were counted at this location with a counter for a more accurate number.
Koksilah Road east had a small flock of swans which did include our third Tundra.

A few more swans were added in Cowichan Bay along with Buffleheads, Common Goldeneye and way off Surf Scoters. One more Trumpeter was added on the Cowichan River to finish off our day in a light rain, for the most part the weather was good with a light wind.

Next week sees a hand over of the reins as Dorothy and Eric take a welcome break from the pressures of counting swans, it should be a very exciting few weeks with a new tally person and me teamed up with the ladies.

Enjoy the spring as i fear were not done with winter yet.

Happy Birding
Derrick

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 a Northern Shrike that sat in a tree at the corner of TCH and Beverley Street before taking off over the highway to Thrifty’s, they must have House Sparrows on special this week.
Red-tailed Hawk and Bald Eagles were quickly added before we reached Somenos Lake. At the lake we soon found the Ruddy Ducks that were Awol last week and after counting we had 99 birds dozing in front of a group of Double-crested Cormorants.
Many eagles were noted by the time we hit Quist’s Farm and between here and Westholme Road we added just under 40 trumpeters. Richards Trail was found wanting as it has been for the last few weeks. We did add another Red-tailed Hawk and 3 Bald Eagles on Tom Windsor and a large group of Geese on Herd Road, another Red-tail was very close to the road sitting in a small ornamental tree, strange place for this bird.
As we headed down and around to the fields off Drinkwater Road I mentioned to Eric that it’s been a while since we had any birds to count down this way and low and behold 130 Geese and 2 Trumpeters were added. We headed down Sherman Road and I caught a glimpse of a accipter sitting high in a cottonwood, Eric quickly stopped the car so that everyone could get a look at this adult Cooper’s Hawk; as is always the case, us stopping did not go down well with the locals who sounded their horns in displeasure.
After a quick break we headed for Sahilton Road here we had much better looks at another Northern Shrike sitting up on the hydro wires. We did manage to add a few more swans here before we headed west. Koksilah Road west was a bust and only 9 swans were on Riverside Road, but this all changed as we come up the hill on Bench Road and a big white cloud sat on the fields, just under 180 Trumpeters were found and 2 adult Tundras, one of which had a blue neck band. This same bird had been around since the Christmas count on the 1st and it was not until now that we had chance to get it’s number. This bird P927 was our first banded Tundra Swan and one of only a few ever seen on Vancouver Island and big thanks to Peggy Smith who quickly sent in the data, below is it’s details.

Banded: 07/28/2009
Sex: MALE
Age of Bird: Hatched in 2008
Location: Smelt Lake – south of Smelt Island
Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska
Bander: Susan Savage
Alaska Peninsula / Becharof NWR
King Salmon AK

At Dougan’s Flats we added just under 50 swans and a gaggle of geese, there were more swans hiding down behind a large bank which we were unable to count. A Northern Harrier cut across the fields and landed so we all got looks at this bird. Jim’s Pond came through with a few geese, Lesser Scaup and several Bufflehead. Telegraph Road had another 200 geese before we hit Koksilah east. The first stop found 35 swans and then the flood gates opened for geese with almost 1000 birds between Koksilah and Wilmot Roads. It didn’t take long to find the 18 Greater White-fronted Geese, but a bit longer to see a Cackling Goose.
Just under 20 trumpeters were in Cowichan Bay and another Red-tailed Hawk was counted on Dinsdale’s Farm.
That was it. I was given a free transfer to Bob’s car and it was off back to the dog park where waiting to greet us was Christina who turned up late and waved to us somewhere along the roadside before giving up. I think she was ready to go round for another count, but that will have to wait, until we meet again, stay fit and stay healthy and keep counting.

Derrick

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 adult Bald Eagles. The north end of our route was very dull with not much being added by our diligent counters. By the time we had reached our lunch break we had only counted just over sixty swans and 15 raptors.
Those egg salad sandwiches and the small room break must have worked wonders because at the end of Corfield Road we had one of the stars of the winter counting season with a Red-breasted Sapsucker at point blank range, sap sucking on some drill wells on the side of a maple. This dapper member of the woodpecker family gave excellent photo opportunities, one is attached to this report.
We then headed off to the west where we found a nice group of Bald Eagles on trees at Kelvin Creek, but alas no sign of the invisible Killdeer or the most elusive Wilson’s Snipe.
Riverside Road saw a major group of Canada Geese, but no swans. I had under estimated the number of geese but through the walkie-talkie the number was adjusted by the teller. Our one and only Red-tailed Hawk was seen on Bench Road as the rain got a little more intense.

Onwards to Dougan’s Flats where I commented on a group of Wigeon in a field I was quickly corrected that these were Mallards and was told in no uncertain terms to add this into my report. We continued round to Dougan’s Lake where a nice little flock of Trumpeter’s were had with 22 adults and 6 immature, this making for a good average.
It was here that I heard some tittle-tattle and giggling behind me on my mistake of identifying Wigeon for Mallards. Unbeknown to these counters who think that with chocolate biscuits they can get away with such unlady like behavior this was a test orchestrated by myself to see if those who were in our vehicle had learned anything over the years and weeks on my tuition about bird identification and I was glad to see that Dorothy had truly learned the art of duck species id. There will be other unsuspecting tests done over the next few weeks too see if the gigglers have learned anything.

Our quest for swans continued but the best we could do was 20 until we got to Koksilah Road east here we found over 60 Trumpeters and nearly 350 Geese among these were 18 Greater White-fronted Geese a new species I believe for some.
This was about it as we only added a few more swans along the Dock Road, oh and a nice adult Cooper’s Hawk which was admired by us in the pace car before it flew off before the others caught up with us.

That’s it until we meet again

Derrick

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 Canada Geese and over 30 Trumpeter Swans. Several Bald Eagles were in and around the Forest Museum and several were seen to take off over the lake. On the lake the numbers of Ruddy Ducks had dwindled to just 8 birds, maybe the lake partially freezing had something to do with the low numbers. A sleeping Horned/Eared Grebe was spotted and a pair of Pied-billed Grebes dove for food. A few more Bald Eagles were added as we headed north towards Quist’s Farm. We had picked up another 50 plus swans by the time we reached the Westholme Road.

I had forgot to mention that we were using walkey talkies to communicate between cars and for the most part it worked great especially if ours was turned on. “Truckers we are not”

The birds seemed to dry up from here on in to Duncan, but a nice immature Coopers Hawk gave us good looks off Drinkwater Road. We stopped for our usual break at our sponsers A&W and then it was then off to the south, Boys/Sahilton and Corfield Roads only handed us a few additions to our total although Corfield had a nice pair of Eurasian Wigeon for us to admire. It was now time to head west and at the Koksilah west corn fields we had the invisible Killdeer. I had spotted one with my bionic eyes but the others could not see the bird with my directions, so as not to loose face I put up the scope, even then some could not see the bird in the scope view, anyways I think all got too see the bird eventually,as they were looking I picked out 3 more skulking in the field. No wonder we never saw a Snipe?
Onwards we went and finally arrived at our new spot at Riverside and Shaw Roads, Cowichan Station, it didn’t take long before we were getting good looks at 4 adult Tundra Swans and 1 possible immature.We added over 60 Trumpeter Swans and about 150 Canada Geese here.
At Bench Road a large group of swans were way out over the fields and when counted we had added another 130 to our total. Dougan’s Flats added another 35 and then we were off to the east and St.Catherine’s Drive where a family group of 2 adults and 3 young were seen.
Working on a tip from Dave Aldcroft we headed to Telegraph Road and the old sod farm where another 65 swans were added.
I forgot that we had a nice pair of Lesser Scaup on Jim’s Pond who were diving for lunch.
Koksilah Road east had a major flock of geese that included over 20 Cackling Geese and several Dusky Canada Geese. We got skunked on the White-fronts but I was told they were down on Cherry Point Road so I was glad to hear that they had not left the valley.
We worked our way down through Cowichan Bay to Dinsdale’s Farm but as has been seen this year there were no birds. Some have said that the farmer has seeded with a different crop, which is a shame as these fields were purchased by Nature Trust for the birds.
We finished our day on the Dock Road and added a few Trumpeters to our list, it was low tide and we could not see any Mute Swans. As we left the resident Northern Shrike flew across in front of the car.
What was Bob doing in the back seat with those women? What happens on the Dock Road stays on the Dock Road.

Until we meet again

Happy Birding
Derrick

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, 13 species. The results for December and January may be viewed at http://www.cowichanestuary.ca/wildlife/birds/ or on the Bird Studies Canada website at http://alturl.com/zypq5

For the February count we will meet at the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre at 2:30 pm on Sunday, February 10. See you then.

John

North side of the Estuary:

Here is what three cold birders spotted on a glorious calm early Sunday Morning on January 13, 2013 from the north side of Cowichan Estuary: 1 Horned Grebe, 1 Canada Goose, 51 Trumpeter Swan, 220 American Widgeon, 232 Mallard, 8 Surf Scoter, 35 Bufflehead, 9 Common Goldeneye, 5 Hooded Merganzer, 3 Bald Eagle, 56 Glaucous-winged Gull, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 5 Northwestern Crow, and 1 Common Raven. Also spotted were 14 unidentified ducks. A total of 642 coastal birds, 14 species. Visibility was excellent although our spotting scopes were not good enough to identify the distant ducks.

Carol