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.