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
