Hi
I have to admit that it was something I didn’t know was going to happen, after slogging around on the Christmas Count I was feeling good, so it came as a shock when going out to feed the birds on Tuesday morning that I slipped, stumbled and then fell, putting a dent in my duff and hitting my noggin on a rock wall knocking myself silly and causing blood to sliver down my neck. My knee was twisted and my ankle was turned over and I couldn’t move. As I lay prone in the torrential rain with seed scattered about my torso, Junco’s and Chickadees pecked at my body. I knew then that I had to make it to the house before the local crows spotted me and set to on my eyeballs. So there you have it, I was unable to make the count on Wednesday as I was skulking in bed, but three trusted volunteers came through and scored big time.
Here is Bob’s shortened report:
Ten A.M. at the Dog Park, only 3 participants, no data sheets, no news and no Derrick! But no rain, either, so the small band pressed on, and soon tracked down a message that Derrick was temporarily out of action. A flurry of creative photo-copying provided some ad hoc data sheets, and we were off on the usual route, not too far behind schedule. The loop north of Duncan produced little to slow us down, except for over 150 Ruddy Ducks on the far side of Somenos Lake, still hanging out there after their Christmas Count appearance.
Swan numbers picked up smartly as we swung south through Sahilton, Koksilah and Riverside/Bench Road areas. And at last, more perched Bald Eagles and a couple of Red-tailed Hawks. By the time we motored north again, Cowichan Bay estuary was brilliantly lit by the low sun in the west. Distant ducks looked gorgeous, but there was naught for our swan and goose totals. Nevertheless, the final count for Trumpeter Swans was a satisfying 463 birds.
Bob Nation
Until the next count
Derrick