We did the first of the season count last Wednesday and five eager counters piled into old Derrick’s truck for the event, my he’s a wonderful driver, slows for anything that looks like a bird and I do mean anything.
Bob and Helen kept the tally, so you can’t blame me for any oversights, while Daryl pointed out anything that we missed. Young Derrick was his usual self with many wisecracks and a great ability to spot things other than birds, many dead beer and pop cans could be seen on our trip, what I need is a big net.
The count started with a flyover flock of Trumpeter’s at the dog park and was quickly followed with four more flying across Somenos Lake.
Old Derrick had seen a Red-tailed Hawk attack a female Mallard and wandered down into the field to retrieve it, when he returned he had the poor duck in his hands and was dribbling at the thought of duck for dinner, but I convinced him to let the hawk have it. Derrick took the bird back to the field where it took flight and was gone with no one getting a nibble of her.
We did encounter two more Trumpeter’s on Somenos lake and one at the Quist Farm out at Crofton and that was it until we reached Cowichan Bay and found two more.
All the Trumpeters were adults which I hope is not a trend for this season.
On Sahilton Road we had a nice flock of Geese with 7 White-fronted and 15 Cackling Geese in amongst the Canada’s.
The Canada Goose numbers were high compared to last year, but these are early days yet to start making comparisons.
This year we are also counting hawks and eagles and we were not dissapointed with what we found, 8 Bald Eagles, 6 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Coopers Hawk and a flitting glimpse of a large accipter along Westholme Road that had the size and flight of a North Goshawk, but we were unable to confirm the identity.
Anyways a good start to the season and we all had fun.
Derrick Marven
Nature Cowichan
With Nature, For Nature.