This week 7 birders headed out on the incredibly warm day, word had got around that it was going to be warm and there were no signs of brollies and wellies seen the previous week. We got many Canada Geese on the school fields before arriving at Somenos Lake, here the lake looked bare but tucked over in the corner were 6 Ruddy Ducks and 3 Horned Grebes, one solitary Canada Goose sat out in the middle of the lake. One bright spot was a flyover immature Northern Harrier who flew right over us. At the Exhibition Grounds a far off American Kestrel was seen hawking over the fields. Off up the highway to Quist’s Farm, but the fields were very bare of birds, 2 Bald Eagles sat up in the trees and that was it. 5 unidentified swans flew by far off up in the sky. Along Westholme Road we had many Common Ravens sitting and flying. A pair of Great Horned Owls could not stand the sight of each other and turned their backs. The hoards of gulls seen last week were gone so we moved straight on to Richards Trail where many ducks were seen including American Wigeon, Northern Pintail and Green-winged Teal. A Red-tailed Hawk showed well and was last seen heading west to get into a battle with a Bald Eagle. We then headed to Tom Windsor Drive and our best sighting of the day a pair of Western Bluebirds were sitting on the hydro wires, we radioed to the other vehicle which is always lagging behind but by the time they turned up the birds had flown into some fir trees, after turning around at the top of the road we came back down parked and got out, the birds were still around and young birds could clearly be seen with fluttering begging type flight, after a while the birds took flight and headed west down across the meadow, but there were not just two or three but 9 or10 Western Bluebirds. It is strange that we are out looking for a species that were in dire trouble just 50 years ago with the Trumpeters and we go find a species that is just now recovering from a massive decline. I don’t think we will ever go out again and find more Western Bluebirds than we did Trumpeter Swans in November as we did this week. We had spent a long time admiring these birds and were way behind and so we booted along adding a few Red-tailed Hawks on our way to the rest stop at A&W. Somewhere along the way, I can’t remember where, I spotted some California Quail beside the road, then someone said look there’s a male on top of the brambles keeping lookout, Barry inched the vehicle forward and I gave my impression of a chipping young bird, while Barry leaned forward and got a nice picture of the said male.
After our break we went down Boys Road and it was here that we found our only Trumpeter Swans for the day, 6 adults way out loafing in the field. Several Bald Eagles were added to our list as we moved over to Sahilton Road, but the fields were void of any birds no ducks, geese no nothing. Halfway down the road I called Barry to a halt as I spotted some sparrows dancing in the trees, with a little pishing a little Ruby-crowned Kinglet came out, if you have ever tried to get a picture of these active little mites I think you will appreciate the great capture Barry got, minus my big head in the way. I have become a little worried the way Barry gets close to me just to get a picture and wish he would get some birds on his side of the car instead of leaning on me. There is nothing worse than having a 400mm lens banging away at the side of your head as it inches its way towards the open window.
Many different mushroom species were seen on our trip this week and many pictures were taken, not sure if any were edible but I never saw Kurlene leap out of the vehicle with her basket, so I guess not.
Over to the west side we went, but nothing was seen, not even the local deer put in an appearance. Dougan’s Flats added a few geese, but we were now suffering from a lack of birds. Back across the highway to St.Catherine’s Drive and a nice bunch of geese awaited our counting. That was it until we hit Cowichan Bay village and added 3 Mute Swans. Dinsdale Farm had nice assortment of birds with up to 13 Killdeer and 17 Snow Geese, I managed to count just over 150 Canada Geese out in the fields, the Cacklers seen last week appeared to have moved on although some of the geese way out could have had a few mixed in. Our last stop was the Dock Road but with just a couple of Bald Eagles and the same amount of Mute Swans we were done just as the temperature started to drop.
I did hear that there were a group of swans over on Herd Road in the flooded fields with a couple of Tundra Swans there, but this is out of our route.
I am finding it hard to leave out some comments on the previous day’s antics to our birders south of the border, so I will just say it will be hard to Trump this day’s sightings.
Photo Credits
Great Horned Owls by Barry Hetschko
California Quail by Barry Hetschko
Ruby-crowned Kinglet by Barry Hetschko
Mushrooms by Zan Stenhouse
Northern Harrier by Zan Stenhouse
Until we count again
Derrick
From Comox Valley Naturalists:
Results from the Nov 1st Trumpeter Swan Count are now in: 311 adults and 54 Juveniles for a total of 365, along with a record 770 Snow Geese.