Hi Birders
Sorry for the delay in my report but we have uninvited birding guests turn up from Ontario. I have been commandeered into housework, I thought I was exempt.
Anyhow the count went off very well with record numbers of counters this week, 10 and half people (Dorothy’s numbers) in three cars set out on this the last sunny day until March.
One of the drivers did manage to dump one counter but then found Bob enjoying two for one Muffins at A&W. So we took pity on him, and dragged him along for the ride
This week I had set a few mistakes once again to try and catch out the counters who weren’t paying attention, firstly a piece of wood looking like a adult Bald Eagle which they soon corrected me on and then a Red-tailed Hawk that showed more like a Raven than a Buteo. This got the attention of the counters who then did not believe a word I told them.
I had mentioned as we drove around to our new guy Gordon that the swan numbers were a bit slow this year, well to put things straight last year on the corresponding count we had 213 swans and this year we had 211, so go figure. The immatures have certainly put on a good show this year with very high percentage against adults, Ido hope this continues through the season.
By the way Gordon your duck is a Ruddy Shellduck an introduced species in Italy and seen several times in the Cowichan Valley also.
The Snow Goose put in an appearance again this week, it has now been seen in three different locations, so the goose population is spreading it around the valley. The numbers of geese were up again this week with three big flocks being located.
Many Killdeer were had with most hiding under the wings of the geese and moving with the geese across the field, I guess it is a safe place to hide away from the prying eyes of those who would fancy a plover snack. One lonely Killdeer sat on a log in Cowichan Bay and managed to get his picture taken, he didn’t stay lonely for long as just as we were about to leave a second bird flew in and landed right beside him for company.
We did have a Northern Harrier glide out over Somenos Lake and a few Bald Eagles had returned to Boy’s Road after making me look silly last week in front of my wife.
A very strange sight this week was a Bald Eagle that made some funny flight moves over the fields on Koksilah Road west, Eric stopped the car immediately on my command and we watched as this Eagle glided across and came at us, after a couple of loops we realized that what we were looking at was a remote controlled plane shaped like a Bald Eagle, amazing thing; Iwondered if it was to be used to chase geese and ducks and swans out of the farmers field; it had us fooled for a minute or so.
We were treated to some misty looks at some Elk this week with a single bull herding his girlfriends into the woods out of sight from prying eyes.
Once again we did well for Red-tailed Hawks, but this week only one far off Coopers Hawk was had. It was while viewing this bird that I set about another bird identification quiz. About 2KM across the field I pointed out to the group a bush and asked them I they could see the bird on top of it, most couldn’t even see the bush let alone the Chickadee, the group just laughed at me and so we headed off to our next location.
We did lack ducks this week with nothing of note, although a nice look at a Surf Scoter was had off the Dock Road.
Wilmott Road came through with large numbers of Geese and this group had about 35 Cacklers in with them. As I walked down the road a Wilson’s Snipe landed in the ditch in front of me and then took off again down the road, the counters had seen it pass by them.
Looking back over the last couple of seasons we are just about on target although less adult swans that we are used to; there appears to be less food source for the birds around the valley than in previous years, but this is all conjecture.
A great day was had by all of us and the weather once again on a Wednesday did not disappoint. The numbers of birds was good and the positive attitude and general good humour of our group was wonderful.
See you all next week.
Derrick