Hi Birders:
Unfortunately, our stalwart leader Derrick, was unable to man the helm on the weekly Wild Goose Chase and Swan Count today. So I offered to pitch in along with Eric the dutiful driver and wife Dorothy, always sharp eyed for perching raptors whilst recording the accurate tallies for the day. On another threateningly grey, very late Autumn day we were accompanied by Christina a newer resident from Radium Hot Springs in the stunning Columbia Valley. She was not forewarned of CVNS’s very active birding activities like I was when I moved here last year, but has just now joined the “chase” in this Valley so highly bestowed for Nature. Christina managed to ensure that Dorothy did not fall silent in the back seat when distracted with scribing/tallying duties and raptor watch. Husband Eric soldiered on, driving in varying weather conditions that saw wondrous sunshine and verdure in the Valleyview by Dougan Lake etc between rain downpours.
I spotted a Boney at the Great Wall of Somenos on the way in – a winter plumage Bonaparte’s Gull behind the PetroCan 7-11 Gas Station where Derrick earlier reported a Glaucous and Herring Gull this week. The very active Victoria birder, Mary Robichaud, reported she could not find those Gulls Tuesday, but did get some 8 Long Billed Dowitchers all of which eluded my survey. A quick side trip up to Art Mann Park on the way in showed all the wildfowl flushed further up Quamichan Lake with a returning boater. The winter resident Ruddy Ducks were out of my binocular range, with lost Scope still languorous in Victoria for this forgetful retiree to retrieve.
As we wandered up the highway stopping at Somenos Lake boat launch, things seemed quite quiet with the occasional daft Coot and a few White Breasted Mergansers (American in my youth, but now Common) rafting lazily on the Lake teasingly on the edge of binocular challenged range. But as we hit the Westholme area the Swans suddenly popped up. My Eastern senses could not tease out the larger (than in Ontario) Western Cackling Geese in the throngs of Canadas but we were very happy to find an ominous looking Goshawk holding watch nearby. A couple of female Pheasants threw off this Easterner with their surprising flavian, light phase as they perched on the corral beside the barn suggesting a more recent domestic origins by Richards Trail. Reconsideration makes me realize their wildness. A huge number of Pintails nearby seemed to illustrate they felt safe from hunters here, but the mere sound of my conversation voice flushed a hundred or so.
A quick pit stop at A&W allowed a picnic break and onwards south after the heavy rain squall that timed nicely with our stop. A trip down Sahilton Road pleasantly showed up a brace (aerie) of eagles. Again the lack of Scope challenged our binoculars but the sun again smiled upon us to improve our view. Naturally I had to check these rarities (for this Ontarion) online with pics + guides but certainly we had our Golden Eagle with presumed youngsters. Christina let it slip that she has several times noted the Golden Eagle young in the nearby area in the past couple of years that now seemed to have come to maturity. All of this has escaped this recent birder’s knowledge but nice to have the 3rd FOI (first of Island) bird in one short trip. Then on to the lovely Valley and then abortive trip around Cowichan Bay Village for Swans. The California Quail on St. Catherines again showed in sunny conditions – both sides of the road where the feeders once drew in the White Crowned Sparrows etc. Finding a Killdeer at the Great Wall of Somenos upon return was a fitting end to a productive outing (Mary reported 2 the previous day on eBird but no Bonaparte’s). No Shrikes or Harriers this day, but a fun tour with fine company.
– Robin Lawson