Hi Birders
Five of us set out on this wet and windy Ash Wednesday, the start of this count had to be the worst weather that we have encountered this season.
It was hard to get some of the counters to open their windows let alone get out of the truck, but in the end we had some sunny breaks and a nice rainbow out over Mt. Tzouhalem.
At the rest stop just south of the DU pond we had a Northern Harrier fly over and about 20 Swallows which were mostly Tree’s with a couple of Violet-greens thrown in for good measure. I’m sure the swallows wished they were somewhere more south on this horrible day.
With the wind Somenos Lake was pretty bare with just a couple of both swans and geese and a hand-full of Common Mergansers.
Along to Mt. Sicker Road where again numbers were low, but we did have a few Bald Eagles at this location.
Around onto Westholme Road we had a good find of nearly 40 Trumpeters and 45 Canada Geese.
The only thing noteworthy on Richards Trail was the American Kestrel.
Tom Windsor Drive produced 3 Canada geese and a single dead glove, not sure how long this poor black five fingure specimen had been laying there but it appeared to be very fresh.
It was then poor sailing all the ways round to Sahilton Road where we had just under 50 Swans with a single adult Tundra looking good in it’s nearly new plumage. 26 Greater White-fronted Geese were at this location along with 4 Dusky Canada Geese in amongst the 120 or so Canada’s.
At two locations on Koksilah west we had over 200 swans one of which had a collar, but the counter refused to get out in the torrential rain, what a wimp. With the immatures now changing their coats into a more adult look it was hard work trying to count them through the rain spattered window.
At Bench we had about 100 birds, here it appeared we might have missed some as i got a report of some birds hiding around the corner at Wilson and Soule Roads, oh well i will make sure this location gets checked next week, that’s if any are left to count.
Dougan’s Flats turned out to be our best spot of the day with over 150 Swans and 232 geese, 5 of which were Cackling Canada’s. The best was yet to come as we tried to enter the hwy a large raptor was circling the road, I yelled stop and upon inspection it was an adult Golden Eagle, it was joined by a Red-tailed Hawk and 2 Bald Eagles all going around in circles, a second adult Golden Eagle joined the group for a memorable day counting swans?
After much hoopla and a couple of pictures we were on our way to St. Catherine’s Drive where the single adult Tundra which was photographed last week was still in the fields with 11 Trumpeters. The bird sure does appear a lot whiter than the Trumpeters, someone mentioned Persil against another leading brand.
Koksilah East did not disappoint with a large number of birds. 01UK a collared Swan was at this location along with nearly 275 Trumpeter’s and 50 Canada’s with 1 White-front and 3 Aleutian Cackling Geese.
Along to Dinsdale’s Farm where we had just over 20 swans and nearly the same amount of Geese although 6 of the birds were Dusky Canada Geese.
What a day, one of our worst weather wise, but one of the best bird wise.
It was so warm and comfy in the truck that the female counters did not want to get out at Beverly and had to be ordered to vacate the vehicle.
Any mistakes in the final tally are not my fault as I only have ten fingers and 9 and half toes
Big thanks to all involved and especially Derrick the elder for the use of his truck once again, it sure does make for easy counting.
With just about three counts to go, most of you have missed some wonderful sights this season, you must get out more and enjoy what nature has to offer.
Derrick the younger