May 26/05 - The White-crowned Sparrow is another common year-round resident. There's none around my yard in the summer, but there's plenty around Kaye Road.

MAY 27/05 - HARLEQUIN ROMANCE - I haven't seen the Harlequins for almost a month. It was a pleasant surprise to see a flock of 50 just north of Qualicum. Where's the romance? Well, I do love seeing them.

May 28 - A LEISURELY LEGACY MARSH MORNING - Legacy Marsh is an amazing bird and wildlife habitat just north of Nanaimo on the west side of Lantzville. My goal today was to photograph the Black-headed Grosbeak and some Willow Flycatchers. The Grosbeaks stayed out of range, but one of the many Willow Flycatchers was very agreeable.

The Marsh Wren at the south end was a non-stop chatterbox. Maybe its job is like a Walmart greeter for all the visitors to the marsh.

Willow Flycatchers were everywhere with"fitz-bews" coming from all corners of the marsh. Most were quite wary and didn't stay around for pictures, but halfway up the trail, I finally found a friendly one. There were also a couple of Olive-sided Flycatchers in the area.

Swainson's Thrush could be heard in every grove of trees, and one was actually out in the open enjoying the morning sunshine.

A pair of male Wood Ducks were hunting near the rocky viewpoint. The water was bubbling with something that attracted the ducks. Maybe they were turtles.

May 29/05 - MORE YARD BIRDS

BABY ROBIN? What if I told you its Mom was a Robin? Okay, foster mother. Now you get it.

REAL ROBINS - "Mommy, I'm hungry." I bet you've heard that before. But Mommy simply said, "Get your own worm, Junior." And that's exactly what junior did.

The proud parent Eagle at north Dolphin Lake said the babies will be peeking over the nest pretty soon.

128 pages, full colour, hard cover coffee table book. Anticipated publication date: June 15/05