JOURNAL 108 - THE NOVICE BIRDER

(June 21 & 24)

THE B___S HAVE LANDED! Monday was an exciting day as 6,000 lbs. of books landed in my driveway. 5 days later and my back is still sore from hauling them into the laundryroom, basement, and tv room. Needless to say, I spent most of the week delivering about 400 books that were pre-ordered. It was gratifying to hear all the positive comments from very satisfied customers. The bad news was that I couldn't do much birding. However, when Ralph reported and photographed the day old Spotted Sandpipers at Rascal Lane on Monday, I knew I had to fit in a couple of quick stops in my schedule. (I was there the day before and there was no sign of young ones.) Ralph's excellent day 1 photos are on the bcbirdingvanisland website. I managed a few shots of days 2 & 5.


As I didn't expect to do any bird photography this week, I was willing to take any picture to fill up a journal.

There were a pair of deer down at Rascal lane when I was visiting the "Spotties."

While I was doing "deer" pictures, why not a young Killdeer?

The Band-tailed Pigeons love to get salt down by Nanoose Bay. I stop there once in awhile looking for a good picture.

FUZZY-WUZZIES (Day 2)- The little ones just looked like a pile of fluff on 2 long legs. Their colour blended perfectly with the rocks.

Semipalmated? - I've taken a lot of Spottie pictures but never noticed the webbing between the toes. Live and learn.

BABY DAY - In keeping with the theme, I saw my first brood of Quail chicks in north Qualicum.

FUZZY-WUZZIES - (Day 5) - Somehow I expected not to find the little Spotties by day 5, but there they were, still sticking close to Dad. When Dad gave the signal, they disappeared into the thick bush at the side of the pond when I showed up. As we were on a bit of a peninsula, I just waited for them to come out near the tip of the peninsula. 10 minutes later, they were in my lens.

After my Spottie visit, it was time to check on the House Wrens. They were home and one even offered to share its lunch with me.

Surprise! I thought the little peeping I heard in the bush was an Orange-crowned Warbler. I was pleasantly surprised to se the MacGillivray's pop out of the bush. This is my closest shot yet.

128 pages, full colour, hard cover coffee table book. Anticipated publication date: June 23/05

BOOK UPDATE - I've established book outlets in my part of the world (Nanaimo to Courtenay), but so far the Victorian Birdhouse in Sidney is the only retail outlet I've been able to connect with on the south island. The Nanaimo News Bulletin gave me a wonderful write-up in Thursday's edition. Look in the "entertainment" section of their website.

BOOKS AVAILABLE AT

PARKSVILLE - QUALICUM - MULBERRYBUSH BOOKSTORES

NANAIMO - BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

SAVE-ON FOODS (WOODGROVE)

FALCONER BOOKS

PORT ALBERNI - CLOCKTOWER GALLERY

COURTENAY - GRAHAM'S JEWELLERS

SIDNEY - VICTORIAN BIRD HOUSE

SAANICH - WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED

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