NOV. 14/05 - The Notch is the hump or hill on the east side of Nanoose Bay overlooking the torpedo test facility. Despite being only a few kilometers from my home, I rarely bird there. With the promise of sunshine this morning, I decided to rectify the situation. Even without birds, the hike is worthwhile. A well-used trail passes through lush moss-carpeted Arbutus and Garry Oaks meadows and the vista from the top is splendid - Lantzville and Nanaimo to the south an the snow-capped Arrowsmith range to the west. As well, the steady climb up is sure to get your heart pumping at twice it's normal rate.

BANDTAIL BANDWAGON - It's funny how you don't see a bird for a long time then all of a sudden you can't avoid it. I know I posted Band-tailed Pigeons last week, but that was from a distance of about 150'. Today I was about 50' from 5 Bandtails on a Garry oak soaking in the energizing rays of sun.

A FALL SURPRISE - If you remember my summer journals, the Towsend Warbler was one of my most elusive targets. Mostly, it was too high in the trees, but on the one occasion when it was close enough, it was perpetual motion and always behind a leaf or branch. I had definitely postponed my Townsend pursuit until next summer, but a yellow flash in an arbutus today caught my attention. A quick look in the camera revealed a Townsend Warbler foraging through the arbutus leaves and clusters of bright red berries. The Townsend was quick, but so was the camera set at 1,000 ISO. I managed about 6 clicks before it was gone. They were distant shots, but I was happy with my best shots so far.

WEST COAST CHRISTMAS CARD - Arbutus berries and a Townsend Warbler - that's a perfect Christmas picture for me. Is it too early to wish you a merry Christmas? Even if it is, Merry Christmas to all and may the birds be with you.

HERMAN'S HERMITS - I saw 1 Hermit Thrush last winter in Nanoose. Today I saw 3. Do they prefer higher elevations? I'm not sure but I enjoyed finding 3 on the Notch.

The first Hermit Thrush was feeding on Arbutus berries. The last 2 were foraging on the ground.

NOV. 16/05 - A LONG-NECKED GOOSE?

After a round of golf today at Fairwinds, a number of people asked me if I had seen the dirty-whitish goose on the 3rd fairway. I hadn't so proceeded in trying to get a better description. The consensus was dirty-white, size of a Canada Goose, and short neck. From that, I suggested Snow Goose. After lunch I went home, got my camera, and found the "goose." It was the juvenile Trumpeter Swan that had been in the area with an adult for the past 10 days. I'm surprised it was still around as the resident Mute Swans continuously chase it out of the ponds

As far as I can remember, only the occasional Trumpeter has landed at Fairwinds since 1988 when it opened. None of them had ever stayed more than a day.

NOV. 17/05 - As I alluded with the Bandtails, it never rains - it only pours. The same with Trumpeters. As fate would have it, I passed through Courtenay today on the way back from Campbell River. There seemed to be Trumpeters at every farm.

It was a dull, overcast day, but I couldn't drive by Farquharson's Farm without visiting the Trumpeters. There were about 100 in the main field, mostly in the mud.

Unlike the Fairwinds juvenile Trumpeter, most of the Courtenay juveniles were still mostly gray suggesting a later birthdate. Is that a reasonable conclusion or is there another reason?

NOV. 18 - AROUND TOWN - Just a quick trip around Parksville this morning wishing for a Snowy Owl. (Maybe someone across the water can bring one over from Iona.) There was no Snowy Owl or any other owl for that matter. Like the Bald Eagle, I had to settle on a duck or two.

TAG TEAM SAGA - The stage of nature can be brutal at times, but one can't take sides. There would be a victor, and there would be a victim. That's how the script was written, and that's what I saw this morning at Parksville Bay. A gang of 5 Bald Eagles continuously harassed a Mallard to exhaustion until it became easy prey. But, a funny thing happened on the way to the dinner table. The Eagle dropped the duck, and I think the duck sank. The crabs had the last laugh. (PS - Guy noticed the band on the Mallard - sorry I didn't get the number.)

Having no pictures except for the eagle above, I decided to check Craig Bay to see if the female Greater Scaup was back in residence. You're not going to believe me when I say that it was back and in the EXACT same spot I first saw her last winter!

You're not going to believe me again when I tell you that the Scaup's partner was also there - the female Ring-necked duck. Now I don't know much about biology and courtship rules for ducks, but if human rules apply, I rest my case.

There was also a female Hooded Merganser nearby, but I don't think there was a triangle here.

At the entranceway to Admiral's Lagoon, I couldn't get organized for a picture of the Yellow-shafted Flicker, but I got one of the hydrid siblings.

BOOKS AVAILABLE AT

PARKSVILLE - QUALICUM - MULBERRYBUSH BOOKSTORES

NANAIMO - BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

SAVE-ON FOODS (WOODGROVE)

SAVE-ON FOODS (COUNTRY CLUB)

CHAPTERS

FALCONER BOOKS

COLE'S

PORT ALBERNI - CLOCKTOWER GALLERY

COURTENAY - GRAHAM'S JEWELLERS

SIDNEY - VICTORIAN BIRD HOUSE

COMOX - BLUE HERON BOOKS

BOWSER - LIGHTHOUSE GIFTS

DEEP BAY -

SAANICH - WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED

VICTORIA - BOLEN'S BOOKS

MUNRO'S

CAMPBELL RIVER - CAMPBELL RIVER MUSEUM

DUNCAN - VOLUME 1 BOOKSTORE

CHEMAINUS - LITTLE SHOP OF NOVELS

LADYSMITH - SALAMANDER BOOKS (FRASER & NAYLOR)

NANOOSE - SCHOONER COVE MARINA

SOOKE - SOOKE HARBOUR HOUSE