Feb. 12 - Yard Birds There's no water on my property except after some substantial and persistent rainfall which was the case for January. As a result, I have a tempory pond which is quickly disappearing. However, it did attract a new yard bird last week - a Great Blue Heron. For the past 3 days the pond has had a few other visitors such as the 2 pairs of Mallards this morning. Flickers are very common around here although I haven't seen any on the suet this year. Maybe I don't get up early enough. Varied Thrush are also very common, but they are always heard and seldom seen. I was surprised to see one sunning in an alder beside my driveway. Feb. 13 - Old Coot Day Monday was sunny but extremely windy, and the wind pushed me all the way to Duncan where it was calm and warm. Not knowing any of Derrick's secret bird places, I had to settle for Art Mann Park and Somenoes Marsh. Art Mann was chaos as a child and father were having a blast feeding the gulls, coots, and ducks. The child would squeal with delight as he threw a handful of crumbs resulting a free-for-all with the birds. It was fun to watch - maybe the child will become a bird lover. I took advantage of the distraction for a portrait of the American Coot. Interesting bill - reminds me of the markings on an Egyptian Pharoh. Meanwhile, a male Common Merganser edged its way into view and proceeded to dive. It came up with a wiggling bullhead which was no match for the serrated bill of the Merganser. After the appetizer, the Merganser continued to probe the area looking for more bullheads. The next few dives were unsuccessful, so the Merganser gave up and did a little grooming. Notice the matching feet and bill! Over at Somenoes, there were a lot of Double-crested Cormorants sitting around. This one decided to leave when I arrived. The Forest Museum pond at Somenoes was fairly busy with Lesser Scaup, D-C Cormorants, Common Mergansers, Mallards, and American Coot. There were also a pair of Northern Shovelers which were too far away. I walked along the highway trying for a closer picture, but unlike the coot, the Shovelers always shied away. Feb. 15 The Arctic front hit today, freezing out my golf match. Was it a sign for me to go birding? I didn't wait for anyone to say, no. After seeing the Snowy and Short-eared at the Nanaimo Estuary last week, I had every intention of checking again. Today was my chance. I was greeted by a symphony of meadowlark music in celebration of Mozart's 250th anniversary. Meadowlarks flew here and there, disappearing in the tall grass and occasionally landing on a tree or shrub. There was no way to get close to them so I decided to look for the owls. The Snowy wasn't around but the Shorties were. They were hunting towards the river, eventually landing on a stunted tree. One of the Shorties left to do some more hunting, but the other stayed for awhile. Feb. 16 - Roll Call For no particular reason, I decided to take attendance of my birds today. The Northwest Bay Kestral must have heard somehow as it was present for the first time this winter. The 5 amigos - Parksville Brant were absent for the first time in weeks and so was the whole Parksville Bay scoter flock. At French Creek, the King (male Kingfisher)was perched on a small tree by the creek, but a surprise was the male Eurasian who had been missing since fall. There was no sign of the greater Yellowlegs across the creek. At Qualicum, the expected scoters and Common Goldeneye were present, but no sign of the Harlequins, Oystercatchers, and Turnstones. Finally, Deep Bay - Longtails, Greater Scaup, W-W and Surf Scoters, Red-necked Grebe, Harlequins, cormorants, Common Loon, and Buffleheads were there as usual. For the first time in months, the Pigeon Guillemot was in attendance, and so were 2 newcomers - Yellow-billed Loons. I always worry when one of my birds disappears. It felt so good to see it had returned. Of course, I don't know that it's the same bird, but I have a good imagination. Wherever it was, it must have been treated well. It was in good spirits. It even did a little swim around and flight before I left. Look what the cold north wind blew in. The Yellow-billed Loon was feeling right at home in the freezing wind. This was my first Yellow-billed Loon since the Schooner Cover bird in late 2003. The bright, creamy upturned bill was prominent from a distance and a contrast to the steely cold blade of the accompanying Common Loon. The pale barring on the back was typical of a juvenile. It was in the company of a Common Loon but not close enough for a good comparison photo. On the way home, it was sunny and calm in Qualicum. I stopped to photograph some Common Goldeneye. Show time - everyones out to impress. Feb. 18 - Sex on the Bay Starring Mr. & Mrs. Barrow's Goldeneye It was a clear, crispy, sunny morning at Parksville Park. The flooded area by the beach volleyball courts was frozen, and the gulls, geese, and 2 Brant were transfixed, watching their reflections in the ice. Meanwhile, Parksville Bay was placid. With the scoter flock AWOL, there were only a few scattered Buffleheads bobbing here and there. Mr. Barrow's and his little flock were probing the shoreline in search of small crabs for breakfast until they were disturbed by strollers and moved offshore about 30 meters. Mrs. Barrow's heard that crabs were an aphrodasiac. Jr. Barrow's was too young to know what was going on. Sex and reproduction are as fundamental to life as breathing and eating. The act of procreation is a true miracle and should be regarded with respect and wonderment. Mrs. Barrow's lovingly quacks, "I'm ready dear." Mr. Barrow's struts his stuff and declares "I'm ready too dear." The weight of the male would be enough to drown the submissive female, but what appears to be an act of cruelty is actually just the opposite. The male is keeping the female's head above water. After a brief or maybe long minute, procreation was achieved ... I wonder where they're going for their honeymoon? Feb. 19 - Quick trip to Parksville Slipping and a sliding - The Brant at Parksville Park was trying to skate on the frozen puddle. At French Creek I was pleased to find the male Eurasian still there mainly because I was looking for his mate. Eureka! Finally, for the first time in 3 years I found a female Eurasian. The female Eurasian definitely had a lighter coloured head than the American. The 2 Eurasians generally stayed very close together. Feb. 20 - Deep Bay again. Somehow, the female Long-tailed ducks never seem to come in as close as the males, but this was an exception. I never get tired of seeing the Harlequins. Do you? 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