Mar. 3 - with my apologies to Ed Pelizzon ...
GAMBLING ON THE BRAMBLING
I was gambling on the Brambling The Steller Jay came to say, "No Brambling today." As our provincial bird, the Stellar deserves occasional recognition. Juncos were all around In the trees and on the ground. Consolation bird - A Wood Duck is a joy to see any day. 9 Greater White-fronted Geese were a fine surprise. Mar. 4-5 - Herring Spawn Day The herring spawn is one of the most spectacular natural wonders of Vancouver Island, and the Parksville-Qualicum area is where much of it can be seen. The spectacle continues for a week or so as the Pacific herring lays its eggs in the shallows waters of the mid-island. Oblivious of the herring spawn was the female Common Merganser at French Creek. A light-coloured wigeon in French Creek caught my eye. It looked like an immature male Eurasian. Signs of herring - The milt of the male herring coloured the ocean a milky-turquoise from Qualicum Bay to Parksville. Gulls by the 1000's flocked to Oceanside for the annual event. The beach at Parksville was too busy for the Brant. They flew in for a look but headed over to Rathtrevor. 1000's of California Gulls have made their annual flight to oceanside to take advantage of the bounty. Herring are caught in gill nets (foreground) and seiners. Bloated sealions stuffed with herring roll among the nets. Rows of seiners sealed off the entrance to Parksville Bay. The elements of life - The female lays her eggs on any piece of seaweed it can find, and the males tranform the waters to a turquoise blue with their milt. The milt appears as a frothy mass of bubbles at the water's edge. Feeding frenzy - Gulls, ducks, seals, and sealions congregate for the amazing event which will last for several weeks after the spawn. Huge rafts of ducks float leisurely offshore bulking up on the protein for their annual migration to their breeding grounds. In places the shoreline will become an odiferous layer of roe from 6 to 10 inches deep. 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 SAVE-ON FOODS SIDNEY - VICTORIAN BIRD HOUSE COMOX - BLUE HERON BOOKS BOWSER - LIGHTHOUSE GIFTS DEEP BAY - SAANICH - WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED VICTORIA - BOLEN BOOKS MUNRO'S CAMPBELL RIVER - CAMPBELL RIVER MUSEUM BOOK BONANZA SAVE-ON FOODS DUNCAN - VOLUME 1 BOOKSTORE CHEMAINUS - LITTLE SHOP OF NOVELS LADYSMITH - SALAMANDER BOOKS NANOOSE - SCHOONER COVE MARINA SOOKE - SOOKE HARBOUR HOUSE
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Tho the odds were mighty low
I was dreading of the dipping
With just a mile to go
Georgia's smile was warming
But her words were mighty grim
Chances of the Brambling
Were looking mighty slim
Juncos, Finches, and Chickadees
Were scrambling back and forth
I imagined that the Brambling
Was heading for the north
I waited for an hour
Then another 45
My toes were nearly frozen
But I was still alive
I said good-bye Brambling
With a smile upon my face
Dipping on the Brambling
Was not a big disgrace
As we say in golf
When nothing comes to pass
We're lucky to be standing
On the right side of the grass
Shovelers and Pintails at Somenoes
But Green Heron wasn't home
I had to go to Cedar
For the ending of this poem
3 Black ducks a dabbling
And 9 White-fronted Geese
Had my camera clicking
And put my mind at peace
But the best was yet to come
A present mighty fine
A pretty array of colours
A Wood Duck so divine
Now my poem is over
You're happy that I'm done
Dipping on the Brambling
Was still a lot of fun.
