JOURNAL 161 - Apr. 14-17/06




THE FONZ

The Fonz is back. He's hanging out at French Creek on the top of a fishing boat mast.

Here he is. He's got the same hairdo as a Double-crested Cormorant.

He just has to slick it back with some hair gel.

He's shy, but the gals love him.


GULL GALLERY

I must admit a growing admiration for gulls, but I make no claim to any ability to identify any but perhaps the most classic rendition of any gull. In fact, just to set the record straight, any gull and bird identification on this website is subject to correction. Regardless of whether I can identify a bird or not, that does not prevent me from taking their pictures, and somedays there are no other choices. All these pictures were taken at French Creek on Apr. 14 when the gulls were all still bulking up on herring roe.

Thayer's Gull

Herring Gull - correction - a pale-eyed Thayer's (thanks to Mike T.)

Same Thayer's Gull

California Gull


HEEEEERE'S HARRY! - I just love my annual photo sessions with Harry. He is such a character. I think he has multiple personalities.

Harry can be nasty at times. He likes picking on Henry.

Harry can be the perfect gentleman when he wants to be.

Here's his sweet, innocent, angelic personality.

Oh, oh! - See the twinkle in his eye? I wouldn't trust him if I were you.

So far Harry hasn't been harassing the girls. Hariet comes and goes as she pleases.

I guess I shouldn't have put Hariet's picture in. Harry thought this was going to be an exclusive article about him.

He's ready to give me a piece of his mind.

He sure looks tough. I don't like messing with him.


FROM THE FILES

Yellow-rumped Warbler at Craig Bay. (Apr. 7)

Hermit Thrush in my back yard. (Apr. 11)

Savannah Sparrow at Nanaimo Estuary. (Apr. 11)

Surf Scoters and 1 White-winged near Denman Island. (Apr. 5)


Apr. 17 - Deep Bay Day

Occasionally I get it right. Today I suggested to my wife that we check out Deep Bay for the Yellow-billed Loon and the Horned Grebe. It was wishful thinking, but the bird gods cooperated. Thanks BG.

The Yellow-billed Loon was about 200 meters out. After I walked away from the spit, it surfaced right in front of the spot I had just vacated. I was too far away for a decent photo, but here's a distant shot anyway.

I was sure all the Longtails had left for their breeding grounds, but look who got left behind. I hope he's still there in his breeding plumage in a week or so.

The flocks of Greater Scaup have been diminishing. There only about 8 there today.

I was disappointed that the Horned Grebe hadn't molted into its breeding plumage.

A pair of Red-breasted mergansers slid by in the shallows. They were so engrossed with their foraging that they didn't notice me until they were at point blank range.

They noticed me as I turned to pan their movement. It was time to leave.

It's not often that I get a close-up of Red-breasted Merganser. This is as good as it gets.

As I was disappointed with the Horned Grebe at Deep Bay, I decided to check out Brickyard. I hit the jackpot. There were 26 Horned Grebes parading around the bay. One was close enough for some reasonable pictures. Click, click, etc. - the beauty of digital ...

Compared to the standard plumage, the alternate plumage is sensational!

I stayed for 2 hours hoping that a few grebes or murrulets would move closer to shore, but once again, I had to admire them from a distance.

Finally, after a pleasant Deep Bay morning and Brickyard afternoon, my birding day was done - that is until I ran into a pair of playful Yellow-rumped Warblers. There's always time for 1 last photo shoot.


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

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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