PELAGIC MEMORIES
Sunset over the Pacific ... somehow they all seemed special ...
STAR OF THE SHOW - Despite 1000's of amazing pelagic birds, the star of the trip was the LESSER NIGHTHAWK. I had originally called it a Common Nighthawk but several experienced birders immediately noticed some differences. With my permission, David Allison sent the photo to ID-Frontiers while I emailed David Sibley. Both parties confirmed the Lesser Nighthawk on June 12. It was the first-ever Lesser Nighthawk for B.C. and only the second for Canada. (Previous was 1974 by Al Wormington at Pt. Pelee.) The sighting has been published in "Latest News" (Bird Studies Canada) and will be published in "Winging it" (ABA) and "North American Birds" (ABA).
IT'S A MILLPOND OUT THERE - It's hard to imagine the ocean as a millpond or better still a barnyard as that's what it often sounded like with the squealing and squeaking of all the birds, especially the Black-footed Albatrosses.
MOB SCENE - The free-for-all behind the boat often resembled White Ave. after an Oilers game.
AN ABBERANT BIRD - Black-footed Albatrosses are normally dark all over except for the face and neck. So what's with the white side boards? Apparently, it could be either a rare light morph or a rare Laysan cross. I'm hoping to hear from some albatross experts shortly.
SURVIVAL OF THE FASTEST - "He who hesitates is lost." I'm not sure if the slower bird is lost, but it goes hungry a little longer.
CRIME DIDN'T PAY - Long John Sliver, the Parasitic Jaeger didn't get far with it's ill-gotten booty as 3 gulls nabbed it before it got away.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL REQUIRED - 3 jumbo jets and 1 Cessna landing at the same time can lead to some untidy situations. See next photo.
OOPS! - Blackie overshot the runway again much to the disgust of Big White. No, there were no indecent intentions involved.
LITTLE ONE - Next to a Black-footed Albatross, the Fork-tailed Storm-petrel was mosquito-sized, but, in fact, it is the same size as a Barn Swallow.
Sabine & Blackie
A last look at the Black-footed Albatross ... NIGHT LIGHTS - Alaskan cruise ships passed regularly, day and night. This is a hand-held shot (time-exposure?) of the Norwegian Star at 4:30 AM. A final farewell to the birds, ocean, and sunsets over the Pacific. It was an wonderful and unforgettable birding and photographic adventure. 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 - Ship & SHORE SAANICH - WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED BUTCHART GARDENS 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 LAKE COWICHAN - GALLOPING MOON GALLERY
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