As sure as summer turns to fall and you can be sure that I'll be taking pictures of Cacklers and a few other geese that happen to cross my lens. You can also be sure that I'll be checking out Deep Bay for the Long-tailed Ducks and any other birds I find on or around the spit. In past years that has included birds such as the Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting, Yellow-billed Loon and Marbled Murrulet. Time will tell what this winter will bring, but for now, I'll have to settle for my first Long-tailed Duck of the fall... late flash - just add the TROPICAL KINGBIRD to my list.
Oct. 31 - There's something appealing about the little Cacklers. Perhaps it's the novelty of a minature goose. Whatever the reason, it's always worth a few pictures, especially if there isn't much around and we're in the middle of the monsoons. Cacklers seem to be an annual occurence at Parksville Park, and there has been a pair there for at least the past week and a half. What subspecies? It's time to read Sibley's and other articles on the Cacklers. Until then, if anyone wants to take me out of my misery a give me the i.d. of these two birds, Please do so as soon as possible. The seems to be a couple of subtle differences between this bird and the previous one but maybe not enough to be different subspecies. The second bird (with the wider chinstrap) seems to have a rounder head, but that might be just the angle I'm looking at. Oct. 31 - Another Deep Bay Morning How can you not like the Long-tailed Ducks? Those loving puppy dog eggs will melt your heart every time. I think I just enjoy visiting the Long-tailed Ducks for the sake of their company if nothing else. Hey! The long tails look like an antenna. As usual, the Red-necked Grebe was working the end of the spit, but further out where the little sole were feeding. It was about 50' too far for a good photo. French Creek Action Down at French Creek three juvenile Common Loons caught my eye. Loons are normally quite solitary. 3 would be considered a mob scene. The reason soon became evident. One of them had a catch. It seemed big enough to share. I've said it before. Sharing is not in the vocabulary of most sea birds except maybe for Jaegers. They make their living by sharing other birds' catches. I didn't think the loon could do it, but with a mighty lunge, the rockfish disappeared in the gullet. Nov. 4 - For the past 2 weeks a small Greater White-fronted Goose (probably a juvenile) has been relaxing at Fairwinds Golf Course with a gang odf Canadas. A few days ago it was joined by an adult. In between monsoon squalls yesterday, I managed to get a few pictures. This is the juvenile. Look at the full body stripes. This is the adult. That's a pretty long neck for a little goose. Nov. 5 - A SUNDAY SURPRISE I know I've seen my share of new birds for the year so I haven't been expecting anything more, especially with the blustery wind and rain we've been experiencing. I had just picked up my ball after a disgusting triple bogey on the 18th hole at Fairwinds when a light metallic sounding song caught my ear. Looking up, I saw the silhouette of a Robin-sized bird on the top of a 40 foot fir. Racing to the other side of the tree, I could see a yellow chest and big bill. I sprinted for the parking lot for my car and camera. Just as I set up, the bird flew. I checked around for 10 minutes - nothing. Disgusted, I packed up the camera and put it back in the car. I was heading for the clubhouse when the bird returned - back to the car - grab the camera - set up - click, click, click - move closer - click, click, click ... through the camera I narrowed it down to Western or Tropical Kingbird. When I got home and loaded it in the computer, there was no doubt. It was a Tropical Kingbird. Despite the dark, overcast conditions, over-exposing +2.3 produced a reasonable photo. Nov. 6 - A few more pics ... Nov. 8 - 2 more ... 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 TANNER'S BOOKSTORE 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 TOFINO - BOTANICAL GARDENS UCLUELET - WORDS END BOOKSELLERS
Comments, questions, or book orders? email admin@vancouverislandbirds.com
