JOURNAL 203 - Apr. 6 - Where's the Sun? Reports from the hydro and gas companies indicate that the early switch to daylight saving didn't save any energy. The theory might have been valid, but Mother Nature threw a wrench into the works by prolonging winter by a few more weeks. It's a good thing that bird migration doesn't rely on local weather conditions or we'd still be waiting for our Rufous Hummers and Yellow-rumped Warblers. I even saw my first three Orange-crowned Warblers today which was my only consolation for the cloudy skies we had for the last few days. I shouldn't be too hard on Mother Nature as Journal 203 starts on Apr. 3 which was actually a beautiful sunny day. I had some business in Duncan so checked Art Mann Park and Somenos Marsh. I also stopped at Buttertubs on the way home. Despite the fine weather the birding was slow, but I can't complain as it was great to be out in the sun and fresh air and I did get the occasional picture - emphasis on occasional. Apr. 3 - I was hoping for a Northern Rough-winged Swallow at Somenos, but a Tree Swallow was a reasonable consolation. I just love the iridescent powder blue colour. Buttertubs was also very quiet with a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Pied-billed Grebes, and a few other common resident species like the Bushtit pictured above. Apr. 5 - It had been over a week since I had checked the post-herring spawn birding situation at Qualicum Beach. I wasn't disappointed as a fairly large flock of diving ducks and about 50 Brant were close into shore at the south end. On the beach and along the shoreline legions of gulls were busy cleaning up remnants of the spawn. Despite the slight drizzle, I decided to take out the camera for a few pictures of those delightful black-headed Bonaparte Gulls. I never ordered any salad. I just want the roe. Nothing like the occasional wave to put a little bounce into life. The old evil eye. Bonie was trying to stare down my 800 mm lens. When I got home, Harry the Hummer was frantic as he had two other males to contend with. I decided to try for a few more hummer shots. Get used to seeing Rufous pics for the next few weeks as I find them irresistible - the never-ending quest for the pefect photo ... Apr. 6 - A Sunny Forecast ... That's all it was - a forecast. There was no sun and no blue sky for us. Except for the Brant in Parksville Park, the photos are "living black and white" just like the good old days. It would have been wonderful as the birds were cooperative, but as were say in Nanoose Bay, "c'est la guerre." (Pardon my French and spelling.) Parksville Bay was quite a sight with a huge raft of ducks stretching right across the entrance of the bay. It was high tide which usually means no Brant on the beach, and there wasn't any. But, as I checked the sleepy little gull flock on the field, lo and behold, a lone Brant! Maybe it was one of the group that spent the whole winter there a year ago. I really wasn't after a Brant photo, but I'd only taken Brant photos once this year and couldn't pass up the opportunity. Just like yesterday, at Qualicum the diving ducks were close in, scores of gulls lined the beach, and the sun wasn't shining. At least it wasn't raining and it was brighter than yesterday. Just like yesterday I spotted a Greater Scaup preening on the beach. I cautiously edged my my towards him whenever he wasn't looking and finally got close enough. He turned around to stretch his wings, but by then I was kneeling down and frozen like a rock. I thought he would panic and leave when he saw me, but he didn't. He calmly turned around and lay down. He was quite content and actually closed his eyes and had a "duck nap." I left the Scaup and went over to visit the Bonies. Guess who followed and joined the Bonies in their "roe-fest." This was the first time I'd ever seen a diving duck turn into a dabbling duck. I wonder how dabblers would fare as divers? The Bonies look so sublime in their black hoods. They don't look quite so sublime during the transistion to the black hood. A perfect landing - hardly a ripple. The Bonies love to bicker and squabble just like the rest of us. Some people probably thought I was crazy when I said a saw a "Ring-necked Scaup," but I think that's what it is. Today I spotted my first Orange-crowned Warblers of the year. There were two in Qualicum in a Japanese plum and one at home in the currant bush. Like I said, the hummers are irresistible, even in the dull weather. 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