Mar. 29 - For the past two weeks a variety of circumstances have conspired to limit my photographic efforts to almost nil. In the first place there was very little good weather, and when there was the occasional ray of sunshine, I was busy with other activities. On March 26 I did have the pleasure of visiting Genevieve Burdette's class at the North Island College. This was the third presentation over the past two years at the college, and I must say that I love the cosy setting and feeling of the small campus. Anyway, I was impressed by the interest and knowledge of some of the students - Jennifer and Melissa in particular were very keen on birds.
Normally I would have birded my way up to Courtenay and back, but didn't even stop at Deep Bay or the Airpark because of the overcast conditions. I did stop at French Creek on the way back to wade through the beach full of decaying herring roe with half-hearted hopes of lucking into an Iceland Gull. But, that didn't happen. I did find a possible first winter Glaucous. With no obvious Iceland in sight I snapped a couple of shots just to record the event, and that was it. My only other pictures were a few I shot out my window this weekend just to stay in practice.
There were about a thousand gulls at French Creek, and they had all the herring roe they wanted and then some. Some of the gulls preferred picking the roe from the incoming waves.
For gull enthusiasts, this is prime time to study gulls as their numbers are incredible from Parksville to Deep Bay. The scene at Parksville Bay is also magnificent with up to 3,000 Brant cruising in for their twice daily feeding of eel grass and herring roe in the company of thousands of ducks and gulls.
Other gulls like the California were content to gobble from the acres of roe on the beach.
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Yard Birds
When I first started taking pictures of birds, the Chestnut-backed Chickadee was one of my favorite subjects. I actually had them so domesticated that they would land on me every time I stepped outside. It took me two years to finally wean them of that habit.
The Chickadees are still quite friendly and sometimes land beside the feeder when I'm filling it.
Most of them just grab a sunflower seed and fly into the trees.
Occasionally they'll just hop into the nearby rhodo and shell and eat the seed right there.
The busiest birds have to be the Red-breasted Nuthatches. They fly non-stop from the forest to the feeder and back again after they snatch a sunflower seed.
Occasionally, the feeder is busy so the Nuthatch has to patiently wait its turn.
The Hairy Woodpecker is a regular visitor to the suet feeder.
The Northern Flicker also has its regular turn at the suet.
The Flicker usually doesn't have to wait for the suet feeder as most of the other birds scatter when the Flicker lands.
I love the beautiful iridescent colour of the male Purple Finch. It's one of my favorite feeder birds.
The Purple Finch is a very gentle bird. It always waits patiently for its turn at the feeder.
My slightly slatey Dark-eyed Junco certainly stands out in my junco flock. I expect that it is a hybrid between a slate-coloured and an Oregon.
Usually my Fox Sparrows only hang around when there is snow on the ground. This is the first year they've stayed after the snow. Maybe it's because I'm spreading more seed on the ground.
You won't have any trouble finding a Spotted Towhee around here. There is at least a six-pack that are here every day all year.
Besides two European rabbits, a bunch of Eastern Cottontails, the occasional raccoon, and a few mice, there is also a pair of red squirrels that frequent the feeders. The squirrels are bold little rascals as they will hop right into my feeder to clean out the last seeds.
He's Back - I first spotted Harry on March 23 which is close to his normal return date. I don't normally take shots of the birds on the feeders, but I've been suffering withdrawal from not clicking the shutter. Despite the rain and feeder perch, I had to stick the camera out the window for a few clicks.
I saw two males yesterday. There may be more as I haven't been watching very closely.
There are also at least two females right now. Just wait a week or two, and I'll get some better pictures. The best time for photographing the male is when he starts to guard the feeders. I've already collected some bulrushes for the females, and my currant bush should be blooming in a week. I also saw a blossum on my salmon berry bushes.
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Bird Poster
My posters are on display at: Victoria - Swan Lake Nature House; Nanoose Bay - Credit Union; Courtenay - Graham's Jewellers
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PUBLICATIONS
