Title photo - Baird's Sandpiper at Admiral's Lagoon

Missing!

Where have all the birds gone? For the past two weeks 95% of my yard birds have disappeared. It certainly has saved on the bird seed, but I miss all my feathered friends. Juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, Purple Finches, Spotted Towhees, etc ... I guess they've all migrated, but the winter residents should be on their way. The situation hasn't been much better at the seashore for the shorebird migration. To say there has been a trickle might be an overstatement. On my last week's visit to Holden Creek I only found a couple of Least Sandpipers. Today I didn't find a single shorebird. I have no answer for the dilemma. Was it a bad year for reproduction? Have the migration routes changed? I know shorebird populations have dropped drastically in the past 50 years. Is the trend continuing?

Missing has been my theme for the past two weeks. I passed up a chance to go to Reifel last week and missed the Hudsonian Godwit that was there for all the mainlanders to photograph. I was also a day early at Albert Head Lagoon and missed the American Golden-Plover which was beautifully photographed by Ted Ardley.

With all this complaining I bet you're wondering if I actually saw any birds to photograph. Fortunately, there were a few. Nothing exciting, but you've got to make the best of what you've got.

Like Father, Like Son

It's always a joy to see the Pileated Woodpeckers in the yard, especially the father and son act. At first Papa would feed suet to Junior, but that didn't continue for too long. After that it was watch and learn, and that's what the next few photos illustrate.

Here's Papa checking out the pear tree and finding a good place to perch and dine.

Now he's demonstrating the fine art of pear pecking.

Junior was paying attention and now it's his turn.

Perfect technique. Another lesson in survival mastered! Next, the apple tree.

Crossing the Line

Every day and everywhere I hear the Red Crossbills chirping from the treetops. Their irruption to the Island happened two years ago, and they're still here. I haven't been able to photograph them as they were always too high up, but one day when I was watering the garden, a pair landed on my hydro line.

I usually dislike pictures on the wire, but it was either a wire shot or no shot at all.

The clincher was that they stayed while I went in the house to get my camera. I think the birds are first year female and male, respectively.

Kinglets

I've always referred to the French Creek male Belted Kingfisher as "The King." Well, once again The King has had a successful family - a male and female. I call them "kinglets."

In deference to her royal heritage, I've named the female, Princess.

Princess is distinctive because of the rufous patches on her sides and chest.

Meet Prince. He's just blue and white like The King.

Here comes Princess. She's only been flying for a few days so she's still learning.

Not the most graceful landing, but it worked.

Brother and sister have been pretty close. They've stayed close to each other for the past two weeks.

Desperate Times

Like I said, there haven't been many birds around. I won't lower myself down to a Starling, but a scarce brown Rock Pigeon at Clover Point might be interesting to someone.

In and Out

It is truly amazing what some birds can swallow. We've all seen pictures of a gull trying to swallow a huge starfish. I enjoyed watching a Hooded Merganser at Esquimalt Lagoon trying to swallow a fish. After it closed its bill, tilted its head back and went "gulp," I thought it was all over, but out popped the fish. It had to repeat the process three times before the fish stayed put.

The Wild Life

It's tough for a Trumpeter trying to brave the elements to survive in the wilds of Victoria at Esquimalt Lagoon. There's so much compettition for food it's sometimes difficult to get my share. Move over you Mallards. The worst time is the mad scramble when the lady comes with her bags of food. It's a good thing she let's me feed out of the bucket.

Dowi on the Rocks

For me Short-billed Dowitchers are always standing in water with their heads bobbing like a sewing machine. It was a novelty to see them clambering over the rocks at Whiffin Spit just like a Tattler.

The dowis were in the company of a host of Least and Western Sandpipers

Where's the Shorebirds?

On my last two visits to Holden Creek, nary a shorebird could be found. The best I could do was a Yellow-rumped Warbler that was hanging with a flock of House Finces, and a harassed Merlin.

While the finches were enjoying the sun, the Yellow-rumped was busy hawking insects.

A weary Merlin tried to rest in the willows in the estuary, but the Barn Swallows were on it right away. It circled and tried to land again but was frustrated by the swallows. To top it off there was a crazy photographer clicking away. (I remembered to over-expose +1.0.)

Shorebird Situation

Migration stop-overs have been scarce for me this year despite the usual number of visits to Holden and the Mid-Island shoreline. I'm glad to see that the resident flock of Black-bellied Plovers at Columbia Beach has returned. I had a chance to check them over hoping for a Golden-Plover or even a golden Black-bellied, but didn't find anything out of the ordinary.

The only migration stop-overs at Admirals today were a trio of Baird's Sandpipers. They were very wary at first, but with patience I was finally able to get a few close-ups.

One day I spotted a Pied-billed Grebe at Rascal Pond. I tried to get closer by sliding down the bank and crossing the mud flat. When I hit the mud I was totally disgusted to see hundreds of baby bullfrogs scattering in every direction. With birds already being scarce, I think a few hundred more bullfrogs won't help the situation. I won't disgust you by posting the bullfrog pictures.

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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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