Title photo - Savannah Sparrow at Columbia Beach. Now that it's migration time, there are Savannah's everywhere.

When It Rains It Pours

Usually I don't even have the choice of one bird to chase, but on Tuesday, Sept. 8 I was faced with a toss-up. It was my one day of the week that I had set aside for birding and there was not one but two possible choices. I had to decide whether to deliver some books to the Wild Bird Store in Langford and look for the Willet discovered by Walter Drinnan at Oak Bay, or check for the pair Pacific and American Golden-Plovers reported by Guy Monty and Rich Mooney in Parksville. Both the Willet and Pacific Golden-Plover would have been great birds for me as I had never seen either on the Island. I decided on the Willet because it was an Island rarity, and I would eventually have to deliver the books anyway. Luckily, the tide was right at Bowker and the Willet was in. I did get a few quality shots. Meanwhile, at the San Malo Mud Flats in Parksville, Ralph Hocken and a few other photographers got some great close-up photos of the Golden-Plovers. I would have liked to seen both birds, but no complaints. I was happy to see the Willet and reconnect with a few Victoria birders. It was my birding highlight for the past two weeks.

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Sept. 4 - It was a cool overcast morning, and not my kind of morning for taking pictures, but since I was near Admiral's Lagoon, I made the obligatory stop. I was optimistic because last year at this time I remembered seeing the Ruddy Turnstone and Parasitic Jaegers. There were no signs of birds as I scanned the beach, but I was in luck. Guy Monty was standing out on the rocky beach with his bike, and he was pointing at an American Golden-Plover that just landed. I grabbed my camera and managed a few crabby record shots before it flew off to the west. I doubt if I would have found the bird on my own so wherever you are Guy, thanks.

The American Golden-Plover was busy catching crabs when we caught up with it at Admiral's.

The recent golden-plovers at San Malo were quite approachable, but this one flew when we were still about 20 meters away. Most American Golden-Plovers winter in South America.

On the way home I stopped at Kaye Road. It was also very quiet except for a few juvenile Yellow Warblers.

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Sept. 8 - Willet-watching - The Willet is a fairly rare bird on Vancouver Island. Prior to the current Oak Bay bird, I've only heard of one other documented sighting and that was last year on Gabriola. Of course, there may have been others I haven't heard of so I can't comment on them. The only other information I have is from the Birds of B.C., and it's interesting to note that the Willet wasn't even sighted in B.C. for most of the first half of the 20th century. Since then sightings have increased, but they are still quite rare on Vancouver Island. In fact they are still rare everywhere in B.C. except for Tsawassen which has had its own wintering Willet for the past 10 years or so.

I had to pass Clover Point on my way to Bowker Ave. The only birds there were a few gulls, one Black Turnstone, and three juvenile Harlequins. I decided to take a quick picture as a "filler" for my journal. Just as I was ready to shoot, I saw a wave coming in.

I'm sure the Harlie enjoyed the cool shower as it was mid-day and quite warm.

When I arrived at Bowker, I was glad to see a birder looking at the Willet. Birding is a little easier when someone is there pointing at the bird. It was right in front of me but on the far side of the first set of rocks. Since it was low tide I had no problem wading out to the west side of the rocks. I only got wet up to my knees. The Willet was busy catching crabs at the other end of the rock.

After the Willet had its fill it would march up to the top of the rock to rest for awhile.

The Willet would do a little grooming and then catch a power nap for a few minutes.

Okay, the five minutes was up and it was time to head back to the buffet.

The Willet never seemed to be in a hurry. Sometimes on the way down it would stop and rest for another few minutes.

Besides crabs the Willet was catching some smaller tidbits, but I couldn't see what they were. I was able to spend about an hour with the Willet and the procedure was repeated every fifteen minutes. While I was there at least 20 other birders and curiosity-seekers were able to enjoy the rare visitor.

The Willet wasn't the only bird on the rock. There also a couple of Black Oystercatchers. One was chasing the other. Can you guess why?

My last stop was King's Pond even though it was a bit early for wintering ducks. Amongst the usual hoards of Mallards I found a couple of Northern Shovelers which I'm partial to as that's what got me started in bird photography.

There was one funny little duck that caught my attention. I had never seen anything like it, but it had to be an immature Green-winged Teal. The rufous feathering on its face meant it was developing into an adult male.

Now you can see the telltale green part of the wing.

There wasn't anything else to shoot except for three turtles sunning on a rock - more filler.

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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

VOLUME I & II BOOKS AVAILABLE AT

PARKSVILLE & QUALICUM - MULBERRYBUSH BOOKSTORES

NANAIMO - SAVE-ON FOODS (WOODGROVE),
SAVE-ON FOODS (COUNTRY CLUB), CHAPTERS, FALCONER BOOKS

PORT ALBERNI - CLOCKTOWER GALLERY

COURTENAY - GRAHAM'S JEWELLERS

SIDNEY - VICTORIAN BIRD HOUSE, TANNER'S BOOKSTORE

COMOX - BLUE HERON BOOKS

BOWSER - LIGHTHOUSE GIFTS

DEEP BAY - SHIP & SHORE

SAANICH - WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED

VICTORIA - BOLEN BOOKS, MUNRO'S, CROWN PUBLICATIONS, IVY'S

CAMPBELL RIVER - SAVE-ON FOODS, COHO BOOKS, CAMPBELL RIVER MUSEUM

DUNCAN - VOLUME 1 BOOKSTORE

CHEMAINUS - WILLOW"S WILD BIRD STORE

LADYSMITH - SALAMANDER BOOKS

NANOOSE - SCHOONER COVE MARINA

LAKE COWICHAN - GALLOPING MOON GALLERY

TOFINO - BOTANICAL GARDENS

QUADRA ISLAND - EXPLORE & BOOK BONANZA

LANGFORD - WILD BIRD CENTER

SOOKE - READING ROOM BOOKSTORE

SOOKE - MUSEUM

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