Dipper Day

Nov. 12 - Goldstream Provincial Park must be one of the busiest parks on the Island. The only time I've passed by without seeing a parking lot full of cars is when it's pouring rain. Otherwise, it's busy no matter what time of year, especially during the fall chum salmon spawn. I generally try to avoid the crowds, but it's impossible if you want to see the salmon and/or check out the American Dippers. Such was the case on Nov. 12. It was sunny and trees were leafless. Despite the crowds, it was still the best time to visit Goldstream. My objective was to get a photo of the Dipper with some caviar. No, there aren't any sturgeon in the creek, but salmon roe is caviar for the Dippers.

We arrived at the park around 1 pm. As expected, the parking lot was full and so was the roadside. But, it was my lucky day. Just as I pulled in, a car was pulling out. After parking and paying for a ticket, we headed upstream carefully scanning the creek for the Dipper. Rotting fish carcasses and feeding gulls were everywhere, but no dipper. However, all was not lost. The exotic rainforest scenery even enticed me to try a shots of ferns growing from moss-covered limbs and mushrooms sprouting through the carpet of fall leaves.

Next we braved the crowds and headed downstream. I did my best not to make eye contact with the multitude visitors. It wasn't because I was antisocial - well, I guess I was but for a good reason. There was only a limited amount time before the sun ducked behind the mountain, and I didn't want to waste any of it trying to be polite answering all the questions about my camera and lens. I politely responded to several commnts like "Wow, that's quite a lens," with politically correct "thanks" and continued on.

By the end of the first streamside trail, we were still dipperless. Undaunted we carried on to the next section where the trail headed back upstream. The crowd was thicker than ever, and it was a challenge trying to weave through without smacking someone in the head with my tripod. Finally, we were at the end of the trail, and believe it or not there was the dipper about 10 meters across the creek. Disregarding the crowd, it was busy doing the dipper bounce then jumping in to forage for its underwater prey. Twice in 30 minutes it popped up with a salmon egg, but twice it swallowed the egg before getting to its perch. Twice it was too quick for me to find it in my lens. The problem was because it never came up the same place it dove down, and it was difficult to see it in the rushing water. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Despite missing the caviar caper, I thoroughly enjoyed spending a quick half hour with the Dipper. Conditions were as good as I had hoped for. The lighting was the best you could expect for Goldstream, the proximity was ideal - almost full frame, the low level shooting angle was excellent - less than a meter off the ground, and the dipper was most obliging - most of the time.

Goldstream is an invitation to photography. The moss-covered trees laced with delicate ferns provide many photo opportunities.

The damp and shaded forest floor is fertile ground for many varieties of mushrooms.

Most people visit Goldstream to see the rotting fish, but I just go for the Dipper.

I was hoping to catch the dipper with a fish egg, but I was foiled twice when the Dipper swallowed the egg before returning to its perch.

Other than missing the egg shot, the Dipper was quite cooperative despite the throngs of visitors.

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An Estuary Hour

On Nov. 16 I had a quick hour to spare in Nanaimo. I decided to check out the Short-eared Owls that Jon had been seeing at the Nanaimo estuary. Unfortunately, there was none to be found.

As I neared Raines Road I wondered if I had missed the arrival of the Barrow's Goldeneyes. My question was quickly answered when I spotted about 20 in the river. Last year I hit a day when there was about 200. As usual the sun was at a bad angle, but I couldn't leave without a photo no matter how bad it was.

In the past I had only seen Barrow's in the river. I was surprised to see a Common in the group.

One of the few birds I found in the estuary was the Northern Shrike. Unfortunately, it was cloudy when I was the closest.

I saw the shrike 3 times in the hour. The final time was in the sun but at a much greater distance. This is a well-cropped photo.

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Loony Tunes

Dec. 1 - Two weeks ago I spotted three loons and a Double-crested Cormorant in the Schooner Cove marina. I was paying close attention to the cormorant as it wrestled with a good-sized fish. As I was leaving I took a quick glance at the loons. One was a Pacific, another was a Common, but the third was different. Was it a yellow-billed? I rushed home to get my camera, but when I returned, there was only the Pacific. Without a photo I was hesitant to call it a Yellow-billed. Since then I checked at least 4 times a week to no avail.

With the craft shows at Fairwinds and Qualicum and a book-signing at Chapters I hadn't had a decent birding day since Nov. 12. I decided that today was my birding day, and I would start off by getting the Pacific Loon. Was I ever in for a surprise. The Pacific wasn't in, but the Yellow-billed and its Common buddy were right there.

This was the Pacific from 2 weeks ago. It was a dark and drizzly late afternoon when I clicked this record shot.

Not only was it dark, I was also in my car on the bank looking down on the loon. That's two ingredients for a poor photo.

This morning was partially sunny when I arrived at the marina. I was delighted to see the two loons. It was deja-vu all over again when a Yellow-billed and Common fraternized in the same location in Dec. '03. At that time I had just started birding and was using a film camera. That was my final frustration with film. Within two months I finally made the switch to digital. Since then I often dreamed of seeing the Yellow-billed back in the marina.

Just like '03 the two loons seemed to be buddies. In fact, when another Common Loon came by it was chased away.

It was interesting to note that the Common loon kept its distance while the Yellow-billed seemed much less wary.

The Yellow-billed seemed right at home in the marina, and it was quite obliging for many close-up photo opportunities.

I'm not complaining but it would have been much better to get a blue background for the picture. However, since it wasn't totally sunny and the loons preferred to stay in the west side of the marina, a blue sky reflection wasn't possible.

However, as I often mention, close-up opportunities often make up for non-ideal lighting conditions, and I was happy to make the best of the situation.

The Yellow-billed did a lot of diving and paddling around, but never caught the big fish I was waiting for.

The only fish I saw was this little gunnel. I suspect that most of its catches were consumed underwater.

When the loons weren't foraging they always paddled off and did their preening a goodly distance away.

Finally, a little sunshine and a more interesting background colour.

Here's the happy couple. I'm assuming that these are both juveniles and not the original pair from '03.

As much as I would like to believe there is some connection with the previous pair, I'm concluding that it is purely coincidental. What do you think?

Classic posture comparison - notice the angle of the bills. The Yellow-billed isn't conceited, but it does like to point its bill up while the Common prefers to be a flat-liner.

A juvenile Barrow's Goldeneye was skulking in the shadows of the marina. It's not uncommon to see a few adults in the area.

A female Red-breasted Merganser joined the loony action right in front of me.

Like the Yellow-billed the Red-breasted did not mind a few close-ups with the camera.

In fact, the Red-breasted was even more cooperative as it caught a small fish close to me.

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After my session at schooner, I headed for the Englishman Estuary. I had been meaning to look for the Peregrine there all year but never made it. Today seemed like a good day. In fact, Guy had seen a Northern Goshawk there yesterday so there might even be a chance for a double twitch.

On the way out to the estuary I was greeted by a friendly Bewick's Wren. I took about ten shots before I realized there was a little twig in the way. By then the wren decided to leave. This was the only pic I salvaged by photoshopping the twig.

Fox sparrows seem to be very abundant this year. This one was under a tree by my feeders.

This one was in a willow just off the trail by the Mills Street entrance.

Half way around I spotted a raptor in a tall fir. It was the Peregrine. Would you believe that in all the years I've been birding this was the closest I've been to a peregrine. I guess I was about 60 feet, and looking up.

I would have preferred an eye-level shot, but beggars can't be choosy. It looked great in the sunshine and blue sky.

This was taken two weeks ago at French Creek when there was still snow.

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Bird Poster

My poster is on display at: Victoria - Swan Lake Nature House

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