In my introduction to my Vancouver Island Big Year, I noted that life happens. I knew I would be leaving the island several times this year and that there were several other commitments that would keep me from focussing entirely on the bird chases.
As you know from my last post, I attended the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival last week, putting my big year on hold for about 10 days. The drive between BC and California was long but fun, shared with my friend and mega-birder Shawneen Finnegan. We spent time looking for rarities, sorting through masses of wintering waterfowl and visiting family members along the way. The festival itself was great, including a Big Day field trip with 2009 RPBO bander-in-charge, Ron Melcer. We had a total of 114 species on the Friday trip. Such is a winter day in California! I’m deliberately avoiding naming bird names here so that no one thinks that I saw them on Vancouver Island.
During my absence, a few new chaseable birds showed up on the island, including the first Harris’s Sparrow report at the Nanaimo River Estuary. I may be heading there in the next few days to try to find it. Nothing though, that had me tearing my hair out–except, perhaps that I might be one of the last people to see a Common Redpoll in Victoria in 2015. I have visited the feeder on Southgate three times now for a total of about 8 hours and come up empty. Barring heavy rain, I will be there early Saturday morning. Oh, yeah. Of course, the Great Gray Owl was seen again on Quadra Island just before and during my trip, but no reports since I have returned.
One of the commitments I alluded to in my blog introduction was the care of my mother, Maxine John. She has been incapacitated for more than six years, and except when I have been out of town, I normally visited her five times a week. I realize that may seem excessive, but there was a good reason. In addition to age-related decline, my mother had Asperger’s Syndrome, a mild form of autism. For her, routine was extremely important, and my absences over the last few years have been especially difficult for her. I struggled to figure out how I would accommodate her needs this year, knowing that my trips away would be more frequent and less predictable. I had settled on spending more time with her when I was in town, even though it might be on fewer days a week. As of last Wednesday morning, this is no longer an issue. I received a call from the doctor on Tuesday night advising me that my mother had contracted pneumonia and probably had less than 72 hours to live. I hastened my return, and my sister, Esther, got on the first available plane, but my mom passed away while we were en route. Needless to say, this is a huge loss to us, but a merciful one. The life that she led recently was not even a shadow of one that she would want. We are greatly relieved that her suffering is now over. Rest in peace, Mom!
On my return, I saw a post from Agnes Lynn about a mystery sparrow in the Ten-Mile Point area. The bird had been photographed by the homeowner and appeared to be a Chipping Sparrow, but I was provided an opportunity to go for a closer look. Unlike a certain redpoll, the mystery sparrow put in an appearance shortly after my arrival and I was also able to get some photos. While Chipping Sparrow would have been added to my list later in the year, it was a great pleasure to have a chance to chase this bird and firm up its identity. There was always the chance it might have been something rarer. The bird had some strange molt issues, which may have contributed to its presence at this time of year. Thanks go to the hosts, Wendy and Jeff, for letting me come for a look!
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Friday mornings, a small but growing group of birders have been conducting a survey at Maber Flats. Today, one of the first birds we heard was a Swamp Sparrow, new for my year. It was still to dark to make it out, although I did see its silhouette crossing the trail. I will be counting heard only birds for my big year. If they are expected birds on the island, I won’t be making a special note of this, but I will be specific when it comes to rarities. My species total as of 1/23 is 123. Coincidence?
Tomorrow, I will post about the continuing saga of the Common Redpoll and a new feature for finding me out birding.