You Can’t Get There From Here

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While I was away last week, there were several “possible” birds that showed up in Victoria.  Despite chasing the only one I could, there was no sign of a Clay-Coloured Sparrow when I was in the field near Layritz Park.  This week was a bit of a different story.

The “best” bird that was showing up on the island was the Eastern Kingbird.  Ivan Dubinsky got great photos of one at the Scarlett Point Lighthouse on Balaklava Island northwest of Port Hardy.  A little earlier, Gord Curry had one off Cormorant Island.  I wonder if it might be the same bird.  In both cases, the birds were gone before I could have physically arrived those locations. A long drive and then a boat trip isn’t practical for a bird with a tendency to just pass through.  (It didn’t work out too well for a particular Great Gray bird that stuck around for months, either!)  I didn’t chase those birds, and it’s probably just as well.

But then…. I got a note about an Eastern Kingbird much closer to home.  My second home, really.  This week, James Miskelly spotted one at Rocky Point while he was working there.   Yes, that Rocky Point.  Despite our relationship with the Department of National Defense, we are only allowed to access the site when we are banding.  A very good record for the site. Sadly, not for me!

Here are some photos from my puttering around this week:

baby come
A Common Merganser chick on its own near Jordan River. Mom was just down the river.
heron with gunnel
The Great Blue Heron was wrestling with a gunnel at Whiffin Spit. These eel-like fish are often found under the rocks during low tides. The gull was standing by just in case the heron lost the fish.
Whiffin Spit nest
Also at Whiffin Spit, I came across this nesting bird. I wasn’t able to identify it, but I’m pretty sure it’s not countable for my year list.
wood duck and chick
Blenkinsop Lake had an impressive number of Wood Ducks, including this mom and chick pair.
cbch with spruce cones
Atop Mt. Tolmie, this Chestnut-backed Chickadee was developing a strategy for getting the seeds out of these spruce cones.
cbch on cone
It worked!
bushtit
Bushtit families are out and about all over the region now. The adult females can still be identified by their yellow eyes, but brown eyed birds can be adult males or juveniles of both sexes.
house wren
House Wrens have been especially vocal lately. I suspect youngsters are about to fledge.

A day-long trip to the Cowichan Valley yielded several new birds for that region, including Common Nighthaw and Barred Owl.  The road to the Chemainus River Provincial Park was something of an ordeal.  It looked good from a distance, but close-up, the potholes threatened to swallow my Honda Fit.  It was beautiful, though!  Apparently, you used to be able to camp there, but the campground has been decommissioned, apparently due to some bad human behaviour.

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Chemainus River
The Chemainus River is very popular with people who love to swim or fish, despite the rough road in.

20150614_142428
The river was incredibly scenic, with wonderful deep pools.
20150614_142417
The water was very clear. This looked like it was a great swimming spot. I didn’t try it out, though.
Water striders2

 Water Striders mating on the Chemainus River.
columbine1

 Native Columbine along the park trails.
barred owl

 I heard a Varied Thrush giving alarm calls. When I pished, look who flew in! It was a curious Barred Owl.
what are these

 On my way back to civilization, I found a few piles of these on the edge of the road under a powerline. Anyone know what they are and what they are used for?
Lorquin's Admiral
Lorquin’s Admirals were among several butterfly species I came across.

 

Wake Lake
I had never even heard about Wake Lake near Duncan, but it’s a spot I will revisit. This lake is set aside for wildlife, including a large Western Toad population. Human access is limited to a viewing platform. A Virginia Rail called while I was standing here.

I also visited the Stoltz Pool section of the  Cowichan River, and toured around the “back” side of Duncan for a while until it was too dark to bird.  No new birds for the year list, but several for the Cowichan Region.

The week was not without an addition to the year list, though.  On Wednesday, a trip to Clover Point provided species 228 – early Heermann’s Gulls.

This weekend, I’m back up-island again, for an attempt at Three-toed Woodpecker, Green Heron, and maybe more! Wish me luck!

3 thoughts on “You Can’t Get There From Here”

  1. I am guessing, but the rusty pellets might be Taconite pellets used in the steel industry

  2. Hi Ann:

    The pile of pellets, if softish, could be faded paintball pellets. I saw
    some of these in France, as it’s a worldwide sport nowadays!
    Thanks for all the reading/geat photo fun!
    Gail

  3. The spheres were solid. The material looked like it might be clay or recycled brick. My guess is that it may be some sort of drainage material, and fairly new. Curious that someone would have just dumped a few wheelbarrow loads on the edge of the road!

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