Birds of Vancouver Island - A Photographic Journey by Glenn Bartley

These brief reflections represent but a few of my memories of the beautiful birds of Vancouver Island. Over the past four years I have spent as much time as possible out in nature finding and photographing birds. I feel fortunate to have been able to see such wonderful creatures, and even more so to be able to share the memories of these treasured birds in my new book. I hope that you will enjoy “Birds of Vancouver Island”.

Birds of the Rainforest:

I find myself walking down a familiar path this morning – one that leads its way through a majestic place where towering cedar and fir trees force my gaze upwards in awe. The air is damp and cool – yet the lush, mossy forest has a warm and welcoming feel to it.  Off in the distance a Winter Wren is singing and, as I catch a glimpse of it, I am amazed that such a small bird can produce such an impressive song. High above, Townsend’s Warblers sing to one another, proclaiming the extent of their territories and searching for mates. Approaching a small stream I watch as an American Dipper bobs up and down before eagerly jumping into the water to search for a quick meal. The persistent “tap-tap-tap” sound from a nearby tree redirects my attention towards a Red-breasted Sapsucker that is working hard for an early morning snack…

Red-breasted Sapsucker © Glenn Bartley

Birds of the Sea: 

On a clear morning in July I wake at 4:30am. A quick bite-to-eat and a short drive to the waterfront and I am on the water in my kayak by 5:30. I paddle out into the bay as the sun rises over the Olympic Mountains in the distance and the raucous sounds of Harbour Seals make it clear that there is life all around me. Twenty minutes of paddling later and I am now a few kilometres off-shore. The water is calm – as calm as I have ever seen it – and there is something about this morning that makes it feel special. In the distance I can hear gulls squawking and starting to converge in an area where bait fish are “balling up” at the surface. I race towards them to see what I can find. Glaucous-winged and Heerman’s Gulls are everywhere making lots of noise and attracting even more birds from miles around. Among the new arrivals are plenty of Rhinoceros Auklets that are diving into the bait ball and emerging with their bills full of shiny silver sand lance. Pigeon Guillemots are also joining in the rapidly growing flock. The Guillemots are excitedly calling to one another revealing their brilliant vermillion colored mouths as they coordinate their attack on the helpless baitfish just inches below the surface. Just outside of this oceanic swarm of birdlife I spot two birds that seem distinctly different. Raising my binoculars to my eyes I feel a surge of adrenaline and excitement as I immediately recognize these two birds to be a gorgeous pair of Marbled Murrelets…

Marbled Murrelet © Glenn Bartley

Song Birds:

Emerging at a viewpoint after a lengthy hike up the side of a mountain I look out towards the horizon.  From where I now stand the towering Douglas Firs have given way to gnarled Garry Oaks. In the distance I can see an Olive-sided Flycatcher sallying up from a conspicuous open perch and snatching insects out of thin air.  The trill songs of Orange-crowned Warblers ring out from the scrubby habitat that surrounds me. Just then, a flash of colour catches my eye.  In the early morning sunlight the brilliance of the red and yellow plumage of this bird is beyond belief.  And yet here he is:  a too-beautiful-for-words male Western Tanager that I simply cannot take my eyes off…

Western Tanager © Glenn Bartley

Waterfowl:

On a warm spring afternoon I am sitting quietly next to a small sheltered pond.  Reflected colours from the Yellow Dogwoods that surround the shoreline have given the water an attractive golden glow.  American Widgeons, Hooded Mergansers, Wood Ducks and the ubiquitous Mallards are excitedly quacking and calling back and forth to one another. A mated pair of Northern Shovellers are swimming around and around one another as they feed by filtering water through their oversized bills. Ring-necked ducks group together in the middle of the pond and dive for food over and over again.  Before long, a gorgeous male Bufflehead swims by showing off his brilliant white flanks and rainbow coloured head…

Bufflehead © Glenn Bartley

Shorebirds:

The inter-tidal zone along the coast of Vancouver Island always seems to be teeming with life.  Low tide exposes resources to birds who flock to these areas to feed. Among my favourite are the Black Oystercatchers whose raucous calls     announce their presence from far off.  I love watching them as they work their way along the shoreline picking off chitons and mollusks from the rocks that low tide has recently uncovered. Nearby, a small group of Black Turnstones and Surfbirds are also picking their way along the seaweed covered rocks. When a large Gull flies over, one of the birds becomes wary and flies off. All of his companions follow close behind; calling as they select a safer area to feed…

Black Oystercatcher © Glenn Bartley

Birds of Prey:

It is fall now. The long days of the summer months are beginning to fade away and, for me, the seasonal transition is accentuated by the abundance of migratory shorebirds heading south. As I walk along the oceanfront towards a large group of shorebirds they erupt into flight. Even before I see it, I know what must be nearby. Before I can appreciate what I am witnessing a Merlin has snatched a Short-billed Dowitcher from mid-air.  I watch as this efficient predator devours the smaller bird and am captivated by the beauty and ferocity of Mother Nature…

Merlin © Glenn Bartley

Backyard Birds:

Returning home from a fine day in the field I glance out the window to see the hummingbird feeder buzzing with activity.  Anna’s and Rufous Hummingbirds compete for their sought-after supply of nectar and whiz through the air with a speed and precision that mesmerizes me.  Looking beyond the window and into the backyard I see a group of birds busily feeding. The Juncos, Chickadees, Sparrows and Towhees may have individual intentions – but when a Cooper’s Hawk appears from nowhere to try for an easy meal it becomes clear that these birds are indeed working together…

Rufous Hummingbird © Glenn Bartley

To order your copy today please visit – http://www.glennbartley.com/VancouverIslandBook.html

About the Contributor:

Glenn Bartley is a professional nature photographer who focuses on photographing birds in their natural habitat. He resides in Victoria, British Columbia on Canada’s West Coast. Glenn leads instructional photography workshops to exciting destinations around the world. To find out more or to see more of Glenn’s images please visit: www.glennbartley.com. Glenn’s latest book is “Birds of Vancouver Island: A Photographic Journey.”

Lazo Marsh, Comox, British Columbia

Early this summer my wife and I moved from our 14 year residence in the Royston area to North East Comox. The two homes are only a half an hour apart by road and we remain in the Comox Valley where we have lived for over 30 years. Long enough to have a good general knowledge of the area.

From a photographing point of view, I am discovering many opportunities in the area close to our new home. To the west there are extensive of trails in the Northeast Woods and into the adjacent Lazo Marsh. To the east we have the Straits of Georgia and Cape Lazo and to the south the Town and Harbour of Comox.

Woodland Stream

I started my discoveries by wandering around, exploring new walking trails and revisiting areas I already knew. Friends who live in this area freely shared their knowledge of interesting trails and views. On these first explorations I did not plan to photograph but get some idea of the possibilities.

I soon had a mental list of possible photo opportunities.

Woodland Creek

A small secluded stream in the NE woods. Lazo Marsh and Yellow Iris. A friend showed me an old deserted sawmill. A walk along the shore between Point Holmes and Goose Spit revealed some interesting wreckage and a fine viewpoint above Goose Spit overlooked the Cadet Camp with views of the Beaufort Mountains and Comox Glacier in the background. Boats have always interested me and Comox Harbor is full of them!

Indian Pipe

Over the next two months I set out to photograph these sites as opportunities presented themselves in late spring and early summer. 

Now I had to work on the details to obtain some decent images. Planning and timing became important. The stream had to be photographed on a dull overcast day and before the water level dropped. Lazo Marsh was going to look best with the Yellow Iris in full bloom and before the Bullrushes grew too high. The old sawmill turned out to be a disappointment, so far. The beach walk was best in morning light. Unexpectedly the Goose Spit overlook turned out to photograph best in sunny, midday light after trying dawn shoots, spoiled by lingering clouds and mist on the mountains. And of course the unexpected opportunities that happen just because I was there! The dawn shoot that failed to get a mountain shot succeeded when I drove down and wandered around on Goose Spit and caught the driftwood breakwaters in beautiful warm, dawn light. A social evening walk around Comox Harbor and finding compositions  with the floats on moored fish boats.

Floats at the Comox Marina, Comox, British Columbia

I am encouraged by the few images taken so far. My list of future opportunities and timing is growing. How about Lazo Marsh on a winter morning? Misty, snowy, with wild fowl? What will cloud formations look like at Point Lazo and Goose Spit in winter storms … these new “Points of View” are full of possibilities and future photo projects.

About the Contributor:

Chris Carter is a photographer based in the Comox Valley, British Columbia. His current work can be viewed in galleries on Vancouver Island and on his web site.

A pair of Monterey Sea Lemons (Doris montereyensis) meet in a bed of cup corals on the wall at Madrona Point.

On windy days like today when the Mud Bone is grounded, (our converted river boat doesn’t take too well to swells) we pick a shore dive like Madrona Point in Parksville for quick access to a host of sea life. I prefer to dive Madrona Point at high tide due to the slick entry point but if you have good balance in a tank and rubber boots it can be dove at high or low tides.

My partner and I gear up and clamber down the slippery rock shoot. After submerging we find ourselves in a bed of eelgrass, bull kelp and general weedy mayhem. This is the jungle of my ocean. I love to hang out in this stuff because it makes me feel like I’m diving in an aquarium. This is where schools of needlefish and perch swim and spindly little crabs hang onto swaying vegetation to feed on passing invertebrates.

A delicate looking Red Flabellina (Flabellina trophina) munches on a stick of sea grass.

Beautiful sunlight penetrates the shallow water near our entry point and makes me want to linger to make photos. If I stayed here at 10 feet, the deciding factor to end my dive would be from getting cold, not from lack of air (a tank of air can last hours in shallow water!) Alas, scuba diving is a buddy sport for safety reasons and it is hard to convince other divers to spend hours in shallow water, besides, we did come here to visit the wall, so using a compass bearing of 340, we head out over the sand towards it.

Just when I’m thinking I’ve missed the mark, the edge of the wall at Madrona Point begins to materialize out of the gloom. Today’s 15 foot visibility barely allows me to see my partner let alone a drop-off and I’m really hoping that the visibility will improve when I get deeper. It’s a common misconception to think diving is better in summer because of warmer temperatures; here on our coast warm temperatures bring ocean bloom that can be as thick as pea soup. I have been on dives where I could not see my gauges pressed to my mask until I dropped below the bloom at 30 feet and then it was dark.

A tiny version (approx 1 inch) of Leopard Dorid (Diaulula sandiegensis) munching on a kelp leaf.

I can always tell when I am nearing a reef or wall by the increase in the number of fish hanging around. This wall is no different and as my partner and I near it I begin to see lingcod, painted greenling and rockfish lying on the bottom. I swim out over the ledge and let the air out of my BCD (buoyancy compensator device) to “free fly” 40 feet to the bottom. During my decent I imagine I am Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. I slow my fall just before hitting the silty bottom and avoid stirring up a cloud of silt.

The bright yellow mantle adds a dainty frill to Nananimo Nudibranch (Acanthodoris hudsoni).

Happily, visibility improves at depth and I can see part of the wall is covered in orange cup corals and is inhabited by tiny crabs and nudibranch (pronounced nudibrank). The delightfully brilliant splash of eye-candy orange bouncing back from my flashlight beam is only seconded by the sheer quantity of creatures. I spy one of my favorite critters and zoom in on a nudibranch for a better look.

Nudibranch are found all over the world and come in sizes from as tiny as ¼ inch to over a foot long. They are the slugs of the sea and come in an astounding array of colors and shapes. This one is a couple inches long, bright lemon yellow, has bumpy skin and since I have been careful not to frighten it, it’s delicate fan of gills still extends from it’s rear. Their scientific name is Nudibranchia; which actually means “naked gills”.

A lacy nest of nudibranch eggs is nestled among soft corals.

These little guys spend their day munching on sponge and grasses and are usually found at depths less than 100 feet. As hermaphrodites they are both male and female as required and after deciding who is who, their dainty egg sacs are laid in a spiraling ribbon that sort resembles a flower. A few such flowers punctuate this wall and I inspect them all for my viewing pleasure. As my dive time runs low I begin to ascend and come eye level with a stone ridge covered in an army of frilly shawlback nudibranch munching furiously on the vegetation. They look like fuzzy lollipops tossed over the edge of a passing boat embedded in the sea bottom.

When our waters are soupy and the light is low I look more closely for the small stuff and I have never yet been disappointed. There are larger creatures like octopus and wolf eel somewhere along this wall but today I am captivated by the microscopic.

Need to Know:

• Shore Dive
• Experience level – all divers
• At the end of Madrona Drive is the parking lot with room for about four cars (see map below).

Map to Parking area at Madrona Point, Parksville, British Columbia

About the Contributor:

Lisa Graham of Seadance Photography is a freelance photographer who specializes in the underwater realm. Based in the Comox Valley you can visit her website at www.seadance.ca for her full portfolio.

A juvenile Sea Lion swims by me at Norris Rock near Hornby Island, BC.

My partner and I are the only divers in the water this afternoon and we are outnumbered 30-2. We hover in 20’ of water anxiously watching an undulating cloud of sand, silt, fur and bubbles head our way. A welcoming committee of curious juvenile California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) is on its way to check us out. Like marauding teenagers out on the town, this gang is only a small part of the Norris Rock Sea Lion population. There are a couple hundred more on the rock above who are more content to lie around and watch from their comfy rock lounges.

My entire body and camera are covered by bubbles that the Sea Lions have blown over me in play. Normally, bubble blowing is considered an aggressive act but I think they are just doing it to me because my scuba bubbles are doing it to them.

In anticipation of some Sea Lion action shots I have brought my Nikon D200, housed in its trustworthy Ikelite box and with dual strobes it looks like a small propulsion unit without a propeller. The last time we dove here was with a group of divers so the curious behemoths had lots of bodies to sample but today, we are ‘it’! They swarm over us and nibble at us in such numbers that I am unable to get enough distance from them to snap off a photo. A pair working on either side of me has delicately captured the short strings that hold the diffusers to my strobes in their teeth and are tugging in opposite directions. Another is chewing on a strobe arm, I can feel them tugging on my fins and pushing on my tank and then after an eternal couple minutes, they all suddenly disappear in a flourish as if something has called them away.

These Sea Lions come to Norris Rock near Hornby Island, BC for the winter. Typically the new mothers with babes stay in the south while groups like this one migrate north from as far away as Mexico. Thankfully their breeding season is June-July or we would be watching from the boat because they can become quite aggressive while ‘dating’. I wouldn’t want to be mistaken for a sexy female of the pinniped persuasion.

Not quite so graceful on land, these Sea Lions spend their winters here at Norris Rock near Hornby Island, BC.

With the name “Sea Lion” one might conjure up an image of a seal with a mane. They don’t have that but the mature males have a large cranium that gives them a majestic profile. These are the cute circus ‘seals’ with little ears that are trained to do tricks and are so smart in fact, that the navy has been known to recruit them and train them for underwater maneuvers. Boasting the label of “fastest pinniped” they can travel at speeds of up to 20 km/hr and dive to 1000 feet. We divers are envious of them!

A North Pacific Giant Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) hides under a rock.

A few fin kicks away in a space under a rock quivers a large octopus. Highly sought after on the Sea Lion menu, this octopus must have mistaken this hole for a safe abode. I wonder how long he has been here, and how long it will be before he becomes lunch. I am careful not to draw too much attention to him lest he be discovered. Along with octopus, Sea Lions eat fish and shellfish so except for hundreds of sea urchins the underwater landscape around Norris Rock is quite devoid of life.

Young Sea Lions swim by to check us out while diving at Norris Rock, Hornby Island, BC

Our welcoming committee is passing by and pauses to give us a ‘second’ over. They never seem to tire of this game… eyes rolling inquisitively at me as if to watch my reaction while they swallow my strobe, or fins, or hand. Some even like to be stroked and roll over on a side to offer up the best place to scratch. They remind me of a giant dog and I giggle into my regulator at their antics.

It is experiences like this that I live for. At any time these wild mammals could shred me, and yet they don’t. Don’t get me wrong… my heart pounds with adrenalin and fear just like the next person AND I wasn’t the first one to say “Hey, let’s try diving with those blubber monsters over there”… I have the ultimate respect for them and in return, they are gentle and curious with me.

Need to Know:

• Access is by boat
• Sea Lions are typically here from November to April
• Technically this is an easy dive; ability to stay calm is an asset!

Options for Diving:

• Hornby Island Diving – Stay and Dive
• U.B. Diving – Day trips

About the Contributor:

Lisa Graham of Seadance Photography is a freelance photographer who specializes in the underwater realm. Based in the Comox Valley you can visit her website at www.seadance.ca for her full portfolio.

A Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) showing off its exotic blue gular patch and white breeding feathers.

If I only had a dollar for every time I’ve seen the confusion in the spelling of Brandt’s and Brant, I might be able to afford my dream birding trip to Ecuador. Right now we are nearing the end of the Brant Goose migration from Baja, Mexico to the Yukon and Alaska. Many of the Brant stage in the Parksville region to replenish their fat reserves on eelgrass and herring roe before they carry on to their nesting grounds. On the other hand, the Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) is a common year-round resident around the west coast and Vancouver Island.

Brandt's Cormorants (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) are very social. They often hunt together in flocks and socialize on the rocks.

There are three species of cormorants found around Vancouver Island: Double-crested, Pelagic, and Brandt’s. The Pelagic is the smallest at about 71 cm (28 in) long. The Double-crested is next at 84 cm (33 in) and the Brandt’s is the largest at 86 cm (34 in). As you can see, the Brandt’s and Double-crested are similar in size but can easily be distinguished because the Brandt’s has a dark bill versus the orangey-yellow bill of the Double-crested. Besides being the largest cormorant, the Brandt’s has two other distinguishing features. First, it has pale, buffy feathers on its chin just under the eyes. Second, its breeding plumage features white feathering off the side of the head as well as a remarkable light blue gular patch on its chin. The Brandt’s is now molting into its breeding plumage, and this is a great time to see all three species in their breeding finery. In fact, I made a point of visiting Campbell River last week just to photograph the Brandt’s with its sexy blue gular patch.

A Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) carrying seaweed to its nesting site on the Oregon coast.

It won’t be long now before the breeding hormones kick in and the males start looking for their mates. Just like male humans the male cormorants try to entice the females with gifts. Instead of diamonds or other high-priced trinkets, the cormorants rely on practical earthly goods like seaweed and grass for nesting material. If the female likes her suitor she accepts the gift and starts building the nest while the male gathers more material. The Brandt’s usually nest on the outer coast on steep hillsides or cliffs. A great place to see the nesting activity in action is along the Oregon coast. In late May last year at Maquina Head conservation area, I had a great time photographing the Brandt’s Cormorants as they flew right in front of me mouthfuls of grass, and just below there were many nests in between the thousands of Common Murres. I would love to go back some time later in the summer to see the nestlings.

The Brandt’s is a deep-diving bird. It catches fish at all levels, but it often feeds on fish, shrimp, and crabs on the bottom as far as 150 feet down. Like other cormorants, its feathers are designed to water-log to assist in the diving. After the diving it is not uncommon to see the cormorants on the rocks with their wings hung out to dry.

If you want to see the Brandt’s and other cormorants, don’t wait too long. The best place to look is on the rocks at high tide along the shoreline just south of Campbell River. They’ll soon be heading for their nesting grounds.

About the Contributor:

Mike Yip is a Vancouver Island photographer who has published two very successful books on birds and has just released his third. More of his bird images can be found at his website Vancouver Island Birds.

A small group of Chickweed Monkey-flower (Mimulus alsinoides) growing in a vernal seep.

The vantage point of the top of Mount Douglas in Saanich offers a spectacular 360^o view of rural Saanich, downtown Victoria, and the Olympic Mountains across the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washington state. However, it is worth turning one’s eyes from the striking vista and looking to the ground at this time of year. Much of the area at the top of Mount Douglas is exposed rock and moss, with small groves of stunted Garry Oak and the odd Arbutus. A number of beautiful flowers can be found with careful searching.

Broad-leaved Shootingstar (Dodecatheon hendersonii) is just starting to come into bloom. Look for the round basal leaves of new plants.

Broad-leaved Shootingstar (Dodecatheon hendersonii) is beginning to come into flower and the round leaves that characterize this species of Dodecatheon are locally common. D. hendersonii tends to be found in open grassy habitat and occurs from the dry Southern Gulf Islands south along the coast to California. Look for the downward pointing flowers with magenta to lavender petals and reddish-purple stamen tube.

Small-flowered Woodland Star (Lithophragma parviflorum) lights up the forest and grassy bluffs.

Small-flowered Woodland Star (Lithophragma parviflorum) can also be found on the grassy south and west facing slopes of Mount Douglas. This saxifrage has beautiful white to pink flowers that consist of deeply three-lobed petals. It is associated with dry Garry Oak forests and coastal bluffs along the southern part of the Strait of Georgia and Gulf Islands but can also be found in similar habitat throughout southern British Columbia. The common name suggests that the flowers look like small stars.

Spring-gold (Lomatium utriculatum) is a bright sign of spring.

At this time of year, Spring-Gold (Lomatium utriculatum) is also in bloom on the the grassy slopes. Appropriately named, the bright yellow cluster of flowers make this member of the Apiaceae (Carrot) Family distinctive. Its leaves are carrot-like as well, soft and lacy and divided into small, very narrow segments. Spring-gold has a taproot and may have been one of the “wild carrots” eaten by First Nations peoples on Southern Vancouver Island.

The "chimp-like" flower of Chickweed Monkey-flower (Mimulus alsinoides).

The Chickweed Monkey-flower (Mimulus alsinoides) favours vernally moist seeps along the mossy slopes and can grown in bright yellow clumps. The Latin for these delightful flowers comes from “mimulus” which means “little actor” and “mimus” which means a “buffoon” – both refer to the fact that the flowers look like little monkey faces. The flowers are small, much smaller than the more showy Yellow Monkey-flower (M. guttatus) and marked with brownish red spots on the lower lip. “Alsinoides” means “like-chickweed” which refers to the chickweed like look of the leaves.

White Fawn Lily (Erythornium oregonum) were thick in the Licorice Fern underneath stunted Garry Oaks on Mount Douglas.

Amongst the Garry Oak (Quercus garryana), White Fawn Lily (Erythronium oregonum) were plentiful on the eastern summit of Mount Douglas, poking out through carpets of thick Licorice Fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza). White Fawn Lily has a white, nodding flower and long, paired basal leaves that are mottled in colour. Like the other species of plants found on the top of Mount Douglas, White Fawn Lilies tend to be found on the eastern side of Vancouver Island in both grassy open areas, and, as in this case, thick rocky woodlands.

Photographing all of these small flowers can be challenging. Macro work requires close attention to depth of field and ideally the use of a tripod or bean bag for camera support. The top of the mountain can be windy so search for flowers that are growing in a sheltered area. Late afternoon light is ideal as the south and west facing slopes where many of these flowers are found will still be lit late in the day. With careful positioning of the camera it is possible to have the flower lit and the background in shade creating a nice contrast.

White Fawn Lily (Erythornium oregonum) against a soft blue sky.

Access to Mount Douglas is easy, perhaps too easy. Churchill Drive, a narrow paved road that begins at the base of the mountain where Cordova Bay Road, Cedar Hill Road and Shelbourne Road intersect climbs to the top. Parking is limited at the summit and the top of the hill is a popular destination for people enjoying the view. The impact of the large number of people that visit the summit is visible and obvious – numerous trails form a network through sensitive habitat and in many places they have worn the rock bare. Mountain bikers sometimes ride up the paved road and then down the narrow tracks creating more damage. Try to stay on the existing trails and do your best to ignore the broken glass, discarded beer cans, plastic bags and other garbage.

The top of Mount Douglas definitely isn’t a pristine ecosystem but it is worth the effort to visit and explore, especially when you get away from the more heavily used areas. A better strategy to enjoy the park may be to leave your vehicle at a trail head and walk up to the top. At 227m, the climb is not too onerous and it can be a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. Refer to the District of Saanich Mount Douglas Park web page to download a map of the park and the access trails.

About the Contributor:

Dave Ingram is a nature photographer and writer based in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. More of his images can be seen on Flickr and on Dave Ingram’s Natural History Blog.

Don't let the rain stop you - Satinflowers (Olsynium douglasii) look splendid with a few drops of water on the petals.

Early spring on Vancouver Island means it’s time to lace on the hiking boots and head out to see the Satinflower (Olsynium douglasii) show. From mid-February to early April this tiny member of the Iris (Iridaceae) family dots the coastal hills with ribbons of winking hot-pink blossoms. Found from Vancouver Island to California, the species thrives in open settings, mainly in shallow mossy soil on rocky knolls and meadows.

A rare white Satinflower. Variegated ones (magenta and white) are possible too.

Olsynium douglasii is also known as Sisyrinchium douglasii. The “douglasii” part is easy to remember – it commemorates David Douglas, the Scottish botanist who described and catalogued plants in the Pacific Northwest in the early 1800′s (he is the “Douglas” in Douglas-fir). But the difference between Olsynium and Sisyrinchium is a bit more subtle – generally speaking, plants are Sisyrinchium if they have flared stems and flowers with pointed petals that face sideways or up, like stars. Plants belong to the closely related Olsynium if they have rounder stems and flowers that hang like bells.

Raindrops bring out the texture of the petals.

On Vancouver Island these showy little flowers can be seen on hillsides from mid-Island down. However, perhaps one of the premier sites for viewing these beauties is Mt. Wells Regional Park. Located to the west of Victoria, close by the community of Goldstream, Satinflowers appear here in profusion. At their peak (usually in March) they carpet the ground in a spectacular display of flashing magenta colour. The petals truly look like they have been fashioned from the finest satin ribbon. The texture of the petals are such that they catch the light and glint brightly in the slightest breeze. Close examination of the blooms show golden-yellow anthers, laden with pollen.

A look into the heart of a Satinflower (Olsynium douglasii). Notice the golden-yellow anthers and the long white style.

Mt. Wells is easy to access with a short, well-built trail coming up from just beyond the parking lot on the north end of Humpback Lake Road. However, there are some steep bits, which can be slippery, so do take care. The main trail up the northern flank of Mt. Wells is well travelled, and it is advisable to stay on the trail as much as possible to avoid disturbing the delicate plant life.

Most people stop at the summit, then turn around and go back down, but don’t be so quick to head back. Although not marked on the official map, the trail continues south from the summit down into a draw full of Douglas fir and Shore pine. The draw exits onto a lower, broadly spreading summit that holds the best satinflower displays of all.

Satinflower (Olsynium douglasii) - not quite open yet.

O. douglasii make wonderful photographic subjects, especially when using a macro setting and/or lens. The detail in these plants is amazing. For best results the camera should be on a tripod, or something very stable ( a bean bag, or small bag of rice can make a great camera rest ). Do watch camera setup – it is possible to get so focused on the perfect shot that other plants get crushed.

Satinflowers will be in their prime during the month on March, so time spent rambling on Mt. Wells will definitely not disappoint! If Mt. Wells is a bit too adventurous, in the Victoria area Satinflowers also grow in Mt. Douglas Park, Mill Hill Regional Park, and on the Lewis Clark Trail in Thetis Lake Park. Seeing these wildflowers in their native setting is a spring time treat, and a great reason to get out and explore.

For more information on Satinflowers, check out www.eflora.bc.ca

About the Contributor:

Mary Sanseverino is an avid outdoor/nature photographer. More of her images can be found on Flickr and she keeps a blog on her outdoor adventures at Mary’s View.

The dramatic north coast shore in Cape Scott Provincial Park makes for striking black and white photographs.

Cape Scott Provincial Park is at the northern tip of Vancouver Island. The conventional way of visiting the northern part of the Park is to backpack from the trail head. Nels Bight is 16.8 km from the trail head and the trail can be muddy and difficult. However, you can avoid the long hike in with a loaded pack by taking a water taxi from Port Hardy. Our group of seven shared the cost and was delivered to the beach at Nels Bight. By bringing our supply of drinking water with us, we were able to avoid the crowded part of the beach near the water supply. At the end of our trip we hiked out, our packs considerably lightened. Our leader arranged a pick up from the trail head back to Port Hardy.

Sunset at Nels Bight, Cape Scott Provincial Park

A visit to Cape Scott combines hiking a wild, rugged and beautiful coastline with the historical interest of its attempted settlement between 1897 and 1917. You should read up on the history before visiting the area. You will be in awe of the difficulties the pioneers faced in attempting to conquer this land. The dyke they made by hand and oxen (twice, the first effort washed away) still survives.

Wreck at Fisherman's Bight

A stay of 5 days would not be too long. There are numerous trails and beaches to explore. The manned lighthouse can be reached by trail. Be warned that the weather can be very wet and stormy at any time of the year. Bulletproof rain gear and a sturdy tent and fly are essential. Carrying an extra tarp for a cooking shelter is always a good idea. Detailed information is given on the BC Parks website.

Fireweed and Sitka Spruce

From a photographer’s point of view, there are many scenic opportunities and a challenge is to portray the extreme wildness of the area, especially on a bland sunny day. Cameras have to be protected from the severe conditions. I carry a DSLR in a waterproof kayaking pouch and spare lenses in waterproof clothing bags. I have a spare camp towel for drying and cleaning off the cameras. You need enough batteries and memory card capacity for the entire trip. I found the best lighting conditions in the late summer evenings. Black and white renderings of the images best conveyed the feeling of place.

Rainbow at Nels Bight

Getting There:

Those wishing to explore Cape Scott Provincial Park have a couple of options. The Cape Scott trail head is located 64 km from Port Hardy on rough gravel logging roads. Water taxi service and shuttle service are available from Port Hardy:

• Cape Scott Water Taxi (drop off and pick up)
• Catala Charters (water taxi)
• North Coast Trail Shuttle (water taxi and shuttle bus to Cape Scott trail head)

Seedheads

Beach markers, bouys, and other flotsam and jetsam can be found on the beach at Cape Scott.

About the Contributor:

Chris Carter is a photographer based in the Comox Valley, British Columbia. His current work can be viewed in galleries on Vancouver Island and on his web site.

Sandstone Pattern No. 1 - A delicate pattern in sandstone on the Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia.

From a geological and photographic point of view, the western sides of Gabriola, DeCourcy, Link and Valdez Islands have plenty to offer. The geology is interesting and image making opportunities abound.

Way back in history great beds of sandstone were laid down and compressed. In a subsequent upheaval, the sandstone beds were tilted so that the western sides of the islands have near vertical cliffs of varying height and the eastern sides slope gradually to the ocean. Now, wind, rain, frosts and tides are working away at the sandstone and revealing an extraordinary and varied range of shapes and patterns. Erosion of the sandstone is a continuing process and the patterns displayed are constantly but slowly changing. I have yet to find anyone who can explain to me just how these patterns were formed as the sandstone beds were laid down many years ago. If you know the answer, please let me know!

Sandstone Pattern No. 2 - A beautiful example of sandstone patterns on the Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia.

These formations can only be photographed from a boat, kayak or canoe. In some places it is possible to scramble ashore and photograph from the ledges to obtain close up views. Wider angled shots have to be taken from the water.

In summer months the most even light is before noon while the cliffs and patterns are shaded. Later the shadows are more pronounced. As there is plenty of light being reflected from the water’s surface, morning photography works well for the inner details of caves and galleries.

A sandstone cliff and Arbutus tree viewed from the water.

Arbutus trees are found on all the Islands. There are some great specimens within the boundary of the Pirates Cove Marine Park on DeCourcy Island. Historians may wish to check up on the Brother XII and The Aquarian Foundation for interesting background stories of the area.

Getting There

You cannot drive or hike to these formations. Even if you are on an Island it is difficult to reach the interesting areas. What a blessing! The vandals have not discovered them yet!

There is a large gallery on Gabriola Island that can be reached by walking but it is not the most interesting and lacks the fine details that can be seen on Link, DeCourcy and Valdez Islands.

A typical sandstone formation viewed from water level in a kayak.

The best way to see these natural wonders is from a small boat, canoe or kayak. There is a small boat ramp at Cedar on Vancouver Island, just south of Nanaimo. The short crossing to Link and De Courcy Islands is in sheltered waters suitable for experienced kayakers or canoers. The water at the ramp is shallow at very low tides. Paddlers must be aware of the strong tidal flows that rush through Dodd Narrows and keep well away.

On Gabriola Island, there are many B & B’s to choose from. A short drive from any of them will bring you to kayak launching sites at False Narrows. It is a short paddle across False Narrows to Link Island. At low tide the crossing is shallow and it is necessary to portage across a narrow neck of land between Link and Mudge Islands to reach the western sides of Link and De Courcy. Very easy.

A sandstone cliff showing the interesting shapes of the rock.

At the south end of De Courcy Island is a Provincial Marine Park, Pirates Cove, with mooring and camping facilities. Beware of the crows. I have watched crows rummaging in the cockpit of kayaks and discovering and eating the paddlers’ lunches while they went ashore to find a campsite or the loo. Very cheeky. At night, raccoons will check you out at the campsite. There are great views from the beach and campsite area. A short walking trail leads to the Marine Park Anchorage from the campsite.

Most of my close up images were taken by scrambling ashore from a small boat and photographing from the ledges just above the sea. Low tide is best for this. From May to September, the weather is generally dry and the paddling routes sheltered.

About the Contributor:

Chris Carter is a photographer based in the Comox Valley, British Columbia. His current work can be viewed in galleries on Vancouver Island and on his web site.

The Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) is considered a "vulnerable" species by the whole world, but in Canada it is treated as a pest.

Everyone has heard of the Red-winged Blackbird, and many are familiar with the Brewer’s Blackbird, but how many have seen or even heard of a Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)? Not very many I would wager. It’s not surprising because the Rusty is uncommon in the west, and its North American population has declined over 90% in the past 50 years.

The Rusty is the same size as a Brewer’s Blackbird. It is aptly named because of the rusty colouring on its winter plumage. The non-breeding male is black with rusty edges on its feathers. The female is lighter brown with buffy and rusty mottling. Both sexes have yellow eyes. The breeding male is black with an iridescent purple head and chest. It is very similar to the male Brewer’s Blackbird but not as glossy. The breeding female is a dull brown.

The Rusty breeds from the interior of B.C. to the Atlantic coast in the east and to Alaska in the north. During the fall most of the population migrates to the southeast quadrant of the United States. However, it is not uncommon to find the occasional one wintering on Vancouver Island. I would estimate that for every flock of a thousand blackbirds there is one Rusty. There is at least one or two reported in the Victoria region every year, and I bet veteran birders like Art Morgan and Art Martell have seen them in the Comox Valley.

On January 7 I had the pleasure of escorting a deceased Great Horned Owl to the Royal B.C. Museum. The conversation on the way down was quite one-sided as the owl didn’t give a hoot for anything I said. However, I got the last hoot as the trip gave me the opportunity to look for the Rusty that had been reported by Victoria birders at King’s Pond since mid-December. King’s Pond is one of my favorite locations to photograph ducks like Wood Ducks, Northern Shovelers, Lesser Scaups, Ring-neckeds, and Buffleheads. If I couldn’t find the Rusty, I would still enjoy photographing the ducks as well an assortment of winter songbirds like Fox Sparrows, Bewick’s Wrens, Anna’s Hummingbirds, and House Finches. However, Lady Luck was on my side. I didn’t see any blackbirds around the pond, but there were about 12 in the tall trees at the adjacent golf course. I set up my camera and scoped the birds. The first 4 were juvenile Brewer’s, but the 5th was different. I couldn’t see the back, but it had a mottled white and black chest. It had to be the Rusty.

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) feeding on seed at King's Pond, Victoria, British Columbia.

I waited patiently for 20 minutes, and sure enough, the blackbirds flew down to a tree by the pond. I quickly grabbed a bag of seed from my back pack and spread it on the ground. The blackbirds immediately flew down right in front of me. I had no problem picking out the Rusty. Its rusty-edged feathers stood out like a neon light. I was excited because it was the first Rusty I had ever seen.

The Rusty Blackbird situation in Canada is an absolute joke. 70% of the Rusty population breeds in Canada, and it is internationally acknowledged that the population is threatened. Our national organization for conservation, COSEWIC, has declared the Rusty as a “species of concern.” Meanwhile, our Migratory Bird Act does not recognize or protect the Rusty. Instead, the Rusty is lumped together with blackbirds which are considered as pests and may be indiscriminately killed as a nuisance bird. You figure it out. The whole world (IUCN) recognizes the Rusty as a “vulnerable” species, but in Canada it is still treated as a pest! You bet I’m disgusted, but I can’t say I’m surprised. It’s just another case of Canadian “lip-service” instead of a meaningful process to conserve and protect another piece of our disappearing natural world. For starters, how difficult would it be to get it on the migratory bird list where it belongs?

About the Contributor:

Mike Yip is a Vancouver Island photographer who has published two very successful books on birds and has just released his third. More of his bird images can be found at his website Vancouver Island Birds.