Island NatureExploring nature on Vancouver Island, British Columbia and beyond

Shy Blue Tipper Classification: B/1 or possibly A/9 The defensive behaviour of this cart makes it easy to identify. When approached by a perceived threat it immediately places the nose of its basket to the ground and raises its rear wheels to the sky. It is unclear what it is that deters the potential predator. [...]

I love this time of year when spring migration is just starting and the number of shopping carts on Vancouver Island are starting to build. Hard to believe with the recent snow fall we’ve had that last week we were battling through a couple of windy and wet days. It’s often said that storm days [...]

Beige Rustler Classification: B/1 or possibly A/9 While out on a family walk around the neighbourhood I spotted another lifer for me – the Beige Rustler. These large carts are late winter migrants on Vancouver Island and this single male in fresh breeding colours is a sign that this year’s migration has begun. Beige Rustlers [...]

The Courtenay River is awash in life and death these days. Spawned out salmon litter the banks of the river. Gulls have gathered to feed on the carcasses and countless diving ducks are feasting on salmon eggs washed downstream. With death comes new life. Silver Rivercart Classification: B/12 Also returning to the Courtenay River at [...]

Greater Orange Weaver Classification: B/1 or possibly A/9 This large orange cart was a delightful sighting. It had wandered down onto a stream side path, far away from its usual disturbed habitat of developed floodplain or agricultural land. A distinctive cart, the males of this species are known for their propensity to build elaborate nests [...]

Crimson Wanderer Classification: B/1 A sure sign of spring is the staging of herds of Crimson Wanderers. At this time of year mixed groups of both adult and juvenile carts gather near traditional feeding locations and begin to pair off for breeding that occurs in late March and early April. Male Crimson Wanderers can be [...]

Blue-banded Silver Spinner Classification: B/1 Closely related to the Red-banded Silver Spinner, I found this Blue-banded Silver Spinner lurking near a dumpster a mere block from my house in Courtenay, British Columbia. Unlike its non-aggressive cousin, the Blue-banded Silver Spinner must be approached with significant care, especially if one has young children present. If you [...]

There, in the moonlight. Do you see it? A Northern Seaside Shambler! Northern Seaside Shambler Classification: B/1, B/21 Keep your eyes open and carefully search the shorelines and estuaries of the Pacific Northwest at this time of year. If you’re lucky, you may get to see the rare Northern Seaside Shambler, a marine shopping cart [...]

Crimson Wander Nymph Classification: B/1, B/21 Back in October I wrote about a common species of shopping cart in our neighbourhood – the Crimson Wanderer. The Crimson Wanderer has an aquatic stage of its life cycle that it spends in small streams and creeks. This week I managed to capture an image of a juvenile [...]

Lesser Central Creeper Classification: B/4 In this latest edition of Vancouver Island Shopping Carts I discovered a lone Lesser Central Creeper in a back alley in Courtenay, BC. Note the distinctive yellow markings and small size that are characteristic of this species. This gentle omnivore is often domesticated by humans and put to purposeful use. [...]