A flock of about a dozen Long-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus) have been hanging out at the Courtenay Airpark for the last week or so. The Long-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus) that I wrote about in late September last year are back at the Airpark Lagoon in Courtenay, BC. For the last week or so there’s been a nice flock of dowitchers …
Birdwatching
Victoria Natural History Society – September Field Trips
Joining a local natural history club is an excellent way to learn more about nature and meet like-minded people. The Victoria Natural History Society (VNHS) has a number of interesting walks and presentations for both members and non-members throughout the year. Field trips are ranked according to difficulty: Level 1 – easy walking, mostly level paths Level 2 – paths …
Sandy Island Marine Provincial Park
Tree Island from Longbeak Point on Denman Island When is an island not an island? When you can walk to it – at low tide! You won’t find the name Tree Island on many maps – but ask someone from the Comox Valley, and they will refer you to Sandy Island – the Marine Provincial Park so close to the …
Cedar Waxwings Along the Courtenay River
Over the last couple of days I’ve noticed cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) along the Courtenay River during my regular nature walks to the Courtenay Airpark with the kids. The waxwings are named for the waxy red secretions at the tips of secondaries. While it is not 100% clear, the red tips may help males attract females. The distinctive black mask, …
Birdwatching in the South Okanagan
As often as we can Jocie and I love getting out to the Okanagan and spending our time birdwatching and botanizing. For Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island birders, the Okanagan offers an opportunity to pick up a whole host of birds that are associated with the dry grasslands of the South Okanagan. With the two kids under three on board, …
California Gulls, California Gulls
A flock of mostly Thayer’s Gulls (Larus thayeri). Note the yellow legs of the California Gulls (Larus californicus) in the center of the image. I happened to be down in Parksville yesterday and did some pre-meeting birding at the Parksville Community Park on the waterfront. It was a blustery day but the gulls were out in numbers. Birds are beginning …
2009 Deep Bay Christmas Bird Count
Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor inadequate waterproof clothing or footwear can prevent the dedicated birder from participating in one of the season’s most anticipated events – the annual Audobon’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) at Deep Bay on Vancouver Island, BC. A typical place usually only visited during a bird count – a powerline. No birds here, they were …
Birding at Oyster Bay Shoreline Park
One of the better places for winter bird watching within easy driving distance from Courtenay is Oyster Bay Shoreline Park. The park is located just north of Oyster River and opposite the Driftwood Restaurant on old Highway 19A. Oyster Bay is best when the tide is high and the birds are in closer to the shore. A spotting scope is …