Winter Ducks
digitalscapes by starchy all rights reserved
One of the many and varied perks of living on Canada’s west coast is its abundance of waterfowl. The rugged coastline is a powerful magnet for the multitude of over wintering, and passing through migratory birds. Within walking distance from my home or minutes by car, I’d be hard pressed not to find less that a dozen species. In addition, upon closer observation, many, many more.
The Esquimalt Lagoon for example, is large shallow salt-water pond and marsh, trapped in by a long thin drivable sandbar. Its only minutes by car from Victoria and has tidal movements flush it daily. It is a gold mine, for bird watchers, and all the winter ducks can be found there. On any given day one will find, Great blue, and night herons, Mute Swans, Golden eyes, Buffleheads, Blue bills, Canvasbacks, Coots, both Common, Red-breasted, and Hooded Mergansers, Pintails, Surf Scoters, Oystercatchers, Sanderlings, Loons, Harlequin Ducks, American Widgeon, Gadwalls, Northern Shovelers, Pied-billed Grebes, Ruddy Turnstones, Rock Sandpipers, Yellowlegs, and if your lucky, Brant Geese, Snowy Owls, and Common Murre. I’ll also mention a number of Gulls, that I’m afraid I pay little heed too.
As you move south west from Victoria and find your self in less populated areas, you’ll fine even more species. On one lucky occasion I spotted a Brown Pelican out in the kelp beds off China beach. A rare visitor to the Island.
Starchy [:)


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