Hi Tweeters,

an Easter report from Cape Scott, the northwestern tip of Vancouver
Island. Right, sometimes it rains... a great trip to one of the wild
parks in B.C.
Highlights of the travel north were Turkey Vultures (Parksville) and
Brant Geese (Campbell River). From there on, rain, rain, and multiple
floodings of the road forced us turn around 4km from the trailhead (where
is the chapter about hydroplanes in the car manual when you need it?). We
got to a camping spot at Georgie Lake where we found on ...
Saturday a Red-throated Loon in breeding plumage posing for us.
Sunshine and forecast for better weather made us trying a second time;
during elaboration, 55 Sandhill Cranes flew over Pt. Hardy northwards.
The logging road dried amazingly quickly, and we hiked the whole 6h trail
to Neils Bight under optimal conditions with unusually little water
in the mudholes (Rufous Hummingbirds in Salmonberry patches; 1 Red-tailed
Hawk in the middle of the old-growth forest on a snag). Crumbs from
our dinner attracted 2 Short-tailed Weasels.
Sunday, rain. Steller's Sealions at the Cape Scott Lighthouse, together with
White-winged Scoters and Red-necked Grebe. The first Hermit Thrushes of
this season appeared, and 2 crows in a gullflock had very long necks - 2
Brant Geese at Neils Bight. A wolf track showed that we were followed on
our day trip to the lighthouse. Robins ran around on the beach like
typical shorebirds.
Monday, almost no rain. Many Varied and Hermit Thrushes singing. Sweet
Gale (Myrica gale) grew along the boardwalk. We hiked 4h out,
and aimed for the last ferry. Where we got fed birthday cake at 1 in the
morning.

Red-throated Loon 1
Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe 2
Pelagic Cormorant +
Brandt's Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Brant Goose +
White-winged Scoter +
Mallard
Common Merganser 4
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk (migrant?)
Sandhill Crane (from Cape Flattery?)
Bonaparte's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Western Gull (?)
Rock Dove
Rufous Hummingbird +
Tree Swallow + (Hansen Lagoon)
Steller's Jay +
Raven
NW Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Hermit Thrush
Varied Thrush
Am.Robin
Song Sparrow

Mule Deer
Short-tailed Weasel
Gray Wolf (tracks)
Steller's Sealion
Harbor Seal
Chicaree (Douglas Squirrel) (?) should not occur on N.Vanc.Isl. according
to Mammals, Petterson's Field Guide)
Mouse sp. (Outhouse)

Comments, especially on our mammal ID's, welcome, and thanks to Bryan Gates
for encouragement and to Jack Bowling for his weather assessments.

Reto Riesen
Dept. Chem., UBC
Vancouver, B.C.
riesenr at chem.ubc.ca