On the east coast of Vancouver Island, near Parksville-Qualicum Beach area,
there is a massive cloud of ducks numbering over 10 000. These staging
birds seem to be staying together and moving in and out with the tides.
Interestingly, within the flock the different species seem to make up
species-pockets within the flock. I wonder if these birds are feeding on
the herring and eulichon (sp?) spawn?

The flock is composed primarily of the following:

Surf Scoter: 6250
Greater Scaup: 3353
Long-tailed Duck: 2945
Brant: 750
Western Grebe: 620 (not part of the flock)
Black Scoter: 154
White-winged Scoter: 124
Harlequin Duck: 68
Lesser Scaup: 5

and two turkey vultures flew overhead in a northerly direction.

Cheers,

Don Cecile
Port Alberni, BC, CANADA V9Y 6Z5
eMAIL: dcecile at cln.etc.bc.ca