Subject: Birding Report Victoria
Date: Mar 23 20:34:53 1997
From: Mike MacKenzie - mike at charters.bc.ca


Hello,

Just a wonderful Spring day, bright and breezy, and interesting birding
in Beacon Hill Park and along the water to Clover Point in Victoria.

Three high points:

A Cooper's Hawk barking and acting brave in the face of the four NW Crows
that were yelling at him. He was just letting go of the last of his
winter plumage, some of which hung around the top of his legs like droopy
white underpants. He seemed just about ready for the breeding season.
Every time he moved to another branch the crows attacked in mid air,
pouncing down on him from above. What a handsome bird, with his salmon
coloured vest, and those piercing eyes.

A very busy Pelagic Cormorant in Ross Bay showing the white breeding
plumage along his flanks. We finally got a chance to see him with the
sun behind us so that the irridescent green of his body and neck was
clearly visible. He made twenty short dives before taking off with great
effort and skimming away just inches above the tops of the waves.

My first Tree Swallows of the Spring! They buzz the breakwall at Ross
Bay hunting insects over the kelp. One flew within a foot of my head
several times as I twisted back and forth trying to follow his flight.
He made my day.