Greetings,

Yesterday (March 31), we did the loop hike along the Cowichan River (near
Duncan BC) between Skutz Falls and the 66 Mile Bridge. It wasn't
particularly birdy, but a very pretty walk along the canyon. A few of the
white fawn lilies were in bloom, but not much else in the way of flowers.
The area is a forest pathologist's dream - a couple of species of root rot
fungi (Phaeolus schweinitzii and Phellinus weiri)are hammering the
Douglas-fir forest, and most of the big Doug firs also have lots of heartrot
from Phellinus pini. For cavity nesting birds, the result is a tremendous
amount of habitat for feeding and nesting. Although we didn't see many
woodpeckers, there was an incredible amount of recent work by PILEATED and
HAIRY WOODPECKERS, and some from RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS and NORTHERN
FLICKERS. We did encounter 12 BROWN CREEPERS. A nice treat was 3 AMERICAN
DIPPERS, one that was singing loudly in its usual spot in the steepest
section of the canyon.

TURKEY VULTURES continue to be conspicuous on Vancouver Island. We had the
following sightings:
1 - Highway 1 near Malahat Summit
1 - Highway 1 near Cobble Hill
1 - Highway 14 near Currie Creek
1 - Highway 14 near Paldi

Elsewhere on Vancouver Island, Guy Monty reported the following from Nanoose
Bay on March 31:

"GREATER YELLOWLEGS are arriving, 5 this morning at Nanoose Estuary. There
was a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT at Doumont Marsh yesterday, which is the first for
the year, and right on time! At exactly 8:11 this morning [March 31] at
Nanoose Estuary, the TURKEY VULTURES suddenly left their roosts on Nanoose
Hill. I had just scanned the skyline for raptors, seeing only a few BALD
EAGLES and one PEREGRINE FALCON, when I turned back around, and 17 TURKEY
VULTURES were gliding north. At the same time, I saw three gliding north
along the Island Hwy east of where I was. Nice morning at the estuary with
57 species sighted."

Cheers,

Michael and Cynthia Shepard
North American Bird Information Web Site:
http://www.islandnet.com/~mgs/birds/