just returned from an eagle festival where there were far too few eagles, we
encountered four trumpeter swans at the squamish estuary, good numbers of
barrow's and common goldeneyes in the same estuary and along the river at
Eagle Run, six harlequin ducks (mostly male) at porteau cove (north of
vancouver along sea-to-sky) and managed to count either 12 or 14 snowy owls
at boundary bay (72nd street)... the inconsistency in count depends on
whether you believe two birds from the western-most group of six birds (next
to 72nd street at the dike) flew and joined the group of what was eight
birds at the eastern-most edge of the golf course property, also along the
dike... the closest SNOW was about 20+ metres into the marsh, and most were
at least 25 to 30... a few hearty folk took their photographic eyes out to
the edge of the wood piles and reportedly got nice looks... those of us
with less insurance had to be contented with documentation shots only, as
light was poor, wind was very strong, and squalls annoying...

also seen: what was believed to be at least one northern harrier skimming
low over fields along the ladner trunk road, and two adult bald eagles just
at the water's edge beyond the snowies closest to 72nd...

needless to say, it was exciting for all involved to see that many snowies
in one place at one time...

00 caren
http://www.parkgallery.org
near the 49th parallel
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