I went out with local birders on Saturday January27 to do the monthly shorebird count. One of the many atmospheric rivers sweeping in from the Pacific Ocean meant heavy rain, fog and some wind. It certainly didn’t stop the birds nor the birders.
A blelted kingfisher on the outlook for prey at MK Bay Marina, January 27. 2204 in heavy rain during an atomospheric river.
Male and female mallards at Wathl Creek as it empties into Douglas Channel. Heavy rain bouncing off the water. (Robin Rowland)
There were at least 60 probably more common mergansers both at Wahtl Creek and further out from MK Bay Marina.
Here are three males and female. (Robin Rowland)
Two male common mergansers. (Robin Rowland)
Three female common mergansers. (Robin Rowland)
There were a lot of mergansers further out in the harbour. (Robin Rowland)
A crow flies across the Wahtl ereek estuary with something in its mouth. (Robin Rowland)
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A great blue heron at the Rio Tinto docks in Kitimat (Robin Rowland)
On December 16, 2023 Kitimat Valley Naturalists took part in the worldwide Christmas Bird Count, with special permission and guidance to view the natural areas of the Kitimat River estuary in both the RIo Tinto and LNG Canada industrial sites.
The weather was cool and overcast, but unlike earlier years no snow or heavy rain which allowed us to count the birds and get some great photographs.
Trumpeter swans at the Kitimat Rver Oxbow. (Robin Rowland)
Trumpeter swans hang out at the Kitimat River Oxbow, an area of the river which appeaers dark brown due to heavy iron content in the water.
Canada Geese overhead (Robin Rowland)
Canada Geese overhead (Robin Rowland)
Just as we arrived on site a flock Canada geese flew over head.
Buffleheads in the estuary (Robin Rowland)
A bufflehead. (Robin Rowland)
A bufflehead on a take off run. (Robin Rowland)
American coot feeding (Robin Rowland)
American coot (Robin Rowland)
A bufflehead and other ducks in the estuary. (Robin Rowland)
Two great blue herons watch from the dock. (Robin Rowland)
Three of the at least seven great blue herons we saw that afternoon., (Robin Rowland)
This great blue heron may have spotted something. (Robin Rowland)
A great blue heron flies along the river. (Robin Rowland)
A colony (flock) of gulls (at least 85 and probably more) line up along a dock. (Robin Rowland)
A male mallard. (Robin Rowland)
More mallards (Robin Rowland)
A pair of female hooded mergansers, one about to take off. (Robin Rowland)
Male and female hooded mergansgers and an American coot. (Robin Rowland)
Hooded mergansers. (Robin Rowland)
Male and female hooded mergansers. (Robin Rowland)
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Shots from the November shore bird survey.
A Western grebe off the Maggie Point gazebo. (Robin Rowland)
Common mergansers off Maggie Point. (Robin Rowland)
We spotted gulls in a feeding frenzy off the Kitamaat Village soccer field. (Robin Rowland)
Another shot of the feeding frenzy. (Robin Rowland)
Detail of the feeding frenzy in the above shot. (Robin Rowland)
Common loons off Kitamaat Village (Robin Rowland)
A flock of starlings off Kitamaat Village. (Robin Rowland)
A song sparrow off at Kitamaat Village. (Robin Rowland)
A red neck grebe off Maggie Point (Robin Rowland)
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