Skunkheads

Tomorrow is the sixteenth anniversary of the discovery of BC’s second Siberian Accentor, and Gellert and I marked the occasion with a quick walk along (not on–dogs are forbidden) Locarno Beach.

The tide was low–strange thing for an immigrant from Arizona to have to say!–but birds were still few. Half a dozen Bald Eagles were among the gulls and crows out on the flat, and Pelagic Cormorants flew past every couple of minutes.

Even ducks were scarce, with the comical exception of 45 Surf Scoters. Most were adult males, with their striking puffin bills and glaring white head patches. There was a fair bit of diving going on, but most of the activity consisted of drakes scooting furiously along the surface of the water, splashing in the race to impress the girls. Can’t say for sure whether that worked, but the dog and I enjoyed it.