Saturday, November 19, 2022

RBA: WHOOPER SWAN in Courtenay - Nov 19-26th

At 4:30pm on Nov 19-2022, James MacKenzie, Nathan and Iain Haigh found a Whooper Swan at a retention pond on private property in Courtenay. The bird was not banded on either leg and toes did not appear to be clipped. It was in a flock of 78 Trumpeter Swans.

These ponds are not accessible to the public. Local birders have an agreement with the property owner. Please do not trespass.

At 4:45pm, the bird flew away to the SW towards Comox Lake.

Map to original location HERE

At 1:30pm on Nov 20-2022, the bird was relocated HERE in a field on Marsden Rd.

The bird later moved to a field HERE on Charter Rd and is being viewed by multiple observers as of 3pm.

The bird was not relocated on Nov 21.

On Nov 22-24th the bird was relocated HERE in a field off Dove Creek Rd and is being viewed by multiple observers.

On Nov 26th  the Whooper Swan was relocated in a field off Piercy Rd HERE and seen by multiple observers.

It has not been relocated since, despite multiple birders looking.

This is the second record for BC of a presumed wild vagrant.

Whooper Swan in Courtenay - Photos: James MacKenzie
Whooper Swan on Dove Creek Rd in Courtenay - Photo: Roger Beardmore

No comments:

Post a Comment