Hours: 1:30-3:30 PM
Tide at beginning of count: 12.3 feet – Tide at end of count: 9.6 feet – Falling tide
Weather: sun/cloud, light wind., choppy seas
Participants: 13
Total brant counted: approx. 527
Count covered the entire length of the PQBWMA, divided into three zones:
Zone 1: North Area; From Qualicum Beach Viewing Stand north to the mouth of the Little Qualicum River
- No brant observed
- Gulls, sea lions on sandbar at the mouth of the river
- 8 common goldeneyes, 2 common mergansers, 8 pintails, bufflehead, mallards and American wigeons.
- 1 walker with small dog on leash
- 1 herring seiner
- 1 coast guard vessel
- 1 zodiac, southbound, very fast
Zone 2: Central Area: From French Creek Marina to south end of Seacrest
- 7 Brant counted
- 3 Fishboats
- Gull frenzy at herring ball at mouth of French Creek
- 30 Eagles
- At Seacrest, 1 dog scattered gulls & loons
- 200 Dunlin counted, 100 wigeon, mixed flock of mallards & wigeons
Zone 3: South Area: Rathtrevor Beach, Brant Point, west end of Mariner Way, Parksville Beach
- 520 Brant counted; 475 at Rathrevor, 45 seen flying southward at Mariner Way
- 5 people walking Rathtrevor Beach
- Dunlin, plovers on beach at Rathtrevor
- Gulls, mergansers, buffleheads observed at Mariner Way
- 2 fishing boats to the north
- Raft of approx.. 1500 scoters in Parksville Bay
- Gulls, 2 oyster catchers
- 17 Bald eagles on thermals
Submitted by Liz Bredberg
Photo: Liz Bredberg