Last week I found myself returning to one of my favorite places, the Cowichan River Estuary. Once again the area provided some very unique and exciting photographic opportunities. Large numbers of wintering Trumpeter Swans, Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles and several different varieties of songbirds. So what else keeps drawing me back at least a half dozen times every year?
First and foremost the the area is only 30 minutes from my home. Take the Trans-Canada Highway from Victoria (Hwy. 1) towards Duncan, BC, turn northeast at Bench Road continuing due north and you'll find yourself on Cowichan Bay Road. Proceed north on Cowichan Bay Road for approximately 950 meters before turning right (east) onto the Cowichan Bay Dock Road and your there. Be sure to also check out the two dikes in the area, as these are short easy hikes and never fail to provide some interesting photography opportunities.
Secondly, as a biologist I'm keenly aware that estuaries are amongst some of the most biologically productive ecosystems and thus provide habitat for a diversity of species. This is certainly true as more than 275 bird species have been recorded in the area over the years.
Here is a partial list of species I have observed and/or photographed: Purple Martins (April-August) around nest boxes mounted on offshore pilings, nesting Ospreys, American Widgeon, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Gadwall, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Shovler, Horned Grebe Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Trumpter Swan, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Song Sparrow, English Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Northern Shrike, Casin's Viro, Hutton's Viro, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Spotted Towhee, American Robin, European Starling, Common Yellow-throat, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Macgillivary's Warbler, Stellar's Jay, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Pine Siskin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren, Winter Wren, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Northwestern Crow, Bonaparte's Gull, California Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull.
In conclusion, I guess photographers like Freeman Patterson
and Tim Fitzharris were right; sometimes the best images are right in your own backyard. And if you find you want a break or get the growlies, try spending some time in the village of Cowichan Bay. The Cowichan Estuary Nature House, True Grain Bread and the Rock Cod Cafe are three places I like to visit on my outings. Here are some links you might find useful.
http://www.cowichanestuary.ca
http://www.rockcodcafe.com
http://www.truegrain.ca
Thanks for checking out my blog and please feel free to leave comments or questions. I love getting feedback and always look forward to responding to your questions.
Ken
First and foremost the the area is only 30 minutes from my home. Take the Trans-Canada Highway from Victoria (Hwy. 1) towards Duncan, BC, turn northeast at Bench Road continuing due north and you'll find yourself on Cowichan Bay Road. Proceed north on Cowichan Bay Road for approximately 950 meters before turning right (east) onto the Cowichan Bay Dock Road and your there. Be sure to also check out the two dikes in the area, as these are short easy hikes and never fail to provide some interesting photography opportunities.
Secondly, as a biologist I'm keenly aware that estuaries are amongst some of the most biologically productive ecosystems and thus provide habitat for a diversity of species. This is certainly true as more than 275 bird species have been recorded in the area over the years.
Here is a partial list of species I have observed and/or photographed: Purple Martins (April-August) around nest boxes mounted on offshore pilings, nesting Ospreys, American Widgeon, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Gadwall, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Shovler, Horned Grebe Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Trumpter Swan, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Song Sparrow, English Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Northern Shrike, Casin's Viro, Hutton's Viro, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Spotted Towhee, American Robin, European Starling, Common Yellow-throat, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Macgillivary's Warbler, Stellar's Jay, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Pine Siskin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren, Winter Wren, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Northwestern Crow, Bonaparte's Gull, California Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull.
In conclusion, I guess photographers like Freeman Patterson
and Tim Fitzharris were right; sometimes the best images are right in your own backyard. And if you find you want a break or get the growlies, try spending some time in the village of Cowichan Bay. The Cowichan Estuary Nature House, True Grain Bread and the Rock Cod Cafe are three places I like to visit on my outings. Here are some links you might find useful.
http://www.cowichanestuary.ca
http://www.rockcodcafe.com
http://www.truegrain.ca
Thanks for checking out my blog and please feel free to leave comments or questions. I love getting feedback and always look forward to responding to your questions.
Ken
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