International Brant Monitoring Project
Observation Logs:

2006/2007 Observations

Date Location Observers Count Percent Juveniles Notes
Oct 25 Izembek Lagoon, AK Izembek National Wildlife Refuge unknown 4
Oct 26 Izembek Lagoon, AK Izembek National Wildlife Refuge unknown 5
Oct 30 Izembek Lagoon, AK Izembek National Wildlife Refuge 127,000 6
Oct 30 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston 44 39 7
Nov 11 Punta Abreojos/Estero La Bocana, Baja California Sur GEXBRA Club 3,270 N/A 8
Nov 12 Oak Bay, Port Hadlock WA Diane Muholland 4 0 9
Nov 16 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston 1,900 9 10
Nov 22 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 227 n/a 11
Nov 22 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 200 n/e 12
Nov 25 Drakes Estero, CA Rod Hug 68 13
Dec 7 Padilla Bay, WA Conway School 102 N/A 14
Dec 9 Oak Bay, Port Hadlock WA Diane Muholland 72 10 15
Dec 16 Oak Bay, Port Hadlock WA Diane Muholland 300 ? 16
Dec 17 OTHER OTHER 873 17
Jan 10 Padilla Bay, WA Conway School 30 18
Jan 10 Bodega Bay, CA Rod Hug 68 19
Jan 12 Padilla Bay Reserve staff 60 N/A 20
Jan 13 Drakes Estero, CA Rod Hug 280 21
Jan 18 Padilla Bay, WA Conway School 60 N/A 22
Jan 20 Punta Abreojos/Estero La Bocana, Baja California Sur GEXBRA Club 534 N/A 23
Jan 22 Drakes Estero, CA Rod Hug 965 24
Jan 22 Tomales Bay, CA Rod Hug 504 25
Jan 22 Bodega Bay, CA Rod Hug 483 26
Jan 22 San Quintin Bay, Baja Cal. SANQUIBRANTA 65 n/a 27
Jan 23 Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Guerro Negro Lagoon, Baja California Reserve Students/ Pro Esteros 28 n/a 28
Jan 25 Padilla Bay, WA Conway School 200 N/A 29
Jan 25 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 380 n/a 30
Jan 26 OTHER OTHER 42 0 31
Jan 31 Padilla Bay, WA Conway School 160 N/A 32
Feb 1 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston 203 8% 33
Feb 1 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 800 N/A 34
Feb 3 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston 325 4% 35
Feb 4 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston 275 4% 36
Feb 12 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston 531 37
Feb 13 Izembek Lagoon, AK Izembek National Wildlife Refuge 40,041 38
Feb 15 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 20 n/a 39
Feb 19 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 450 n/a 40
Feb 25 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 6 n/a 41
Feb 26 Parksville-Qualicum, Canada Guy Monty 149 42
Feb 28 Padilla Bay, WA Conway School 320 1% 44
Mar 1 Oak Bay, Port Hadlock WA Diane Muholland 360+ ? 45
Mar 3 Bodega Bay, CA Rod Hug 0 46
Mar 4 San Quintin Bay, Baja Cal. SANQUIBRANTA 1,000 n/a 47
Mar 3 San Quintin Bay, Baja Cal. SANQUIBRANTA 100 n/a 48
Mar 9 Padilla Bay, WA Conway School 1300 NA 49
Mar 14 Padilla Bay, WA Conway School 640+ NA 50
Mar 20 Oak Bay, Port Hadlock WA Diane Muholland 235 10 51
Mar 23 Oak Bay, Port Hadlock WA Diane Muholland 325+ na 52
Mar 21 Coos Bay, OR South Slough NERR 175 NA 53
Apr 11 Padilla Bay, WA Conway School 1,162 NA 54
Apr 13 Oak Bay, Port Hadlock WA Diane Muholland 475 na 55
Apr 21 Izembek Lagoon, AK Izembek National Wildlife Refuge > 55,000 56
Apr 26 Padilla Bay, WA Conway School 47 NA 57
Apr 27 Padilla Bay, WA Conway School 88 NA 58
May 9 Coos Bay, OR South Slough NERR 300 NA 59
May 11 OTHER OTHER 11 n/a 60
May 12 Coos Bay, OR South Slough NERR 480 NA 61
May 13 San Quintin Bay, Baja Cal. SANQUIBRANTA 500 N/A 62
May 14 Coos Bay, OR South Slough NERR 150 NA 63
Jul 14 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston 7 64


Notes:

4 A major departure of Cackling Geese (formerly Canada Geese) from Izembek Lagoon occurred throughout the day and was observed by multiple people. No brant were observed departing, but this was the first day the brant were showing signs of migratory restlessness (bunching up in huge flocks and flying up high to test the wind in loose, swirling flocks). Winds were westerly during the day but changed to NW after dark.

5 Winds were blowing from the northwest throughout the day and evening. Brant continued to show signs of migratory restlessness during the day and evening. After dark a large number of brant were heard flying south over Cold Bay.

6 During an aerial survey of Izembek and Kinzarof Lagoons, Refuge staff estimated that 127,000 brant were still present. Although some brant apparently departed on the evening of October 26, it does not appear to have been a significant number. A high pressure system has moved over us at this time, so we don't expect any departures in the near future.

7 Oct. 30th 2006.  Boundary Bay at the Pump House Beach Grove Lagoon.  Wind from the East-Northeast at two knots.  Tide  at 12.5 feet and rising.  Clear sky.
Total Count 23 of which  9  were juvenile.  The birds did haul out (climb up onto the beach) but LARGE concentrations of widgeon and other ducks blocked the view so I couldn't see any bands.
Later at the Roberts Bank / Westshore Container Terminal Causeway I counted 21 off in the middle between the causeways.
Richard

8 Observer: Grupo Ecologista de Estero El Coyote (GEECO)
Spanish: Marea: bajando. Viento: poca brisa. Día: soleado. Censos: Terrestre y marítimo.
Censo terrestre: Se censó la orilla del estero en equipos y se registraron 970 brantas alimentándose en las zonas bajas.
Censo marítimo: Se contaron 2,300 brantas. Algunas nadaban y otras estaban volando.

English: Tide: Low. Wind: slow. The day was: sunny. Surveys: By land and water.
Land survey: We observed from the shore, making teams to do that. We counted 970 Brant feeding in the low tide.
Water survey: We went on a boat, and counted 2,300 Brant. Some were swimming, other were flying.


9 First Fall Sighting.

10 Spent several good days at Boundary Bay on the border between US and Canada. Numbers of Brant are fairly high. An estimate of 1800 to 2000 brant. Hundreds of them came close enough to read leg bands and identify juveniles and grey bellies. There were only about 10 to 12 grey bellies identified.

11 Español: El día 22 de Noviembre del 2006 fue nuestra primera salida a observar las brantas. Anduvimos caminando y el total de brantas fueron 227, la marea estaba baja, el cielo despejado y viento del oeste. Entre las que contamos pudimos observar 5 brantas adultas, el conteo empezó a las 4:00 pm y terminó a las 4:40. También entre el monte cerca de la playa encontramos restos de lo que pudo ser una branta, pero al parecer tenía días muerto puesto que no tenía la cabeza ni las patas. Las brantas que observamos la mayoría andaba caminando y estaban acompañadas por Gaviotas, Pelícanos y Zarapicos. En la playa también andaba un señor y probablemente pudo haber espantado algunas brantas.
English: On november 22nd we made our first field trip to watch Brant. We saw 227 Brant, the tide was low, cloudless, wind from the West. We identified five adult Brant. Our count started at 4:00 p.m. and ended at 4:40 p.m. In the field, close to the beach, there was a dead bird; maybe it was a Brant, we can’t be sure, because it doesn’t have feet or head. Most of the Brant we saw were walking, accompanied by gulls, pelicans and curlews. On the beach there was a man, maybe he scared the Brant.


12 Español: Eran como las 5:00 pm, la marea estaba subiendo, viento leve. Andaban varios grupos de brantas desde la planta hasta el canal del estero, unas nadaban y otras comían.
English: It was around 5:00 pm, the tide was rising, light wind. There was many groups of walking Brant, from the oyster plant to the estuary’s channel, some of them were swimming and some other eating.


13

14 Weather was cold, breezy, and cloudy. The water was calm. A pair of Brant were seen at the first site along with Western Greebs, Blue-Winged Teal, Buffled head, Golden Eye, and Cormorant. About 100 brant were seen at the second site, far off on the shore. There were also Golden Eye, Greep, Scoters, Hooded Merganser, Long Tailed duck, and Common Loon. At the third site, no Brant were seen, but we saw 3 Bald Eagles, 46 Great Blue Heron and many mixed Ducks.

15

16 flying over bay. did not land where i could count juvs

17 In Lummi Bay, just west of Bellingham WA, volunteers saw 873 brant as part of their "Christmas Bird Count."

18 Weather was snowy and windy, then chaged to sunny and cold by the end of the trip. The tide was high. At the first site, we saw a small raft of 30 brant. At another site We saw large rafts of ducks (about 500 birds) probably with brant mixed in, but we couldn't tell for sure. We also saw buffleheads, surf scoters, Pacific loons, Golden Eyes, and grebes, and Great Blue Herons. Two juv. bald eagles were pearched by the shore and an adult joined later.

19

20 Observations were taken from our research boat. Brant were seen in flight over Padilla Bay.

21 Counted 280 Brant feeding and resting in Drakes Estero. This count is a little high compared to counts done in the last five years. I cannot estimate juveniles because distance to the birds is significant.

I also sighted two flocks of Brant, totaling about 150 birds, flying north over the estero. In January 2006 I sighted about 600 Brant flying north over the estero. During the 1950’s and early 1960’s winters I used to see large numbers of Brant (totaling perhaps 3000 to 4000) entering the estero from the south in small to medium size flocks throughout the day. In those years the Brant came in from the ocean low above the water and landed in the bay. But the flocks I saw today and the one I saw in 2006 were high and continued north over the Point Reyes peninsula. This raised the question; do Brant start migrating north this early in the season? I would appreciate hearing opinions.

Counted 337 Harbor Seals. Also saw a Great Horned Owl in grey phase. I have seen this owl three times this winter, always on the same branch in a pine tree near the water.


280 contados Brant que alimenta y que se reclina en Drakes Estero. Esta cuenta es una poco alta comparada a las cuentas hechas en los cinco años pasados. No puedo estimar a juveniles porque la distancia a los pájaros es significativa.

También avisté a dos multitudes de Brant, sumando cerca de 150 pájaros, vuelo del norte sobre el estero. En enero de 2006 avisté el norte del vuelo de cerca de 600 Brant sobre el estero. Durante los años 50 y los inviernos de los años 60 tempranos veía a una gran cantidad de Brant (totaling quizás 3000 a 4000) el entrar en del estero del sur en multitudes pequeñas-medias del tamaño a través del día. En esos años el Brant vino adentro del océano bajo sobre el agua y aterrizó en la bahía. Pero las multitudes sierra hoy y la yo sierra en 2006 era alto y continuado al norte sobre la península de Reyes del punto. Esto planteó la pregunta; ¿el comienzo de Brant que emigra al norte esto temprano en la estación? Apreciaría opiniones de la audiencia.

Contado 337 sellos del puerto. También vio un gran buho de cuernos en fase gris. He visto este buho tres por este invierno, siempre en el mismo rama en un árbol del pino cerca del agua.


22 The weather was windy, cold, rainy, and foggy. The tide was high. We saw many dfferent birds in addition to the brant. These birds include long tailed ducks, eagles, herons, Mallards, Golden-Eyes, Buffleheads, a Horned Grebe, a Red Breasted Merganser,and Surf Scoters. There was also a Harbor Seal.

23 Observer: Grupo Ecologista de Estero El Coyote (GEECO)
Spanish: El grupo de 1º B acudió al censo de branta el día sábado 20 de enero del 2007. El clima: estaba seminublado, la marea bajaba muy rápido, con lo cual la alimentación de la branta fue muy facil. El censo: Se hicieron 6 equipos, los cuales se distribuyeron en toda el área del Estero El Coyote. El conteo final fue de 534 brantas. El 50% en el agua y el 20% en el aire y el 30% en la tierra.
No hubo censo por agua ya que no estuvo disponible la panga.
English: The 1st grade went to a Brant survey on January 20th. The day was a little cloudy, the tide was going in very fast, so the Brant was feeding there.
The survey: We worked in 6 teams, all along the Coyote’s Estuary. The total Brant seen was 534 – 50% on water, 20% flying, and 30% on land.
We couldn’t make a water survey, because the boat was not available.


24 Thanks to David Ward for information on Brant migration in January. A small flock of Brant was flying north high over the Point Reyes peninsula just at sunrise today. The weather was perfect, the water was glassy, and counting Brant was a pleasure.

Brant count numbers for today are:
Drakes Estero: 965
Tomales Bay: 504
Bodega Bay: 483

Total Brant in the area is 1952.

965 is a very high count for Drakes Estero compared to recent years counts. 504 is a low count for Tomales Bay, while 483 is consistent with recent counts in Bodega Bay.

Also counted 304 Harbor Seals at Drakes Estero and 218 Elephant Seals two miles west of the Estero. 52 Elephant Seal pups were counted. The Great Horned Owl was in his usual place in the pine tree.

In other highlights, saw two Peregrine Falcons and thirty Tule Elk.

Una multitud pequeña de Brant era vuelo al norte alto sobre la península de Reyes del punto apenas en la salida del sol hoy. El tiempo era perfecto, el agua era vidriosa, y la cuenta de Barnacla era un placer.
Los números de la cuenta de Brant para hoy son:
Drakes Estero: Bahía
de 965 Tomales: Bahía
de 504 Bodega: 483
Brant total en el área es 1952.
965 es un registro muy alto para Drakes Estero comparado a las cuentas recientes de los años. 504 es una cuenta baja para la bahía

de Tomales, mientras que 483 es constantes con cuentas recientes en la bahía de Bodega.

También contado 304 sellos del puerto en Drakes Estero y 218 sellos de elefante dos millas al oeste del Estero. 52 perritos de sello de elefante fueron contados. El gran buho de cuernos estaba en su lugar generalmente en el árbol del pino.
En otros toques de luz, halcones Peregrine de la sierra dos y treinta alces de Tule.


25

26

27 Observador/Observer: Iván Manríquez
Español: Observamos 65 brantas en la zona del Panteón Inglés. Estaban comiendo y descansando. Era un día soleado y un poco frío. A lo lejos se miraban muchas más, pero demasiado lejos para contarlas. Además había garzas, zambullidores, gaviotas, patos y charranes.
English: We saw 65 Brant on English Cemetery. They were eating and resting. It was a sunny day, a little cold. Far from the shore there was a big group of Brant, but too far to be counted.


28 Observador/Observer: Iván Manríquez
Español: Observamos 28 brantas en el Refugio para Aves. Estaban alimentándose cerca de la orilla. Otras aves observadas: cormoranes, patos, charranes, pelícanos, chorlos y gaviotas.
English: We saw 28 Brant on the Bird’s Refuge. They were eating close to the shore. Other birds we saw: cormorants, ducks, terns, pelicans, sandpipers and gulls.


29 Weather was overcast and cold with little wind. Many hunters were out in the Bay with decoys, but we were able to distinguish the real brant from the decoys. The hunters flushed the brant and they few off then they resettled nearby. Other birds that we saw were hooded Merganser, red-breaster Merganser, harlequin duck, Greater Scop, Long tailed duck, Mallards, Pin tailed duck, Golden Eyes herons, and Buffleheads.

30 Observador/Observer: Iván Manríquez
Español: Visitamos la zona de El Cardón, donde observamos alrededor de 380 brantas. El día era soleado y la marea estaba un poco baja. Observé una garza de frente amarilla (Nyctassa violacea) que nunca antes había visto.
English: We visit El Cardón, and there was a group of about 380 Brant. The day was sunny, the tide low. I saw for the first time a Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron.


31 Hi all,
Over the past month, I have routinely seen small flocks of Brant in the Parksville-Qualicum WMA. These flocks were generally between 2 and 20 birds. And virtually all of them were observed near the mouth of the Englishman River. I had heard rumors from several birders that flocks exceeding 50 birds were present at the Little Qualicum and Rathtrevor the past week. I was dubious about that until two days ago, when I located 20 Brant at the traditional spot at the mouth of the Englishman. While I was watching them a flock of 37 Brant flew past, heading towards the Denman-Hornby area. I ended up doing a complete survey of the WMA that day.
Rathtrevor: 4 Brant (0/4 were juvenile, no legs visible)
Surfside RV/Englishman Estuary: 20 Brant (0/20 were juveniles, 0/20 were banded)
Little Qualicum Estuary: 18 Brant (0/18 were juveniles, 0/6 were banded)
This is a significant number for our area in January.
Thanks,
Guy L. Monty
3510 Brittain Blvd.
Qualicum Beach, BC
V9K 1W2

32 The weather was cold, clear, with a slight wind and fog in the morning. 95 brant were counted at the first site, but the fog made it hard to see, so there may have been more. We also found a flounder head washed up on the shore. 45 brant were counted at the second site, along with female mergansers, surf scoters, buffleheads, and an unidentified orange-billed bird. At the third site, we saw 20 brant sitting on the shore of an small island. We also saw 12 herons, hundreds of mallards, pintails, wigens and long tailed ducks. One of our students lost a tooth on this trip.

33 At the Pumphouse in Boundary Bay Regional Park, Tsawwssen, B.C. the wind was light, the sky was overcast and the tide was 11 ft and falling. 27 Brant (including 2 juveniles) were spotted at around 9:47am. A larger flock later joined and could estimate that 22% - 27% were Grey Bellies. Later, the lid of the pump was flapping making a loud noise and flushed the brant. At the far Northern Shore, 176 brant were counted (including 15 juveniles.) About 8-10 birds came up on shore and the leg bands were visible. A coyote flushed some of those brant and they settled back in the water only to be disturbed again by a low flying seaplane and later a Bald Eagle. They left the area at around 11:30 and did not return.

Bands spotted:
White, Right leg, /S6
Blue, Left leg, 4V3
JUV. Black, right leg, 8OT


34 Localidad: Campo Pachico.
Observaciones: SALIMOS DE LA ESCUELA A LAS 4:00PM RUMBO A CAMPO PACHICO, LLEGAMOS AL LUGAR DE OBSERVACION A LAS 4:12PM, HABIA UN GRAN GRUPO DE BRANTAS UNAS ESTABAN EN LA ORILLA Y OTRAS NADABAN MUY CERCA DE LA ORILLA, AL PARECER ESTABAN COMIENDO, NO NOS PUDIMOS ACERCAR DEMASIADO YA QUE LA ZONA ESTABA MUY DESPEJADA Y SE IVAN A ESPANTAR, PREFERIMOS VERLAS DESDE DISTANCIA, LA MAREA ESTABA BAJA NO HACIA VIENTO Y ESTABA MEDIO NUBLADO, CAMINADOS MAS ADELANTE RUMBO AL NORTE PERO YA NO VIMOS MAS AVES, ESTUVIMOS EN EL CAMPAMENTO DE DON PACHICO DONDE YA ESTABA PREPARANDOLO PARA LA TEMPORADA DE BALLENAS. ESTO TODO.
English: We started our field trip at 4:00 pm, heading to Campo Pachico. We arrive at 4:12 pm. There was a big Brant flock, some of them at the shore, other swimming close. It looks like they were eating. We cannot get very close because the place was very lonely, and we could scare them, so we watch them from a distance.
The tide was low, no wind, a little cloudy.
We walked heading to Mr. Pachicos Ecotourism Campament, where we find him preparing everything for the Whale Watching Season – soon to be started.
That’s all.


35 At the Pumphouse, in Boundary Bay Regional Park Tsawwssen, B.C, the wind was at 12 knots, the sky was overcast and the tide was at 10.8 feet and falling. 325 birds were counted (including 4% juveniles.)

Bands Spotted on Black Brant;
Pair with White bands (possible mates?) >T4 and >S6
White band, LAR
Pair (possible mate?) White band, /VL and black band, TEG (one juvenile stayed near these birds)
Black band, 40Z

Bands spotted on Grey Bellies:
Blue band, L/L
Pair: H2Heart (with radio antenna and limping) and H3Heart





36
At Boundary Bay Tsawwssen, B.C. the winds were ENE at 10 knots, the tide was 11 feet and falling, weather was rainy, overcast with for later on. 275 brant were spotted with a very high percentage of Grey Bellies (about 45 birds.)

Bands spotted:
Blue, left Leg, 87heartshape
Blue, Left Leg, R47 or R4Z (not sure which is correct)
Black Band, Left leg (the rest not visible)

*note: in the preceeding posting (number 29) the "?" symbol should be "heartshape" instead when in reference to leg bands.



37 At Boundary Bay, Tsawwassen, B.C. the sky was overcast with a southeast wind. The tide was 10.2 and falling. At 2:02pm, 531 brant were counted. Three large off-leash dogs disturbed a number of birds, including brant and cause them to fly off to the pump house (another part of the bay.)

Bands spotted:
Blue band, left leg, R H Heart shape
(juvenile) Black band 4 R K
(possible pair) Green Band, left leg, S G Z with Black band, right leg, G R T
(juvenile) Black band, left leg, R Z K –poor condition-
(pair) white band, Right leg, > T 4 with > S 6
(possible pair) right leg, .T4 with > S 6


38 An aerial survey was conducted over Izembek Lagoon and adjacent coastal areas on February 13. Over 40,000 brant were counted, and the majority were located in the central portion of Izembek Lagoon. This is nearly double the previous record high number for our winter counts!

39 Español: Salí a contar brantas. Eran las 2:30 pm, la marea estaba baja, en el trayecto había gaviotas, sarapicos, entre otras aves. Entre esas aves había 4 brantas. Seguí caminando y miré 6 brantas. Mediante 15 minutos mire 10 más. Esas fueron todas, teniendo en total 20. Cuando llegué de vuelta eran las 4:30. Caminé en total 2 horas. Bueno es todo se despide de ustedes un miembro de la telesecundaria num:35
Alumno: Pedro
English: I went out to count Brant. It was 2:30 pm, the tide was low. There were also gulls, curlews, and other birds. There were 4 Brant. I keep walking and saw 6 Brant. In the next 15 minutes I saw 10 more. That was all, a total of 20. When I get back it was 4:30 pm. I walked two hours. Well, that’s all. Goodbye, from a Telesecundaria 35 student.
Pedro.


40 Español: Hola, soy del grupo GELSI. Salí a contar brantas, eran las 10:27, el agua estaba baja, no hacía nada de viento, vimos 150 brantas, despues de 30 minutos y vi como unas 300 brantas pero esas fueron todas. Después de una hora ya no vi ninguna y me fui para mi casa. En total fueron 450 brantas. Bueno se despide de ustedes un alumno de la telesecunbaria num.35 Pedro Fabian.
El lugar donde estaban fue en el DELGADITO.

English: Hi, I’m part of the GELSI group. I went on a Brant survey. It was 10:27 am. The tide was low, no breeze. I saw 150 Brant. After 30 minutes I saw about 300 Brant, and that’s all. After an hour I didn’t see any more, so I got back to my home.
Goodbye.
Pedro Fabián, Telesecundaria 35 student.
PS. The place where I saw the Brant was "El Delgadito"


41 Observador: Grupo GELSI (Alumno: Antonio de Jesús Vaca)
Spanish: Hola, soy estudiante de la telesecundaria y miembro del grupo G.E.L.S.I. Ayer fui a la playa a contar brantas al estero del Cardón, habia un poco de viento del norte y estaba el cielo despejado, la marea estaba bajando y pude observar 6 brantas que nadaban cerca de la orilla ademas había unos pelicanos y unos patos buzos, estuve un rato en el lugar y las brantas se fueron nadando tranquílamente más hacia los mangles. Es todo, hasta la próxima.
English: (Student: Antonio de Jesús Vaca)
Hi, I’m a student from San Ignacio “Telesecundaria”, and a member of GELSI group. Yesterday I went to the beach and counted Brant at “El Cardón” Estuary. There was a light breeze and the sky was clear. The tide was going in. I saw 6 Brant swimming close to the shore. There was also some pelicans and cormorants. I stayed for a while, and the Brant go swimming to the mangrove. That’s all, until next time.


42 In the course of counting Brant in the Parksville-Qualicum Wildlife Management Area (WMA) today, I finally read my first leg band of the year. I was very surprised when it turned out to be the Russian Brant (left leg white band "0", right leg green band "G", placed above an aluminum band)! This marks the 4th year in a row this individual has been recorded in the Parksville-Qualicum area, but this is by far the earliest in the season it has been seen. It is typically first noted in late March. The bird is thin, (api. 1) and is paired with an unbanded black Brant. Of the 149 Brant at Rathtrevor today, only one other bird was banded, it having a white band with a code that I have seen before many times.

No other Brant were recorded in the WMA today. Herring have yet to spawn, but it can't be long now, judging by the numerous sea lions, gulls, and herring boats in the area.

Brant were disturbed frequently at Rathtrevor today, which seems typical of this site. Sometimes it seems our "protected areas" in BC are less "protected" than adjacent public beach areas?

Guy L. Monty
Whiskey Creek, BC, Canada

44 The weather was cold, cloudy, windy, with a patch of sun and a little snow. At the first site (Camp Kirby), we saw 260 brant, they were eating eelgrass, preening and a few came on to shore. Most brant were in a large group with a few ducks, seagulls and shorebirds mixed in. Here was could identify 5 juviniles. At the second site (Samish Island,) we saw about 60 brant in flight far from shore. A Bald eagle was disturbing the brant. We also saw surf scoters, buffleheads, mergansers, and seagulls. At the third site, we saw a few unidentified birds that could have been brant and also some diving ducks.

45 Today, about 3:30pm 360+ Black Brant were observed at Oak Bay County Park lagoon along with 200+ Pintail, 35+ Wigeon, and one Female Common Merganser. Temp was 42 degrees, skys were overcast, with little wind.

46 Spent about six hours at Bodega Head watching for migrating Brant and Grey Whales. No Brant were seen flying north. Also, no Brant occupied Bodega Bay suggesting the 483 that were there Jan 22 have migrated. I recall that about five years ago I witnessed hundreds of Brant in several flocks migrating north on April 15.

The weather was sunny and warm with little wind. The ocean was glassy with a low swell.

Pasado cerca de seis horas en mirar principal de Bodega para Brant de migración y las ballenas grises. No hay Brant el volar visto al norte. También, ningún Brant ocupó la bahía de Bodega que sugería que los 483 que estaba allí el 22 Ene han emigrado. Recuerdo que hace aproximadamente cinco años atestigüé a centenares de Brant en varias multitudes que emigraban al norte el 15 de abril.
El tiempo era asoleado y caliente con poco viento. El océano era vidrioso con una inflamación baja.


47 Observador: Enrique Zamora
Español: Al principio estaba nublado; las nubes empezaron a disiparse en el transcurso de la mañana, conforme el sol salía y la temperatura subía. Muy poco viento, marea alta. Alrededor de las 7:00 am un total de 1,000 brantas fueron observadas. Todas estaban en el agua, junto con algunos zambullidores (Podilymbus podiceps, Podiceps nigricollis y Aechmophorus occidentalis), patos golondrinos (Anas acuta) y cormoranes crestados (Phallacrocorax auritus). No se observaron anillos.
English: At Bahía San Quintín. Mostly cloudy at first, clouds began fading off as morning temperature and sun went up. Very little wind, high tide. At around 07:00 AM a total of 1,000 Brant were estimated. They were all in the water, together with a few Eared, Pied-billed and Western Grebes, Pintails, and Double-crested Cormorants.
No bands spotted.
Enrique zamora


48 Español: Había alrededor de 100 brantas a lo lejos. Cerca había un grupo más pequeño.
Profesor Gabriel Medina Atilano.
English: There was a group of about 100 Brant far from the shore. Close to it, there was a smaller group.
Profesor Gabriel Medina Atilano.

49 Weather started out as cold, very windy, and rainy with clearing later on. The tide was low and falling. At the first site (camp Kirby) the weather was very windy, rainy and the water was choppy. Here we spotted 300 Brant they were spread out and were ridning the waves. At the second site (samish island DNR land), we didn't see brant but there was mergansers, surf scoters, loons, goldeneyes and gulls. At third site (swinnomish cannel) we saw 1000+ brant close to shore and were preeing and eating. Some gulls were mixed in with the brant. There was a Bald eagle sitting close to the brant, but didn't bother them (maybe just ate?) A boat disturbed the brant at one point and about 700 brant flew up then resettled.

50 The weather was sunny, clear with and light breeze. The tide was high and falling. At site one (Camp Kirby) we saw about 240 brant spread out in the water eating eelgrass and swimming. Other birds found there were a heron, misc. ducks, gulls, mallards, loons, and two juv. Bald Eagles. At site 2, we saw 400+ brant very far away from shore. they were with other brant flying and feeding. Other birds found were surf scoter, common and red-breaster mergansers, greebs, long tailed ducks, and buffleheads. At site 3, no brant were found, but we did see a juv. bald eagle, gulls, mergansers, long tailed ducks, and a loon who was changing from winter to spring plumage.

51 Sky is overcast and temp is 45 degrees. At low tide there are appx. 235 Black Brant at Oak Bay, Port Hadlock. There are also about 150 Pintail, 40 Wigeon and 100 Mew gulls

52 Temp 55degrees
Sky overcast

This afternoon at low tide there were 325 Brant sighted around Oak Bay. This is the largest group I have personally recorded seeing this year.

53 I observed two flocks of brant feeding along the upper edge of the tide on eelgrass and sea lettuce. One flock held approximately 150 individuals and the other was a loose flock of 25 birds. I was photographing other animals of the intertidal zone and the brant seemed indifferent to my presence. As a result they approached quite close and I was able to take some photographs and short video clips.

Tom Gaskill, South Slough NERR

54 The weather was breezy, cool, overcast, the tide was medium and falling. At the first site we saw we saw 1,162 brant, including about 92 Grey Bellies they were swiming, preening(several were spreading oil in there feathers), sleeping and eating. We also saw Red breaster Mergansers, Sabine's gull, other gulls, a Heron, a loon, and many other ducks. At the second site, we saw many red-breaster mergansers, buffle heads, surf scoters, western grebe, gulls and no brant. On our way to the third site, we had to stop for a Heron to cross the road. At this site we saw a juvenile Bald Eagle, a couple hundred unidentified ducks, gulls, heron and no brant.

55 Tonight there are appx 475 Brant feeding on the ellgrass at low tide. The Brant have steadily grown in number all week. This is the highest number I have seen here this year.

56 A north wind was blowing and it blew in thousands of brant and other migrants. Two Cold Bay residents stepped outside at 2:00 a.m. to let their dogs out and heard thousands of brant calling as they flew over Cold Bay towards Izembek Lagoon. Throughout the day starting from sunrise onwards, people observed numerous flocks of brant (usually in small flocks of < 50 birds) flying north over Cold Bay to land in Izembek Lagoon. By 10:30 a.m., brant filled the waters of the central part of Izembek Lagoon as far as the eye could see. I estimated at least 50,000 birds, but there were likely much more than that, from the Outer Marker area and another 5,000 near the Grant Point overlook. And flocks continued to arrive. Winds were calm, so the air was filled with the sound of brant and emperor geese. Other migrants also poured in to the area, including mew and glaucous-winged gulls and numerous sea ducks (black and white-winged scoters, long-tailed ducks, horned grebes, etc). Additional flocks of brant continued to arrive sporadically on April 22.

57 The weather was windy, cool, and slight drizzle of rain throughout the day. At the first site (Camp Kirby) we saw all 47 brant. Most were on shore, eating, walking and resting. Some were in water swiming and eating eelgrass. We also saw two adult bald eagles and gulls. At the second site (Samish Island DNR) we saw surf scoters, western grebes, bufflehead, horned grebes, gulls and other unidentified ducks. At the third site (Swinomish) we saw 5 Great Blue Heron, gulls, two Canada Geese eating on the spoil Island. Red breasted mergansers were also seen with other unidentified ducks.

58 The weather was rainy, windy and a little bit of sun. At the first site (Camp Kirby) we saw 75 Brant that were bathing, swimming, preening, and eating eelgrass. Some were in the water and others were on the shore. We also saw gulls, surf scoters, a cormerant, and Mallards. At the second site (Samish DNR) we saw surf scoters, Buffleheads, and gulls in the water. We also saw a harbor seal at this site. At the third site (swinomish) we saw a bald eagle, common loons, pin-tailed ducks, buffleheads and great herons. About 13 Brant were mixed in with other ducks. We saw a seal at this site too.

59 Two large flocks of brant were seen near Pigeon Point on lower Coos Bay where they were resting on a sand shoal. The weather was overcast and very windy. The wind coming from the north and the fog is a sign of upwelling on the coast where nutrients from the nearshore are brought to the surface. This sets off a chain of events feeding the plankton, the base of the food web.

60 Español: El pasado 11 de mayo salí al Estero de Punta Banda, al sur de Ensenada, y miré 11 brantas alimentándose durante la marea baja. Estaban en el mismo punto en que las miré por primera vez la temporada pasada. Esto me da a entender que es probable que sea un lugar de descanso y alimentación de uso común en su ruta de regreso al Ártico.
English: Last May 11th I went to Punta Banda Estuary, south of Ensenada city, and I saw 11 Brant feeding during the low tide. They where on the same place that I saw them last year. Maybe this means that this site is a common resting and feeding place for the Brant in their return to the Artic.


61 During field trips in honor of International Migratory Bird Day, a group of 5 observers counted the brant feeding on tideflats and rocky ledges near Fossil Point, along lower Coos Bay. About half of the birds were resting on the tideflats and about half were in the water feeding. The group discussed whether or not these were the same birds seen two weeks prior. We felt that it was likely they were not.

62 Cloudy skies, 13 °C, wind moderate in strength. High tide. Brant were approx. 800 m from observer, forming two aggregqations. Very little bird activity. Other bird species seen: Savannah Sparrow, Northern Harrier.

63 Observed near Pigeon Point, north of the Fossil Point location where the flocks were seen on Saturday, May 12th. These birds were resting on a sandy shoal.

64 July 14th 2007.19:52 At the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal (on what is locally called the Compensation Lagoon Breakwater) there were seven brant geese. Six of them had no leg bands and one never stood up (maybe it’s injured?). The weather conditions included light wind, cloudy sky with rain showers. The tide was 14.9 feet and rising. The condition of their feathers was VERY poor but after about 25 minutes something must have scared them and they took flight and left.

Yours Richard Swanston Delta B.C. Canada


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