zy

Outdoors

Waterfront stroll rekindles some memories

Sprightly bushtits and chestut-
backed chickadees are flitting
from branch to branch in the trees
and shrubs in our front yard,
gathering dormant insects, their
larvae and eggs.

On a horizontal branch at the
very summit of a tall Douglas fir
perches an adult bald eagle, sur-
veying the waters in the bay for

- dark scoters, bright buffleheads or

goldeneye, grebes or saw-billed
mergansers.

From across the waters ring the
distinctive “ow-owlet”’ brassy
calls of a dozen old squaw ducks,
transporting us immediately to
their Arctic breeding grounds
where we studied them.

On descending our stairway to
the sea, two reddish, streaked fox
sparrows are spotted searching the
slender flowering currant, honey-
suckle and ocean spray above the
high tideline.

A slim, silent, statuesque great
blue heron stands motionless in
the shallows, eyes focussed on the
water immediately before him,
alert for any fingerling which
might flash by.

Two greater yellowlegs sweep by
above the tideline, long lemon-
colored legs trailing well behind
the white, flashing tail base.

Again I am transported momen-
tarily, this time to the sandy ridges
between muskeg sloughs and lakes
where they breed, hiding their
incredibly beautiful and camouf-
laged eggs among mosses and
multicolored lichens.

Whoops, here comes a troupe of
low-flying, jet black oyster

catchers, sharply silhouetted

against the peary-grey sheen of the
quiet surf.

They land in a close-knit flock
among the rocks at the water’s
edge and immediately begin to
disperse, checking the splashes of

TRUMPETER SWANS

CY HAMPSON photo

Pistol found on suspects

Police believe two break-ins
were solved when a Car was
stopped during the investigation of
a shooting.

Sidney RCMP Cpl. Wayne Con-
ley said an 18-year-old Sidney
man and a 17-year-old Sidney
youth were arrested after Saanich
municipal police stopped a late-
model grey sedan on the Pat Bay
Highway near Haliburton Road
about 9:30 a.m. Dec. 22.

The car’s description was
broadcast to neighboring police
forces after a motorist reported a
handgun was pointed at the occu-
pants of his car while they were
travelling on the Pat Bay Highway
near McTavish Road on the Sun-
day moming.

After stopping the car, police
discovered stolen property from a
business break-in overnight Dec.
21-22 at the Old Bntish Fish and
Chips restaurant in the Mariner
Village Mall, Conley said.

Also, property related to the
break-in of a vehicle that was
parked in the Neptune Road area
of North Saanich was recovered.

A pellet pistol was also found in
the car and was seized by police.
Cha in connection to the

firearm, plus break and enter
charges, are pending against the
Sidney pair, Conley said.

Most of the items from the car,
including a stereo system, was
recovered. Taken from the restau-
rant was a quantity of liquor, cash
and miscellaneous items with a
total value of over $1,000.

Good year for
Crime Stoppers

It was a “very productive year”
for Greater Victoria Crime Stop-
pers with 143 criminal cases
cleared in 1991, resulting from a
total of 140 arrests.

Solved investigations resulting
from Crime Stoppers tips formed
the basis for seizures of about
$189,000 worth of stolen property
and $55,000 in illegal drugs.

“Crime Stoppers could not
boast such success if it were not
for the help we receive from our
many supporters,” a Victoria
Crime Stoppers spokesman said.

“Many behind-the-scenes peo-
ple give much support by donating
time, special skills and goods that
make our weekly Crime of. the
Week re-enactments possible.”

=

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sea weed left by the ebbing tide.
Their short, clear calls and
bright red beaks are diagnostic.

The tide is running faster, now.
A short, dark driftwood log crises
steadily by, carrying a half-dozen
stiff, dark cormorants, long, slim,
tapering necks unmistakable.

Still another bird breaks the
surface beside the strange ocean-
going craft and immediately
attempts to climb aboard.

The craft rolls quickly, rudely
consigning four of its would-be
sailors to the running surf.

And now, another loaded ark.
This time a heavy derelict branch
adomed with no fewer than four
magnificent drake harlequin
ducks. =

Harlequin indeed! Head, neck
and upper breast, blue interrupted
by lines and patches of purest
white and chestnut; narrow white
collar around the neck; back, slaty
blue; sides, rich chestnut; eyes,
reddish brown.

‘A slim, silent,
statuesque great blue
heron stands
motionless in the
shallows, eyes
focussed on the water
immediately before
him’

Its scientific name, Histrionicus
histrionicus, is appropriate — an
entirely brilliant, scintllating
player of the marine stage.

My thoughts were interrupted by
Mary’s footsteps hurrying down
the stairway.

“Telephone, Cy.”

“OK.” I finally reached the
phone.

“Mrs. Bud Michell, here. I
wanted to tell you that yet another
trumpeter swan has struck the
hydro line down at Island View.
It’s quite dead.”

“That’s rough. They are cer-
tainly having a difficult time hold-
ing their numbers. Ingesting lead
shot up Island, striking power lines
down here, along with natural
hazards.”

“What should I do with it?”

“T’d contact the Royal B.C.

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TheReview Wednesday, January 8,1992 — AI6

~ <

JAY LYN JEWELLERS
GOLDSMITH SCE OaisT

Museum in Victoria’s Omithology
deptartment. They may be able to
make use of it as a mount, to study
the skin or skeleton showing the
interesting loop of the wind pipe in
the breast bone, which is at least
partly responsible for the swan’s
Stimming, brassy, trumpet-like call.”

“Thanks, I'll do that.”

“All the best in °92!”

“The same to you.”

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