Bird of the Day: November 2020

There are a number of reasons why I decided to take on this project. My first reason has to do with my interest in birds. This began shortly after moving to Victoria ten and a half years ago. With our house backing onto a wooded area, the chirping of birds is a familiar sound all year long. I often glance out the window to see birds of all forms in the yard throughout the day. Frequently I will pull out the Birds of Victoria or Birds of North America reference guides we have on hand. Unfortunately, the drawings in the first aren’t overly helpful for identification and the number of entries in the second is overwhelming. My second reason has to do with a photography course I took a number of years ago. Since that time I have been trying to think of a practical reason to buy a new camera. Taking pictures of birds requires a powerful zoom lens which my previous point-and-shoot camera could not accommodate. Perfect! My final reason was my desire to take on a new project to welcome in 2011. Hence, bird of the day was born.

Friday, November 20, 2020

Common Pochard

Aythya ferina

Appearance:

Medium-sized diving duck
Triangular head shape

Male:

Long, dark bill with grey band
Reddish-brown head and neck

   Black breast and tail
   Grey body
   Dark bill with pale grey saddle
   Red eyes

Female:
Brown head and body
Dark bill with narrow grey band

Listen to it’s call.

This duck, a native of Europe and Asia, must have flow off course a tad as it turned up on Summit Reservoir in Victoria. This is the first sighting of a Common Pochard in B.C. and it’s caused a fair bit of excitement in the birding community.

Learn more about the Common Pochard.