Yearn to Wander

Citrine Wagtail

A Citrine Wagtail, the first reported in North America since 1992 (1), has spent the winter in and around a farm near Courtney, BC. His range in Central Asia is what makes him rare here, so he has created quite a stir in the birding community.

Birders from across the North American continent, and perhaps beyond, have traveled to see him. Yesterday, I only drove 300 kilometers return, and struck out. So today, I tried again. Success!

Upon arriving at the farm, the farmer started telling me his tale of woe: he had just watched a Northern Shrike chase the Wagtail into the hedgerow, and both disappeared. He feared the Shrike had won, but he could not find any feathers or other evidence of the Shrike's win. Then, as we were standing around commiserating about the Wagtail's fate, he hopped down from the heights of the hedgerow into the grasses, a few short meters in front of us. He hopped around, wagged his tail, and hunted for insects. What a view! Shortly he flew overhead behind us tens of meters down the Alder hedgerow, where he continued looking for food amid last year's corn stubble. Soon it became impossible to see him, so we called it a day, albeit a very satisfying one.

Will he will be here long enough for us to see his bright yellow breeding plumage? We can hope.

Thanks to Neil Robins, leader of the Parksville and Nanaimo bird walks, for his accurate directions to the farm.

(1) http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Rare+Asian+citrine+wagtail+drawing+crowd+bird+watchers+Vancouver+Island/7596395/story.html