RBA Harrison Hot Springs Oct. 29th.

[Isaac]

Birders,

I have just spotted a BRANT at Harrison Hot Springs!!!

I first found it in a flock of Canada Geese on the inner edge of the lagoon. Then it flew down the beach toward the west, and I found it again just a few minutes ago grazing on the lawn by the lookout and public washrooms. It is the Black supspecies, and I think it may be a juvenile. It is noticabley smaller than the Canada Geese, has a dull black neck and chest (the black breast did not contrast as much as the other subspecies), a faint sprinkling of white around the neck, a white belly, and black legs and feet. When it flew I think it might have been grunting or something and it did not sound like the typical Canada Geese.

[Gord]

Isaac, fantastic sighting!

That would make four records for our area of this species.

Isaac, will add your sighting to the species account on our website. Good work with providing supporting details right down to its vocalization. They do sound quite different from the geese!

www.fraservalleybirding.com/Species/Bird%20Accounts/Brant.htm

[Chris]

Isaac, awesome sighting. As Gord indicates the fourth record for the checklist area. This sighting is also the farthest east of the three sightings. Well done!

I was actually out there this morning, must have missed you. I checked that flock but didn't see it.

[Isaac]

Here is a photo that my Dad took. My Dad saw it just before dark, so it could still be there. It is small compared to a Canada Goose, possibly no bigger than a Mallard.

[Chris]

Isaac, I forgot to ask, do you know what time you saw it in the morning, approximately? Just wondering how close I missed it.

[Janne]

Here's another photo just before my camera's batteries died.
The juvenile brant was eating clover between 3:30 and 4:30 this afternoon. It was very approachable and hardly moved for even dogs. I figure it is hungry. First time I have ever seen one in HHS. However a few years ago one was amongst a flock of Canada on Tuyttens Road 1/2 way between Whelpton and Whorly Roads.
Janne Perrin
Harrison Hot Springs

[Janne]

That's a flock of "Canada geese" the previous brant was with. Yes Isaac, it is about the size of a mallard to my eyes. The white tips to the feathers of the wing coverts identifies it as a juvenile as does the incomplete white neck marking. An older reference book(1978)I have named "Wildfowl of the World" call the dark form a Pacific brant(B.b.nigricans.
Janne Perrin)

[Wetlander]

Tried this morning, no luck. In fact, looking for a small black goose, I spotted my first big white swan of the Fall... Reminder to accept what comes and not be bound by expectations?

[Janne]

The juvenile brant was back in Harrison in the same lawn area across from the Harrison Beach Hotel this afternoon. It was "tame" as ever and munching clover.


Janne Perrin
Harrison Hot Springs