Dylan Hayes wrote to the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society: "The title refers to meeting nature and wildlife, and to the fact the poem compares the place to a person meeting visitors. I originally published it in From the Valley when I was still writing under the name J.D. Clement. If you are interested, I would be pleased to offer you a complimentary copy of the book. The poem was also included in the local collection Out of the Warm Land."

Derrick Marven, March 27, 2013

Hi Birders

When you got to go, you got to go, as was the case for the swans and geese this past week with a mass migration from the valley.

Just 47 Trumpeter Swans were counted and even the remaining few looked eager to leave us to go north.

A group of four immatures on Sahilton Road looked strange without their mum and dad to show them the way, but I'm sure they know which way to go.

This week there was nearly as many participants as birds with 8 volunteers ready to do battle. John once again joined us and we had cameras coming at us from all directions. One neat gadget he had was one of those headcams which had a mount with a large sucker on it which was placed in many spots on Christobelle's truck although her hybrid Ford looked like it had been attacked by a giant pacific octopus by the time we'd finished. He told us that it could withstand speeds in excess of 150km, but we just fell short of those speeds.

Somenos Lake had a few lingering Ruddy Ducks and a very active Marsh Wren was busy building one of his many nests, we were lucky to get nice close up views as he went about his yearly chore.

A large eagle thought by myself to be an adult Golden Eagle flew around the base of Mt. Richards and a Northern Harrier glided over fields on Richards Trail.

By the time we got to A&W we knew that it was going to be slow for swans and it did not get much better from then on in.

Yellow-rumped Warblers were heard and seen and a couple of Evening Grosbeaks played hard to see in Cottonwoods at the bottom of Corefield Road.

The four immature swans on Sahilton Road were gone the next day so they just wanted to get a little bit more greenery in their bellies before setting off.

Derrick Marven, March 20, 2013

Hi Birders

I am so sorry for the delay in the report, but things have been a little hectic this week, what with filming the swans, digging the garden, getting ready for our wedding anniversary and all sorts of other things that take place in everyday life. Or i could tell the truth and say I plain forgot, so is life in the fast lane these days. anyways enough of this dribble.

The day got off to a great start with 8 birders full of enthusiasm and and this week we were joined by John from back east who wanted to film and record what we got up to as he is interested in Citizen Science and Swans of course, well he came to the right group for this, as we are about as much scientific as you can get. With precision stops and a route that was drawn up under meticulous conditions, reports and data to the highest standards.

What can I say about this week, raptors were down and so were swans, but there was a big change around in swans with many having disappeared and new stock taking their place. 9 Tundra Swans were found, a new high all time record for us, with 8 adults in one location along Koksilah Road east.

Derrick Marven, March 6, 2013

Hi Birders

This week saw a major explosion of counters with 9 people in two vehicles moving in slow procession around the route. I brought

old Derrick in this week so that we would finish in a timely manner and it was a good move as we were done by 2:30pm.

There are times when birders leave home not knowing what they will find and just now and again you get a real surprise and this week was one of those wonderous times when you experience something you've never seen before.

Now I know some would say it would be me making a mistake in identification or missing a few Canada Geese in a few large fields, but no this was a great week for strange encounters.