29 October

 eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S75567109 

Weather 9C @ 8 am, mostly cloudy, wind calm, picking up to ESE 7kph

Tide:  falling to 2.3 metres at 10am, then rising


Relatively quiet morning bird-wise.  

Assorted ducks in pond, female hooded mergansers, 4 mallards, 2 female buffleheads.


Big flocks of siskins, many spotted towhees and juncos along the path to the shore.  

Interesting (to me, at least) patchy emergence of sunlight.  I took this shot intending to show the fall colours and didn't even notice the raven.


 The mid-tide left a tidal channel open, and I watched a merganser fishing--swimming back  and forth across the channel with its beak in the water.  I gather there must have been small fish to feed on.  Alas, none of my fishing photos actually came out.

As usual, I sat on the bench overlooking the shore.  There were 100s of gulls, and eagles harassing them, all really too distant for my zoom.  

I moved on to the path along the river.  The salmon run is becoming quite lively. To my considerable delight, the dipper was once more at the gravel bar.  


Somehow he's not an easy photo--the river has a bright reflection, and it's tricky (for me at least) to get the exposure right for the little bird.  He sat for a very long time this morning, while I tried my best.  If he continues to stay there, I'll keep trying to do him justice.

Back on the path homeward, the little creek or maybe just run-off at the trailhead was a bathing spot for siskins.


And so, back home, to lunch and baking.  Looks like tomorrow should be another good day to explore.







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