10 November 2020

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S76090232       

Weather:  8 am 0C, wind calm.  12 m 6C, wind WNW 7kph     

Tide:  8 am 2 metres, 12m 4.2 metres

Although the weather office temperatures looked colder this morning, the absence of wind left the weather feeling much more comfortable.

Having written yesterday that I'd been misled by weather warnings for the Malahat (the stretch of highway connecting Victoria with the rest of the Island) when I looked at the mountains to the west this morning, the snow level had been low, and it's likely that I would have met up with some weather.  I took a photo, but for some odd reason it didn't turn out.
 
It was, in fact, a quiet day, birdwise.  
 
I was happy to see the hooded mergansers back on the pond--in fact, three quite handsome males and one female.
 

There were three very tame deer on the path and then at the end of the lake.  One youngster, not a fawn, but still not full-grown.  
 

 In truth, I never like to see deer who aren't shy around humans.  I keep thinking it puts them at risk.  
 
I'm adding a photo of Pacific crabapples, that I described yesterday as attractive to siskins and bears.
 

There are a lot of shrubs, or trees, in the Estuary, but the fruit is quite small.  I'm looking forward to see what they look like in bloom, come spring.
 
At mid-tide, the big rafts of ducks are not as evident, but still there were  enough to attract eagles.


The river seemed quiet after the activity of yesterday.  The dipper was visible, but distant.  It was busily hunting, and didn't sing.

So in all, a quiet day, but a good one.
 

Comments

  1. Jim PickenNovember 13, 2020 at 4:02 PM

    Very handsome eagle! So that's what a hooded merganser looks like! I enjoy birds, but their names never seem to stick!!

    ReplyDelete

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