28, 29 December

28 December:

 eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S78168559

Weather:  8am 5C wind W5,  1pm 5C wind WSW 4

Tide:  10:30 3.7M


29 December

https://ebird.org/checklist/S78218202

Weather:  8 am 2C, wind E5, 1pm 4C, wind ESE 11

Tide  10 AM 3.9M


Two dark days:  


The night before the 28th must have had heavy rain.  I didn't hear it, somehow, but on arising, it was plain that it had been a wet night.  It was very dark on awakening.  

Perhaps this is a good morning to note that there are many bird feeders in this neighbourhood, but in addition, there are carrots beneath the bird feeders.  There is a big bunny population and the carrots seem to be well received.

There were big puddles everywhere, and the path to the Estuary was very wet.


The path to the shore was very dark.  There weren't many birds apart from the population of siskins, sitting in trees and looking rather miserable.  It is, as of now, a rather damp and mossy place.


As a mid-tide, the waterfowl population was down a bit from what I usually see.  There were, in the distance, brant, oystercatchers, and the usual suspects--mallards, wigeons, and gulls.  

It had been warm overnight as well as rainy, and the river was very high and very muddy.





29 December,

Drier, and lighter initially than the 28th but by noon a steady rain was falling.  

But initially, lighter, and birdy.  The big flocks of siskins were present this morning.  




On approaching the shore, loud shrieks from eagles, not the usual loud twittering.  At one point, three adults in the air, and engaging in loud dispute, after which two settled in one fir tree.


Although it seems early, I must wonder if these two are an item.  I know that bald eagles do mate for life, and these certainly look like male (smaller on the left) and female (big bird with big beak).   From what I've read, the female is bigger and stronger to enable her to take part in a major part of nest building.  She does look pretty sturdy.

After this, the weather began to deteriorate.  The river was down from yesterday and less muddy.  The dipper was in his/her usual spot, but it was too rainy for photos.

Home to soup.  The next few days look quite unpromising for walks.  






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