18, 19 January


18 January

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S79511146

Weather:  8 am 2C, wind W5;  1pm 7C wind NNW9

Tide:  11:30 3.7m, falling

At 8 am, frost patches


19 January

eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S79563442

Weather:  8 am 4C, wind calm;  1 pm  6 C wind E7

Tide 11 am 4.6m  falling

Sunny, wind felt colder than noted above


Two similar days.  Clear, coolish.  Mid-tide by the time I reached the shore.

Monday morning, a young buck (and another deer behind him) watched me as I walked along the fields.


Not the most splendid buck, but he had a certain presence.  I'm calling him "The Crown Prince of the Glen."  

The river is subsiding and the paths are becoming less boggy, although the first path to the shore is still impassable.  I haven't made my way out there, but I'd reckon that the "merganser pond" has disappeared in a lake of sorts.

The path to the river has become very birdy--lots of little birds--bushtits, both kinds of kinglets, chickadees, various sparrows and the inevitable juncos and towhees.  And then from time to time, woodpeckers, and raptors. 

Today (Tuesday) there were very lovely song sparrows, singing more energetically that they have so far this year.  I'll hope they're harbingers of spring.


The river is definitely subsiding (for now--there's more snow forecast for the weekend which could bring the snowpack back up).  



The dipper has emerged from under the bank, and was busy hunting.


As I walked downstream, I spotted the eagle's nest across the river.  People have mentioned it, but I'd never found it before.


It's not the biggest eagle nest I've ever seen, but it's certainly roomy, and I'll expect to see activity there in the coming weeks, now that I've located it.  

The tide was falling, both days.  




There were more Canada geese than I've seen along the shore these two days, and a noisy crowd of wigeons.  I sat and counted ducks, and was able to spot teal, pintails, and eurasian wigeons in addition to the usual suspects.  I think the arrival of herring and brant geese can't be too far in the future.  Although the sun was glorious, the wind was icy and my coffee was very welcome and warming.

The forecast is for rain tomorrow, then clear weather and then snow on the weekend.  That's the forecast.  Who knows what the future really holds?  




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