7 February

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S80608955

Weather:  8 am 3C wind WNW 6, 1 pm 7C, wind NW 13  initially clear, gradually increasing clouds, patchy frost

Tide:  11 am 4.2m, rising

The Weather Office tells us that an arctic front is moving in for this week, resulting in temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average.  It hadn't arrived this morning, although it was crisp and a bit frosty.  

Parenthetically --I went out for a turn along the beach last night.  The tide was out and the light was fading but fine.



The beach seems to attract walkers as evening falls, not without cause.

...

End of parenthesis and back to this morning--

It was so lovely that I found it hard to think of moving away from my bench.

The fields and paths are drying somewhat, but still pretty sloppy.  

There were four eagles shrieking at one another, and at one point a peregrine falcon glided over, then stooped into the forest, to be seen no more.  I'd guess he found some breakfast.

The Straits were brilliant blue punctuated with whitecaps.  


 Although they're not visible in the above photo, there was an assortment of ducks.  They seem to socialise quite happily.



Everybody is represented above apart from the mallards.  The duck with the blueish beak and reddish head is an Eurasian wigeon.  In the foreground there's an American wigeon, more common than the Eurasian.  And there are two green-winged teal, to the left of the photo--the smaller ducks with a vertical white stripe on their shoulders.

It really was hard to tear myself away from this view today.  It usually is, but this was exceptionally glorious. 

The river remains muddy, and full.


I had wondered whether the murky water had driven the dipper away, but I had a fleeting glimpse of him/her this morning as he/she vanished behind a gravel bar.

Although the air temperature had warmed by the time I was headed home, the wind made it feel chillier.  It will be colder tomorrow, but to quote, "No bad weather, only bad clothes."  I can dress for dry cold and am looking forward to another day out.

A woman carrying a camera and binoculars accosted me near the parking lot with the other classic question (See 5 February)--"Did you see anything interesting?"  Sheesh, folks, if it wasn't interesting why would I be out here?  "Of course.  It's all interesting."  I'm afraid I forgot to tell her about the peregrine, who I guess is more interesting than the usual suspects.  Oh well.

...There was a very obliging white-crowned sparrow in the hedge near home.  


Not uncommon, but photogenic, I think.





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