23



 eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S83965885

weather:  8am 0C wind SW 2, 1 pm 8C wind ENE 12, patchy frost early, then partly cloudy

Tide:  11 am 3.6 m


This is the season when it's really difficult to know what to wear when setting out for a morning.  Today was no exception.  There was frost when I left the house and I wore my warm "puffer jacket" and by the time I came home, it was really way too warm.  But carrying a camera and a pair of binoculars and with a fanny pack with a thermos and bear spray (ridiculous, but I like to keep the neighbours reassured), I can't do the "tie the jacket around your hips" trick, so I just feel warm.  Oh well.

It was clear first thing, then became cloudy.  The path leading into the Estuary is drying.  Some bright spark has dug a little trench that lets the standing water run out into the fields.  Wish I'd thought of that.  No reason not to that I can see.  Definitely makes walking nicer.  Soon I shall retire my heavy-duty hiking boots and wear the lighter pair, which was sold as water-proof.  That will be a treat.

The shrubbery along the path was, as usual, birdy.  There are still lots of siskins, I think looking rather sweet.  


Perhaps a bit pensive, after the winter's avian pandemic, and I'd guess starting to think of heading northward for the summer.

A mystery further into the fields.  There was a great blue heron, in a muddy trench of sorts, hunting and taking something very small and edible about every minute.  


I've seen plenty of herons taking fish, frogs, even small rodents, but I'm really not sure what this one was hunting.  I'm surmising tadpoles.  It's in an area which is officially closed to unauthorised types--so I couldn't go and check later.  I may yet, claiming to be out pulling broom.

Another strange manifestation--a tower, with a solar panel, and what turns out to be a telemetric antenna for monitoring bird migration appeared since the past time I was here.


The little ribbons attached to the guy ropes are meant to prevent birds flying into them, but they look a bit like the flags attached to Tibetan stupas.  Anyhow, it develops that it's part of an international three-year migration monitoring project with birds tagged with very tiny transmitters.  I'd kind of known about the technique but hadn't known it was headed our way.  It will be neat to follow the data, I think.

Along the path headed from the shore to the river, there's a spot that is always quite birdy, and today outdid itself.  There were robins, kinglets, bushtits, a nuthatch, and -- two woodpeckers, one hairy, one pileated, sharing opposite ends of a log.  


I think this is one of those photos that call for a caption:  I'm suggesting, "WHO are you calling a Downy?"




If you look closely, or enlarge this photo, you can actually see the woodchips that Madam Pileated is launching.  She was very industrious.

Further along the river, both eagles' nests were occupied.


It's certainly not obvious, but yes, there's an eagle looking over the edge of this nest.  I don't think they've hatched yet--I've not seen anyone bringing food to the kids, but it will happen.  I find this exciting.

The foliage along the river is becoming more and more lovely.

Supposed to rain tomorrow--I think I'll drive up-island and see what's happening in the Little Qualicum Estuary and Deep Bay.


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