Blog of the Plague Year(s)

27 April   eBird data:https://ebird.org/checklist/S86509850 Weather:  7 am 5C wind S5, 12m 12C wind E 11 Tide:  9:30 am 2.8m falling 28 April eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S86586574 Weather:  7 am 9C wind S7,  12m 11C wind SE 3, light rain Tide:  9:30 am 3.2m, falling Two rather quiet days, today more lively.   Our warm spell has definitely ended for now.  Yesterday was cloudy, today light rain.  Very low (spring?) tides.  It's apparent that there was a very high tide in the night;  there is water in the tidal channels, but both days, the tide was well out during my walks. I guess this accounts for the general absence of ducks, although they may in fact be making their way north to breed by now.   The foliage is leafing out more and more.  There is now a tunnel through the wild rose and snowberry bushes for part of the path to the shore.  It's kind of an odd sensation, walking through the tunn...

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S86431221 Weather:  7 am:  7C wind calm, 12m 12C wind N11,  partly cloudy, sunny intervals Tide:  9 am 2.9 m, falling It's been a few days since I've been back at the Estuary, for various reasons--weather, effects of a vaccination, other obligations.  Five days have brought the season on amazingly.  Today was mostly cloudy, but sunny patches highlighted the new green. The wooded areas are increasingly fragrant with blossoming trees and shrubs.   There are more elders than I'd anticipated when they were leafless. There didn't seem to be as big a bird population as in past weeks, but that may be an effect of weather.  There are an increasing number of warblers--mostly yellow-rumped Audubon and orange-crowns.  There infamous for being difficult to photograph.  I'll persist in my efforts, but didn't manage anything worth posting today. The tide was at about mid-tide when I arrived, but seeme...

 eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S86041651 Weather:  7 am 8C Wind W5, 12m 13C wind NNW 10 Tide:  9 am 3.3m falling Writing this on the 22nd--Earth Day, and gloriously beautiful, and I'm sitting at home.  Oh well.  I had my 1st COVID vaccination yesterday and decided that either brooming (usually scheduled for Thursdays) or schlepping about 6 pounds of camera and lens for 4 hours (my usual routine) might not be in my best interest today. Yesterday, in addition to the long-awaited and welcome vaccination, was -- hm--quite a good day, with a couple of odd riffs. Not quite as birdy in terms of numbers of species, but not without interest. I set out early--just a bit after seven.  The path through the berry vines was chiming with birds.  I could identify quail, siskins, song sparrows, juncos, spotted towhees, robins and red-winged blackbirds by ear. There were other voices that I couldn't recognise--either a different spring song or new birds....

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S85979735 Weather: 7 am 8C wind 5,  12m 15C wind NW 12 Tide:  9:30 am 3.5m, falling Today I managed to get up in a timely fashion and get myself out my door with all my bits and pieces by 7:30.  It was a lovely morning, much like summer.   There was an interesting gathering preceding me on the path to the trailhead. They seemed unconcerned by my presence. As usual the path past the berry vines was chiming with sparrows and now blackbirds.  At the bridge leading into the Estuary, there was what is officially a "rare" bird--a Townsend's warbler.  I couldn't manage a photo.  They are described as "secretive," and indeed she disappeared into the shrubbery too quickly for a decent shot.  I'll  continue to monitor, although she'll likely move on.   It was a bit of a mixed emotion, recording the sighting of the Townsend's.  They aren't that rare, but I remember that last April, there ...

 eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S85914947 Weather:  8 am 12 C, wind SE 6  1pm 19C, wind ESE 18 Tide:  10 am 3.6m A very birdy day (44 species!) that started inauspiciously.  I wakened at 5:30, got up, breakfasted, organised myself and had set out by 7 am.  And when I got to the Estuary trailhead I discovered that -- pathetic moronic person that I am-- I'D LEFT MY BINOCULARS HOME!  Dang.  How dumb is that? Actually it wasn't all that awful--on the second attempt I saw a couple of new birds and the morning was gloriously beautiful.   The snow is gradually leaving the Arrowsmith massif, leaving the river high and turbid There are tiny fish jumping in the Merganser Pond--no idea what they are, nor if they'll draw ducks to feed on them.   There is a stand of birch near the shore which has shown itself throughout the year, first golden, then white, now bright green, illuminated by the morning sun. The past days there ha...

16 April eBird data:   https://ebird.org/checklist/S85673076 Weather:  8 am 8C wind WNW 2, 1pm 18C wind NNW 9 Tide:  10:30 am 3.3m 17 April eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S85748324 Weather:  8 am 9C wind calm, 1pm 19C wind NNE 9 Tide:  9:30 am 3.8 m Two record-breaking warm days.  Not uncomfortable, just in the low 20s (Celsius).  Really quite beautiful. There are new wildflowers appearing.  The salmonberry blooms, which I'd mentioned before, are now becoming abundant. The wild currant is less abundant, but striking, and its blooms are supposed to attract rufous hummingbirds. ...I've yet to see a rufous hummingbird near these, but it could happen. Today (Saturday) I saw little candyflowers for the first time.   Very delicate, despite the rather precious name.  I expect to see more of them, from the surrounding foliage. By now the woods are very lush. In addition to being beautiful, this seems to be accompanied by ...

eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S85475131 Weather:  7 am 1C wind SW 3,  1pm 13C wind NW 16, sunny, initially patchy frost Tide:  10 am  3.1M, falling This was possibly the most rewarding morning yet in the Estuary.  I am starting to waken early as the sun rises earlier, and set out early.  This time of year it's often tricky to dress for the weather, particularly if you're planning for a longish time outside, and sure enough, today saw a temperature rise of 15 degrees Celsius in the time I was out.  As usual, however, the wind picked up as the day progressed, so my warm sweater and jacket weren't too oppressive.   As was the case yesterday, the path to the trailhead, which passes homes with abundant bird feeders, was chiming with red-winged blackbirds.   I really don't have very good luck photographing red-wings--I think because they tend to perch in willow thickets which makes it hard to get a clear photo.   ...