26, 27 June

 

eBird data:  26 June:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S90812076 

27 June:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S90872768 

weather:  unavailable 26 June

27 June 6 am 20C wind WSW 2, 9 am 28 C wind NNW 11

tide: 

26 June:   7:30 am 4.2m

27 June:  7:30 am 4.3m


We're in the midst of a major heatwave, which has clobbered the Pacific Northwest.  It hasn't quite managed the century here, but upper 90s in a humid climate is kinda punishing and it hasn't cooled down at night and it gets hot very quickly in the morning.  So my walks have been shorter and my mornings earlier, and I've foregone the overgrown path to avoid the brambles.  I just can't handle the idea of jeans and a long-sleeved workshirt just now.  The paths I've followed that past 2 days are more open, and given enough mosquito spray,  quite manageable in shorts and a t-shirt.

In fact, at early hours, they're gloriously lovely, if somehow more quiet birdwise than I'm accustomed to.  

The forest in early light is stunning, and very peaceful.


Yesterday, for the first time, I saw a beaver swimming in the river.  Rather a small beaver, I think, possibly a youngster.  


He was headed upstream and seemed very relaxed, just swimming along.   I've seen signs of beaver along the river before--gnawed off trees and branches, but this is my first actual sighting.  

The river is now very high--the hot weather is melting snowpacks all over the province, but running calm and clear.


There is also a generous stand of ocean spray (the kind of pinky-white bloom to the right of the photo) emerging in the woods and along the river.

The tide has been quite high both mornings.  This is a view of a stream that leads off from the river into the Straits, which is often just stones at lower tides.



This morning there were three juvenile brown creepers exploring an alder tree beside the path.


They wouldn't pose together--it's generally tricky to get even one creeper photo due to their exasperating habit of dodging behind tree trunks, but this little character was cooperative (briefly).  

The Straits were high, and calm


I'd taken a lead from a family tradition and packed breakfast--a good way to get an early start on a hot morning, and sat, eating a PB&J sandwich and drinking coffee.  Although I knew I faced a hot day, I couldn't have been more contented.  I'll think I'll pack a cheese bun tomorrow morning. 


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