30 June, 2 July

 

30 June

eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S91027972

Weather:  6 am 19 C wind W 7, 10:30 am 22C wind  E 9

Tide:  8:30 am 3.3m, rising

2 July

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S91125208  

Weather:  6 am 15C wind W 3, 11am 19C wind  N 12 clear

Tide:  8 am 2.2 m, low, turning


----

30 June

Still hot and hot nights.  Once more, I drove to the trailhead, wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and carrying breakfast.

The river is high and calm.



Beavers weren't in evidence, but there were definite fresh paw prints.


I wonder at the beavers' choice of an habitation (if indeed that is what this is), given that it's very near a popular swimming hole for humans and their dogs.  Time will tell.

The merganser family was on the river again.  They seem to have grown since I first saw them, but still have their down.


I don't usually take photos of deer, for some reason.  I think it may have something to do with their marauding our gardens.  But this morning, this doe looked very lovely in the early light.


Perhaps it was part of the general peaceful atmosphere of the morning.

The fields are gradually drying--I have to say, that despite a general prohibition of fireworks for Canada Day, I find myself apprehensive about fire.

2 July

I needn't have worried about fireworks last night.  There were some, indeed, despite prohibitions, but I gather they were mostly in the parking area by the beach, and for whatever reason, they didn't continue until late.

The nights have cooled down a bit, and there is a fine breeze.  Once again, I wakened very early (five-ish) but decided to brave the overgrown path to the Estuary, as it was cool enough to wear jeans and my long-sleeved work shirt.  I loaded a light breakfast in my backpack, anointed myself with mosquito repellent, and set out...

...only to realise, about halfway along the overgrown path,  that it was garbage pickup morning and I'd not set out the bins.  Damn.  So I got to bushwhack even further than I'd anticipated and got to the river later than I'd wished.  

No sign of beavers.  Possibly they've had enough of human and canine visitors or possibly I was just too late for crepuscular critters.  No track, though.  Who knows?  I'll continue to monitor the situation.

The tide is now well out, and the wind is creating a bit of a surf.


I've chatted occasionally with a nice family--middle-aged parents, really nice teen-aged daughter, and huge, hairy, but very mellow mutt (on a leash!) who walk the paths and seem very knowledgeable about birds.   They mentioned this morning that they'd found the owls today who had nested deeper in the woods, and told me where they'd seen them.  Not many people had known of them--it was the family of great horned owls that I'd followed in early May.  

Sure enough, when I got to the spot they'd described, the juncos and towhees were in a state of agitation, and yes, I found one of the young owls.  No longer a fledgeling, but in first year plumage.  



Quite a handsome youngster, I think.  His "ears" are a bit disordered by the wind, and he was apparently sleepy.  He was up late, for a nocturnal critter.


I was happy to see him.  I'd wondered how that little group of fluff-balls had gotten on, but hadn't seen them lately.  

Walking back, I found that the thistles have come into bloom.  Not the most friendly of plants, but the blossoms are striking.








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