7, 8 July


7 July

 eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S91398829

weather:  6 am, 14 C wind calm, 10 am 19 C wind NNW 8, partly cloudy

tide:  8 am 2.2m falling

8 July

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S91448171

weather:  6 am, 16C wind WSW 6, 10 am 18C NNE 5, cloudy

tide:  8am 2.5m falling


Two good days to be out and about, although not very birdy.  

7 July

The sky and the light on Wednesday were exceptionally beautiful.


The path into the Estuary was very overgrown.  Walking in was a slow process, and I had lots of use of my secateurs.  Although I could hear birds, they seemed to be mostly down in the lower growth and not particularly visible.


The fields are drying out, and the grasses are a rich gold.



As often happens here, there are shrubs singled out by patches of light.

The tide was low, and low cloud hung over the Gulf Islands: 


The river is beginning to subside, as the snowmelt approaches its end.


Walking home, I met up with a team of folks from the city, clearing paths.  They told me that the clearance is always delayed to protect the young birds who hatch along the path.  This sounds quite right, but I was happy to see them.  

8 July

This is likely the last day for some time that I will wear my long-sleeved workshirt and jeans.  I'll be able to dress for summer in shorts and a t-shirt, without risking lacerations.  The clearing crew did a fine job, and the paths will be accessible for some time.


They've left ample blackberries to ripen, and the birds seem to have been spared being mowed.

The team was either incredibly lucky, or incredibly skillful, or have a team of good guardian angels.  


This active bald-faced hornets' nest was less than a foot from the mowed and cut back area.  Yikes.  They are an exceptionally  unforgiving creature, who can sting repeatedly, and who will take terrible vengeance on anyone so unfortunate as to disturb their nest.  Somehow the path-clearing team managed to miss it.  

...It's not my nicest nature shot, but I was sooo happy for their sakes, that the team hadn't actually mowed the nest.

It was cloudy this morning and a bit humid, but with enough of a breeze that it was comfortable.  

I don't recall having seen this much cloud cover for some time.



The tide is well out these mornings.

Although it's not all that birdy, there have been a pair of kingfishers along the river making their presence known.  They do often appear together, but from this photo, I'm not sure they're all that happy with one another.

Kingfishers are unusual among birds in that the female is more colourful than the male.  Here she is, having left the male somewhere:



Home, past the hornet nest, and looking forward to another morning.










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