Blog of the Plague Year(s)

 eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S98102702k weather:  8:30 am 4C wind WSE 2,  12:30 m 8C wind NNW 8 Initially clear, then clouding over. tide:  10:30 4.5m After a couple of rainy days, a semi-clear morning.   To my considerable delight, the path to the Merganser Pond was passable.  I found a song sparrow wading in the remaining water, but it was only up to his knees (I guess those were his knees)  so I knew I could make my way in my gumboots without misadventure. And indeed, the mergansers were on the pond. There was a very high tide, and many ducks. There were two ornithologists (real ones!) from the Nature Trust doing a count when I reached the duck counting benches.  One was a young man with whom I've often crossed paths, and who is a mine of real information, without being patronising or snooty at all.  He obviously loves his work and enjoys sharing it.  I've learned a lot from him.   The other one, his bo...

 eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S97980775 weather:  8:30 5C wind W 7,  12:30 8C wind WNW 12, clear, felt colder than reported tide:  10:30  4.5m, falling A very high tide, and flooded fields this morning.   A shorter walk than usual.  Part of my usual route along the river is now closed due to the risk of bank collapse. It's unfortunate, but makes sense, given what has happened to the bank lately.  It's also the part of the river where I usually found the lovely little dippers--I hope they're ok--they apparently roost in close to the bank.  I think I know where they hang out when they're not fishing or singing, and I'm awfully afraid that it fell in recently.   I do hope they weren't under it when that happened.  (I know, in the cosmic scheme of things losing a couple of dippers is pretty minor, but they were lovely singers, and interesting little critters.) When I set out this morning it wasn't particularly ...

19 November   eBird data:https://ebird.org/checklist/S97792100 weather:  8:30 am 4C wind W9, 12:00 m 7C wind NW 9, clearing tide:  10:30 am 3.5 m, falling 20 November eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S97837737 weather:   8:30 am 0C wind W6, 12:00 m 7C wind SSE 8, cloudy, patchy frost, clearing tide:  10:30 am 3.8 m, low, turning 19 November There was "mixed precipitation" down here in Parksville, and the higher parts of the Island got heavier snow, apparently even as low as Errington. There haven't really been many songbirds lately, I'm not entirely certain why.  The eagles, however, have been very active. There were three of them, all of different ages, disputing over a spawned-out salmon on the gravel bank in the river.   I think the above is the youngest, given the beak and eye colour.  Eagle ages are sometimes tricky, but ... ... as far as I can figure, the above eagle's beak is starting to change to the distinctive yell...

  16 November eBird Data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S97672733  weather:  8 am 3C, wind W6, 12m 7C, wind NW 15, clear, patchy frost tide:  10:30 am 2.8m, rising 17 November eBird Data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S97715187 weather:  8:30 am 1C, wind  calm,  12:00m 5C wind E 10, cloudy, occasional clearing, patchy frost tide:  10:30 am 2.9m, low, turning A brilliantly clear day after three days of what the Weather Office called an "atmospheric river."  I think perhaps an "atmospheric Mississippi."   Near my home there was a handsome young heron roosting in a fir tree.   Sure enough, the campers had left the path, now a stream, navigable in gumboots, but just.  They've also left some rubbish, of course, but at least that obstacle is now cleared.  The fallen willows are still posing a challenge, but I think I'm getting the knack of them. Apparently the Englishman River was under a flood watch, and the Estuary...

12 November  eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S97487025 weather:  9:30 am 9C wind WSW 4,  1:30 pm 12 C wind  N2, clearing tide:  12 m 4.8 m, peak, falling 13 November eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S97531977  weather:  8:30 am 4C, wind SE 4, 11:30 am 8C, wind SSE 4, cloudy, then rain tide:  10 am  3.3m, rising 12 November The path into the Estuary has been blocked by a tent (for goodness's sake) since yesterday.  I phoned in a notice to the city bylaw team today (couldn't yesterday because everything was closed for Remembrance Day), and two guys showed up within 5 minutes.  They phoned me later and assured me that they'd dealt with the unauthorised campers, and that they'd be cleared out by Saturday morning.  I was reassured.   The tide remained high, and the offshore ducks abundant. A great blue heron posed nicely in company with a mallard. An obliging kingfisher sat, watching for prey. The...