12, 13 November

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 river was so high that I didn't really expect to be able to spot the dipper, but sure enough, there he was, showing off dipper behaviour:


He has a little fish he's captured and spent some time whacking it on the rocks to tenderise it.  He also sang, at wonderful length, for at least fifteen minutes.  Dipper song is exceptionally wonderful, varied, and clear, even over the noise of a river in spate.

He's visible in this photo, but only just--a little black speck just as the gravel bar turns.


13 November

Sure enough, the tent was still in the path this morning.  I left a message with the bylaw folks, but I'd be ready to guess that the campers will move on tonight.  It's bucketing rain, and that spot in the path was flooded for about three months last winter, from November to February.  The poor homeless folks will have a miserable night, I'm afraid.

I'm not too bothered by having to walk to the Mills Road trailhead instead of the pathway that is now blocked by fallen trees and a tent, but that stretch of path was exceptionally birdy.  Oh well.

I reached the shore at mid-tide, noisy with mallards and wigeons.


As I sat, drinking coffee from my thermos and counting ducks, I watched a new to me eagle behaviour--a bathing eagle.  At first I thought he was fishing in a tidal flat, but it became apparent that he was having a good wash.


He's about a four-year-old bird, from his plumage, although it can vary.  Anyhow, there he was, splashing about, then sat on a log, drying his feathers.


He was joined by a younger eagle who sat at the other end of the log.


The nest construction project continues.  Both eagles were in the maple today--the female (I think) in the nest, arranging things, the male (smaller) trying to detach a branch from the top of the tree.


It takes some magnification, but sure enough, he has a branch in his beak.

There is an increasing number of gulls on the river, feeding on dead salmon.

Formerly a "mew gull," this is now a "short-billed gull."  Bird taxonomy is kinda bewildering.  Anyhow, as gulls go, it looks kind of pleasant.


By the time I took this photo, it had started to rain.  A heavy rainfall warning was in place for Parksville, and it has become a very wet afternoon.  I suspect tomorrow is a day for domestic chores.  I feel for the guys camped on the path.




 





song...

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