26, 27 January

26 January

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S101496613

weather:  8:30 am 0C wind SW 2, 12:00 m 1C wind WNW 5

tide:  11 am 4.7m, peak, falling

27 January

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S101546628

weather:  9 am -1C wind  S2, 1:00 pm 1C wind calm

tide:  11 am 4.6m, rising

26 January

I must admit that I'm thoroughly sick of fog.  It was a bit less dense today, but still present, and with the low temperatures, it makes for truly dreary weather.  

It was also, for some reason, less birdy today than yesterday.

There was a young cooper's hawk, eying the LBBs  (little brown birds) in the hedges.


The tide was at its peak.


By the time I reached my duck-counting bench, the fog had thinned a bit, but the islands and mountains to the northeast were still invisible.

There were a fair variety of ducks.  The scaups are still in the channel, and there was a showing of Eurasian wigeons.  


The above is an instance of "ducks in a row."  The two with auburn heads are Eurasians, as (I think) is the female at the far left of the photo.  Then there are two female American wigeons to the right of the log.

The day remained chilly.  I made my way home in search of hot soup.

27 January

Still very cold and foggy but more birdy. (My spellcheck doesn't seem to approve of "birdy."  Tuffski.)   I have to admit that, even though I can dress to keep comfortable on my walks, I was reluctant to leave a warm bed in search of birds this morning.  

But I did, and as is usually the case, I was rewarded.

Sure enough, it was cold--0 C (32F to US readers) and foggier than ever.



The path to the merganser pond is now merely muddy rather than flooded.  To my delight, the hoodies had returned, although at the far end of the pond.



(I'm blaming the poor quality of this photo on the fog.  It does appear as though they're having a conversation, doesn't it?)

The downy woodpecker was in his usual tree--he's quite reliable.


There are lots of flickers in the Estuary just now.  This one was very cooperative with my camera.


The Salish Sea was at peak tide again, and very calm and ducky.  I sat, warming myself with hot coffee and counting ducks, then made my way home to hot soup.

Tomorrow is a Nanaimo big box shopping day.  And unfortunately, thereafter rain and possible flurries are forecast.


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