5, 7 & 8 January

5 January 

eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S100191179

weather:  9 am -1C, wind calm,  1pm, 1C, wind ENE 3 cloudy, occasional flurries

tide:  11 am 4.4m

7 January

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S100292645

weather:  9 am 1C wind NW 20, 11 am 1C wind WNW 16, cloudy

tide:  10 am 5.1m, peak of king tide, falling

8 January

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S100364815

weather:  9 am 0C wind SE 9, 10:30 am 2C wind SE 19, cloudy

tide:  9:30 am 4.9 am peak, and falling

5 January

First visit to the Estuary this year, after time away, and heavy snowfall here.

A high tide this morning, and flooded fields.


The path to the Merganser Pond was flooded and partially frozen.


There were a couple of big flocks of siskins


More trees have washed out into the Straits.


There was a good assortment of ducks, although, strangely, I didn't see any widgeons.  There were four gadwalls--somewhat uncommon in these parts, and, I think, handsome ducks.


The river is high and there is lots of snow on its banks.


There will almost certainly be more by today--it snowed heavily yesterday and last night.  I'll try to get out for a walk tomorrow.

7 January

King tide, and flooded fields.  


Compare to a view from the same place at a medium tide.



The visit to the Estuary was short--the paths were deeply flooded and inaccessible.


Even with gumboots, I had to retreat. 

There was this splendid cooper's hawk near the trailhead.


8 January

Again, a shortened walk.  My usual route into the Estuary was submerged by a very high tide.  I dislike driving such a short distance (a mere kilometre) to a trailhead, but really wanted to see how things looked after deep snow and a high tide.  So I drove, and parked.  There were a few other souls walking, not many.

The river was high, and slow, not, I think because of run-off from the mountains but because with the tide, it didn't have anywhere to go.







I can't recall seeing it this high before.  There are lots of newly fallen trees washed down as well.

I was reassured to see that the maple near the riverbank, where the eagles are building their nest, hasn't been washed away.  The eagles were there--one on the nest (which seems bigger than I recall),  one nearby presumably keeping an eagle eye on things.



I just checked previous blogs and see that it appeared that the eagles were nesting at the end of January last year.   I shall monitor the situation.  

I made my way cautiously to the duck-counting bench.  Somehow the snowpack is very icy just there.  Still, it remains a fine place to warm up with a hot coffee.  With the high tide, the waterfowl seem to be staying inland over the fields.  



I made my way back to my truck, past snowy fields and a view of the snow-covered mountains.







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