Blog of the Plague Year(s)

25 May eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S111268120 weather:  7:00 am 11C wind SE9  12:00m 15C wind E 11 partly cloudy tide:  10:00 am 2.0m ebb, turning  27 May eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S111441593 (Shelly St. Side of Estuary) https://ebird.org/checklist/S111441539 (Plummer Road side of Estuary) weather:  6:30 am 10C wind SSE 4, 7:40 am 12C wind SE15  partly cloudy tide:  8:30 am 2.2 m falling 28 May eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S111523701 weather:   8 am 12C wind SE 15,  12:30 pm 15C wind E 11 partly cloudy tide:  11:15 am 1.1m, at ebb, turning 25 May A relatively quiet day.  The foliage looking more like summer, and I'm going to have to acknowledge that I need mosquito spray.   There have been very big tides lately--high around 5 metres at night, and then dropping to very low tides.   The views of offshore birds are limited by the distance.  There have been C...

20 May  eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S110773346 weather:  8 am 10C wind WNW 16, 1pm 13C wind NNE 10, partly cloudy tide:  11 am, 3.2m, falling 21 May eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S110875836 weather:  7:30 am 10C, wind WNW 16 12:00m 13C, wind NE 9, sunny tide:  10:00 am 3.7m, falling Two dry and mild days.   Finally, it's clear enough that the islands between here and the mainland were visible. It was a relatively low tide, so that the Caspian terns that I heard on the distant sandbank weren't possibly to photograph.  They're very vocal, though, and unmistakeable.  For what it's worth, a recording: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Caspian_Tern/sounds My season-gauge cluster of birch is starting to look summery! Honeysuckle (actually native to these parts) is coming into bloom, which should attract more rufous hummingbirds.   A quail was not even a little bit shy: The fields are full of chipping...

 eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S110402970 weather:  8 am:  10 C wind WSW 9, 12:30 pm 14C wind NW 19,  partly cloudy tide:  10:30 am 1.4m, falling 16 May A chilly morning.  Springlike in its vegetation, but the wind made it cold. In addition to hawthorn, the pacific crabapple is in bloom. The river is high, muddy, and swift, after several days with heavy rainfall. (More about this anon.) As a general practice, there is a "goose control" group who come out in the spring and shake the eggs of Canada geese, as (I guess) a form of contraception.  There are, however, always a few survivors, and I have to admit that the goslings are rather cute. These were the first I've seen this season, out for a walk with their folks. An annoying and worrisome episode: As I sat, drinking my coffee and enjoying the view, a group of VERY young children (the oldest maybe five and the youngest barely toddling) appeared, rather casually overseen by two young wome...

11 May  eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109692646 weather:  8 am 8C wind SSE 10,  12:00m 12C wind SSE 13 cloudy tide:  10:30 am 2.6m, rising 13 May eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S109899284 weather:  8 am 7C wind SE 4, 9C wind ESE gust 27, patchy frost initially clear then showers tide:  10:30 am, low tide rising 11 May A good day for ear birding.  Quail, and then crows mobbing a great horned owl, who responded hooting in protest.  I should develop recording skills. It's definitely becoming springlike in the behaviour of hawthorn and birds, although I read in the news that it's the coldest May in a hundred years, and I believe it.   This photo tells the story--hawthorn blooming and snow on the mountains in the background. And then there's this robin, busily organising a nest.  I hope she's insulating well. This siskin looks to be fluffed up against the weather... ...at least, I hope that he's not ailing....

6 May  eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109136107 weather:  8:30 am 8C wind W9,  1:00pm 10C wind NNW 11,  partly cloudy tide:  10:30 am 3.3m, falling 7 May eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S109239062 weather:  8 am 8C  wind WNW 11, 12:00 m 11C wind ENE 8 cloudy tide:  10:30 3.4m, falling 9 May eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S109484113 Weather:  8:30 am, 8C, wind  calm,  1:00 pm 13 C, wind NE 8,  sunny, then clouding over Tide:  10:30 am 3.2m, falling 6, 7 May Two dry days.  Friday was abundantly birdy--the woods were full of warblers--orange-crowned, myrtle and audubon's, and my favourite--Wilson's.  Unfortunately, after the manner of warblers, they were very flighty and the woods were dark.  No doubt before the warbler season ends, I'll manage some photos, but nothing to offer just yet. The resident deer population has presented a worrisome mystery: I don't know what is g...

29 April   eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S108398260 weather:  8:30 am 6C wind calm,  12:30 pm 11C wind E 27 partly cloudy tide:  10:30 am 1.8m , falling 4 May eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S108935034 weather:  8:30 am 7C  wind S4, 12:30 pm 11C wind SE7, cloudy tide:  11 am 2.6m, falling 29 April Back to the Estuary after three weeks spent finally getting stuff out of storage in Sacramento, visiting with cousins, and a final five day trip along the Oregon and Washington coast. Unfortunately, it seems that the path connecting Nerbus Lane and Mills Street is now officially closed off by the Nature Trust in the interest of habitat restoration.  I'll be taking a longer route to the Mills Street trailhead through a residential area, and missing some of the prime birding area.  Oh well. Spring has definitely sprung here, despite persistent rain and chilly temperatures. The fields are green and the trees well leafed out...