29 April, 4 May

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.



The little grove of birch that I've been monitoring for seasonal changes is luminous green.


It appears as though there was a substantial blow-down in my absence.  This photo explains why I don't like going into woods on windy days.


That's four trees down and lots of debris.

Momma eagle was on her nest--it looks as though she's tending eaglets, although I didn't see any.  Still, she spent a lot of time bending down into the nest, presumably grooming her little ones.


There are starting to be lots of warblers, but they're really flighty, so no photos just yet.  There was, however, a pacific slope flycatcher (I'd know that eye ring anywhere) who posed at a distance. 


The rufous hummingbirds are back, as well as the chipping sparrows.  Photos will follow.  

4 May

After 4 days of steady rain, a morning that threatened rain but didn't materialise.  It's becoming a bit warmer, although the wind still feels chilly.

The paths into the Estuary are very boggy, much more so than they were a year ago, and certainly today the bird population was reduced.
There did seem to be a lot of eagles, although I didn't see anyone on the nest.  

There was a team of researchers from Simon Fraser University studying the salmon in the Englishman River.  They said that there was a good school of fry, which is hopeful for coming fish.  It may also explain the increased presence of common mergansers on the river.


There always seem to be a couple on the river, but today I counted at least eight.  They show up in force during the salmon run, and apparently breed here.


There was a low tide--it appeared that the eagles were busily hunting something--not birds--along the marshes.  

The chipping sparrows are arriving in good numbers.  They breed here, so I can look for the juveniles in the summer.

For now, just cute little critters:


And a rather wet-looking song sparrow.


More rain is forecast for the coming week.  Here's hoping for weather windows.






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