2, 6 July

 2 July

eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S114247770

weather:  8 am 17C wind WNW 10, 12 m 21C wind N10,  partly cloudy then clearing to brilliant

tide:  10:30 am 2.7m

6 July

eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S114537528

weather:  8 am 16C wind WNW 2, 11:30 am 16C wind ENE 4, cloudy, intermittent showers

tide:  10:00 am  3.2m rising

2 July

Finally, a day that felt and looked like summer.  Not really hot, just a  friendly warmth, with a nice breeze.  There was a scent of warm grass mixed with the last of the wild roses and berry blossoms.


Initially, there didn't seem to be much bird activity.  I wondered whether the Canada Day fireworks of the previous night had disturbed their sleep.  They did seem to emerge as the morning wore on.  

There are starting to be more juveniles.  This white-crowned sparrow looks recently fledged.  


I seem to recall juvenile white crowns along the California coast had brown and white stripes on their heads.  This one doesn't but has the rather rumpled appearance of a newly fledged bird.  I know there is a lot of variance among white-crowns and wonder whether this is a geographic difference.  

There are also lots of swallowtail butterflies just now.


This one kept me company as I drank my coffee and enjoyed the view of the straits. It's a mid-tide, with many Canada geese.  The Cassian terns appear to have moved on.


As I walked along the river, I was happy to hear a familiar soft, "kwek."  Sure enough, there were two female mergansers and a little flock of nine ducklings paddling along.

One of the females seemed to leave the group in the care of the other.  




I'm interpreting "kweck," as "Don't dawdle, children."

They stopped along the shore and the kids seemed to be feeding on something and Mom (Auntie?) watched.


It's just a week more than a year since I saw little mergansers on the river.  I'm glad there's a new batch of them--they're really cute to watch.

6 July

Well, so much for summer!  The past days have seen heavy rain, and chilly temperatures.  This morning looked soggy, but less chilly, so when the rain let up as I ate my breakfast, I bundled my camera into its raincoat, put on my rain jacket, and took my chances.  It really was rather unpleasant weather--warm, humid, and intermittent rain.  

Still, it was good to get out and look for birds.  I've put in a bit of time in dryish moments helping clear the invasive lamium out of Shelly Creek.  It's a nice crew to work with, and we are definitely making a difference.  

Anyhow--I met up with the first of the season's hatch of pileated woodpeckers--two juveniles and mom working over a telephone pole.


I'm not delighted with the photo, but it's the first pileated I've seen in a while.  

The rain discouraged me from using my camera, but abated as I got to my duck-counting bench, so I sat, drank coffee, ate a granola bar, and admired the view...


...which, although striking, certainly doesn't look much like anyone here expects to see in July!

The Straits were very calm this morning.  


This shot included a belted kingfisher.  I haven't seen them as much lately as I did last year.  Dunno why.


Unusual for birds, the female is more colourful than the male.  

That was my morning.  I made my way home, soggy and sweaty and have done a great pile of laundry that has resulted from my invasive plant clearance.  







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