1-3 August

1 August

 eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S116164352

weather:  8 am 20C wind WSW 5, 12:00m 21C wind NNW 8 cloudy clearing to sunny

tide:  10:00 am 3.3m, falling

2 August

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S116227304

weather:  8 am 17C wind NNW 9, 12:00 m 20C wind NNW10, clearing

tide:  10:00 am 3.6m, falling

3 August

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S116280264

weather:  8:30 am 17C wind SW 2,  12:00m 18C wind E 11  cloudy

tide:  10:00am 3.6m, falling


1 August

An "interesting" morning--augh! that word!  still, it was not without interest.

We're now past the worst of the heat wave (we hope!), and at the beginning of August.  I've always thought, possibly just optimism, that there was a hint of autumn that could be detected in August now and then.  Certainly the skies looked autumnal this morning.











There was a flock of black-bellied plovers accompanied by a pair of yellowlegs near the shore. 

According to the eBird incidence charts for the area, August and September look to be be months when these plovers are numerous here.  I think I recall this from last year.   Again, harbingers of autumn.

Not seasonal, but kinda nifty--I watched a female northern harrier harrying (what else?) a young bald eagle.  It was quite a performance, although the eagle didn't really seem all that bothered.



I'd always thought of the female harrier as a big bird, but beside the young eagle, she is almost dwarfed.

...

and then there was an annoying thing:

For the past month, some of the paths in the Estuary have been closed and there has been a terrific racket of motors and saws.


These notices have been posted for some time.  I hope that the prediction about timing is correct.  The project is creating havoc along the riverbank.


I'm not real confident about the "ecological restoration."  I don't know what happens when the understory along the riverbank is torn out and trees cut down.   I can't see how the habitat is enhanced.   I guess time will tell.  Maybe folks know what they're doing.  I hope so.

2 August

Another fine morning--the heat of last week has abated, the tide is high enough to manage photos of shorebirds.  

The fields look like summer.  The deer seem to spend time observing me.  Not sure what they're watching for.  I have mentioned to some of them that I'm quite partial to venison...




A young purple finch (I think) was enjoying a bath in the channel along the Estuary.





More bird activity--this time the young eagle attacked a turkey vulture.  Unfortunately the action was obscured by trees, but the vulture retreated, and the eagle wound up the winner.  

The harrier was out in the fields.  My harrier jinx persists, although this photo gives a good look at her "owl-like" face.  


The higher tides and the more active skies make for fine views of the Straits.


3 August

A cloudy day, with occasional light showers.  Definite feel of autumn, although warmer weather is forecast for the weekend.

The  stand of birch that I use as a season marker is already showing a bit of gold.


Mid-tide, and a calm Salish Sea.


I took this photo of the Sea, not realising that I had a heron taking flight as a bonus.



He's just leaving the stump at the water's edge, more visible if you enlarge the photo.

There was a small flock of lesser yellowlegs (hard to distinguish without the greater as contrast, but smaller and slimmer and darker of beak).  They were very obliging photo subjects:


...appears to be displaying yellow legs.


One feeding, one keeping an eye on things...


Two birds, sorta snoozing but keeping an eye open.


Not sure if this is choreography or an itchy ear.  Or perhaps, Monty Python's  Ministry of Silly Walks.  

No photos for the following, but hopeful news.  I met up with a crew of folks working at the "ecological restoration," who assure me that they'll be re-vegetating the bits they cleared, and chipping the piles of brush that are left around just now.  Time will tell.





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