1, 4 December

 1 December

eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S123307260

weather:  9:00 am -4 C wind W7, 1:00 pm -2C wind W9, sunny

tide:  10:30 4.4m, rising

4 December

eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S123463812

weather:  9:00 am -4C, wind W2, 1:30 pm 4C, wind ENE 2, frost, clear

Tide:  10:30 am 3.3m, rising

1 December

A chilly morning, and a high tide.  The Estuary shows recent snowfalls.


With high tides, the channels in the Estuary fields are busy with ducks.


There was a nice assortment:  mallards, American wigeons, Eurasian wigeon, and gadwalls, both male and female.

Offshore, the high tide showed a clear view of Texada Island.




The river was high.


It was, in fact, a relatively quiet morning bird-wise, but beautiful.

4 December

A second improbable but glorious Sunday morning.  I can do the housework tomorrow.   As my mom used to quote her father, "Morgen, morgen, nur nicht heute, sagen alle faule Leute."  (tomorrow tomorrow, just not today, all the lazy people say."  

It wasn't a lazy morning at all--walking is a bit of a challenge in the snowy paths, and it was rather nippy,  

but very beautiful and interestingly birdy.




The combination of snow and recent hoarfrost yielded some interesting images.


Making my way toward the shore, there was a flock of bushtits in the frosty Nootka roses.


Somehow I couldn't manage a photo of the flock, but this one yielded something of an image.  There was also one Bewick's wren--again, not a photo.

Offshore,  there were abundant mallards and wigeons, and assorted buffleheads and goldeneyes.  



...and, of course, gulls.

As I sat, counting ducks and enjoying a hot coffee, the peregrine falcon sat behind me, in all likelihood also counting ducks.




Following the path along the channel from the river to the shore, there were two quite splendid varied thrush.  


To my considerable delight, the eagles were back at their nest along the river.



It looked as though they were involved in a construction project.  

...It turned into a long morning, but a fine one.  Certainly far more enjoyable than tending to the housekeeping.






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