13, 16, 17, 18 December

13 December  Visit to Cattle Point, Victoria 

no data

16 December 

eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124065026

weather:  9:30 am 0C wind WSW 7, 1:00 pm 1C wind W5 cloudy

tide:  11:30 4.7m peak tide, falling

17 December

eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124134916

weather:  9:30 am 2C wind SW5, 1:30 pm 5C wind SW4, intermittently cloudy

tide:  11:00 am,  4.5m

18 December

winterscapes Parksville Community Park Beach


13 December

During a brief visit to Victoria, I stopped at Cattle Point, a spot valued by birders for waterfowl and shorebirds.




There are harlequin ducks along the coast, here, but I don't see them often in my usual haunts.  They are certainly ornate.


This surf scoter was somehow isolate from the rest of his flock which was well offshore.  They are rather odd-looking, I think, with the strange beak.  

The approaching dusk produced a fine light.




16 December

Back to the Estuary for a cloudy and rather chilly morning.  


There was a somewhat high tide in the morning, and the duck situation was lively.


Once again, the red-breasted merganser was snoozing on his preferred log, in the company of a "common" merganser.  (I wonder how they feel about that attribution.)  And an American wigeon kept them company.



A very handsome Eurasian wigeon was feeding on grasses.  (Well, I think they're handsome--the colouring is quite elegant.)

As I approached the Eagle Nest Construction Project along the Englishman River, there was a great shrieking of eagles, and an adult, with the classic white head, and a dark youngster flew away from the nest.  (I didn't get a really good look at the younger eagle, so I can't even approximate age.  But definitely not full adult.)

Anyhow, Big Momma Eagle continued with her construction project as these two flew off.



She's definitely a splendid bird.

The two dippers were busy fishing the upstream end of the rapids--too distant for good photos but enjoyable watching.

17 December

Another chilly morning, but with moments of sunlight.

The tide was high again, the Straits were very calm,  and the Estuary was decidedly ducky.




I hadn't seen as many green-winged teals in the Estuary.  There were at least twenty of these elegant little ducks.


The Eagle Construction Project appeared to be quiet, but the two varied thrush across the river from them were definitely in evidence.


To judge by the fluffiness of this thrush, it must have been a chilly morning.

18 December

This morning was to have been the day of the local Christmas Bird Count.  I was up early to join a group of bird counters, only to see heavy snowfall and wind, and to receive an email announcing the cancellation of the event due to hazardous driving conditions.  I can't say I objected--it looked decidedly risky.

I spent a quiet morning, catching up on Christmas letters, cleaning house, and then took off for a short walk along the shore in the evening.  

The view across the Straits on a snowy evening was unusual for Parksville, but beautiful in a wintry fashion.



In addition to chilly, there was a cold wind, which showed in the offshore surf.


The last of the now dried Queen Anne's Lace made for a distinctive foreground against the snowy shore.


It was good to arrive home, and settle back in front of the electric fire.











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