Blog of the Plague Year(s)

19 May   eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S138405469 Weather:  8:00 am 17C wind WNW 7, 12:00 m 20C wind N 7 clear Tide:  10:00 am 1.7m, falling 22 May eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S138915148 Weather:  8:00 am 13C wind NW 19 gust 28,  12:00 m 14C wind NNW 14 clear Tide:  10:00 2.9m falling 25-27 May eBird data:   https://ebird.org/checklist/S139226419 Weather:  8:00 am 14C wind WNW 11,  12:30 am 18C wind NW 10 clear Tide:  10:00 am 3.4m, falling Gloriously sunny, summery days, and a couple of relatively new bird arrivals.   The path into the Estuary is becoming very overgrown with Himalayan blackberries, thimble berries, and Nootka roses. I wish there were a way to record and transmit the heavenly scent of a path lined with wild roses.   There were a pair of black-headed grosbeaks along the path.  The male was singing his varied song, which Roger Tory Petersen described as "like ...

  12 May eBird data:  unavailable weather:  8:00 am 14C wind calm, 12:00 m 18C wind ESE 10 tide:  10:00 am 3.6m rising 13 May eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S137483300 weather:  8:00 am 18C wind NW 7, 12:00 m 21 C wind NNE9, clear tide:  10:00 am 3.2m, rising Two glorious mornings.  The weather is definitely warming up, and brilliantly clear.   The path to the trailhead is becoming a bit overgrown, but manageable.  The fragrance is simply bewitching. Along the path, the red-shafted flicker is still tending its nest.  I've yet to see young, but the view is very clear and if I monitor, one day I will see little flickers. This was the first time I've seen the female at the nest.  I think that's coincidental--among flickers, both male and female tend to parenting, but there she was. Black-headed grosbeaks are perched in the woods near the fields, singing their elaborate song.  It's been described as "like a robin...

3 May  no data available 6 May eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S136355929 weather:  9:00 am 10C, wind SW 2, 1:30 pm 12 C wind E 10,  cloudy tide:  11:00 am 1.5m, falling 3 May Definitely spring, despite intermittent clouds.  The fields of the Estuary are now brilliant with new growth. Trees and shrubs are leafing out.  The clump of bitter cherry that I use as a seasonal marker (centre of this photo) is showing green. The chipping sparrows have returned, incredibly cute and welcome visitors. Clumps of candy flower bloom along the path.   As the snowpack on Arrowsmith melts, the river has risen. The stands of alder and cottonwood along the stream are now leafy and green. 6 May A mild day but grey.  Again, the path into the Estuary is now becoming lush with wild rose, salmon berry and, alas, himalayan blackberry. The salmon berry is already forming fruit. A bitter cherry was in full bloom. The flicker remains on his nest, keep...