22, 23 june

22 June 

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S142383343 

weather:  9:00 am 15C wind 5km,   1:00 pm 20C wind calm overcast

tide:  11:00 am 2.7m, falling

23 June

eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S142478290 

weather:  9:00 am 18C wind NW 8, 1:00 pm 23C wind N7, clear

tide:  10:30 am 3.3m, falling

Two days of young birds!  And others as well, but some nice encounters with newly fledged kiddos.  

Slightly ominous weather on the 22nd and glorious sun on the 23rd.  

A flock of ducklings on the channel along the Nerbus path, already well-grown.  Didn't get a photo.

A day after the Solstice, the light and vegetation said "Summer" in undeniable terms.  


The ocean spray bushes are in full bloom.  


In the distance is the M5--I thought she was a big boat.  As it happens, yes, she's the world's largest single masted sailing yacht, at 77.6 metres (254 feet).   Quite spectacular. 


I must admit I was impressed, but returned to watching birds.

What I take to have been the two eagles raising one youngster in the cottonwood along the river sat atop a fir tree with Junior.


I'm reasonably certain it's the two I've been watching--it isn't apparent in this photo but the male still has a greyish smudge on his face.  I do wonder what he got into that's left him with this marker.  In any case, it's good to see the youngster flying safely.

Not a youngster, but a pretty goldfinch sat on this stump.  


He looks as though he's studying me.  Maybe he is.  

A young golden-crowned sparrow kept me company while I drank my coffee.


A willow flycatcher sat nicely for his photo.


In the distance, Mount Arrowsmith is almost completely bare of snow.  Not a good portent.



And indeed, the river is low enough in many places that I could wade across it and only get wet up to my knees.



To my wry amusement, I met the mayor of Parksville just leaving the Estuary on his morning constitutional today.  I wasn't quick enough to ask him whether he'd walked along the river.  He assures us that there's "Lots of water for Parksville."  I'd like to think he was right, but nope...

Anyhow...yes.  There was a delightful juvenile spotted towhee along the path.


They're so cute when newly fledged, with their somewhat disheveled feathers!

And, to my amazed delight, a juvenile brown creeper, charmingly fluffy. 


Creepers aren't easy to photograph at the best of times, but this little character was definitely a treat!

I've decided I'm going to keep a record of photos of this spot throughout the summer.



It's the main stream of the Englishman River--I'm wondering whether it will be completely dry before the rainy season returns.   I won't bore readers with more photos until it dries up entirely, but this is the main channel for salmon migration in the fall.  Dunno how they'll manage.






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