8, 9, 16 june

8 june

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S140913800

weather:  8 am 19C wind NNW 2, 12:30 pm 21 C wind ENE 12, clear, smoke

tide:  10 am, 3.7m, falling

9 june

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S141006834

weather:  10 am 16C, wind calm;  1:00 pm 16C occasional showers

tide:  11:30 am, falling

16 June

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S141754248

weather:  8:30 am 15C wind calm,  1:00 pm 19C wind ENE 9


8 June

A high tide, falling, and smoky air from a nearby forest fire.


The fire isn't near enough to threaten coastal towns, but it has blocked the highway that leads to Port Alberni and the towns on the west coast of the Islan.  By all accounts the highway is likely to remain impassible after the fire is extinguished, due to fallen timber and rock.  This will pose a real challenge to those communities, both in terms of access to food and fuel deliveries, and to tourism--a very big part of their economy this time of year.

Meanwhile, the Estuary continues.  There is a high tide in the morning although it hasn't brought waterfowl visitors.


I watched a young, fledged nuthatch begging for food from an adult.


Eventually this drama resolved itself, and the adult nuthatch actually posed for a photo!


This is worthy of comment;  I have no luck with nuthatch photos apart from the ones on my neighbour's feeder.  (I generally regard feeder photos as "cheap shots.")

As I sat drinking coffee and enjoying the view, a pale tiger swallowtail danced nearby.


Finally, after weeks of an invisible eaglet obscured by a very deep nest, Junior has appeared, already quite well grown but not yet fledged.   He did his wing-flapping exercises as I watched but I couldn't manage a photo.  


9 June

Finally, a bit of much-needed rain.  Few things smell and sound as wonderful as summer rain in forest.


This is one of the biggest maples in the forest--an object of reverence.  I look forward to showing it to friends.  It's splendid now, but in the autumn, it's truly magnificent.




Views across the Straits, muted by smoke.  


The Englishman River is alarmingly low--enough so that the local paper is reporting water levels.   There's no way salmon are going to be able to make their way to spawning unless something miraculous happens.

Mount Arrowsmith had a pall of smoke resting in front of it this morning.


16 June    

The morning's walk began with intermittent showers.  Refreshing, but really not enough to affect the threat of drought that we face.

The Estuary fields still look green and lush, and a doe was browsing contentedly.


She paused in her meal to watch me.

The path into the Estuary fields is very overgrown.  I spent time clipping blackberry vines, which fought back.  I now have an assortment of scrapes and scratches on my arms.  (No, no photo!)

At one point there was an interesting yellow-faced bumble bee--new to me.  It sat nicely for a photo.


The ocean spray bushes are now in bloom.


I heard the eagles at their nest but didn't see anyone.  It's likely that the one young eaglet is fledged by now.  There was a frantic exchange from ravens in the area--some sounded like youngsters.  Ravens and eagles don't get along very well.  I hope there weren't any injuries.

A lovely little family of mergansers on the river looked to be having a mid-day nap.  


Or at least the youngsters were napping.  Mom looked to be having a good preen.



I'm curious about the family arrangement here--there were four adult females and these adorable ducklings.  One mom, three aunties?  Dunno. 

One a less cheery note, the River is very very low.  Worrisome.



Hard to know what the summer holds in store.











 




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