26, 30 June 1 July

 26 June

eBird data: https://ebird.org/checklist/S142801812

weather:  9:00 am 18C wind NNW 9,  1:00 pm 21C wind NE 6, clear

tide:  11:00 am 3.0m rising

30 June

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S143162871

weather:  9:00 am 17C,   1:00 pm 22C clear

Tide:  10:30 am 1.0m, low, turning

1 July

eBird data:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S143302183

weather:  9:00 am 17C wind WNW 12, 1:00 pm 21C wind NNW 12 clear

Tide:  11 am 0.6m, low, turning

26 June

A just about perfect morning, weather-wise.

As I set out this morning, I was greeted by this little bunny--there are lots of them, just now, all very cute.


 The foliage says "summer" increasingly clearly.


The tide was rising, and at about mid-height. 


Once again, the goldfinch sat, feeding on the seeds of last year's gumweed.


The vanilla leaf is now forming seeds.

Himalayan balsam has just sprung up along the path.  It's invasive, but will have pretty flowers and so far (at least) it doesn't seem to have spread here.



30 June

Another beautiful morning, but one with a very disturbing find.

Apparently there had been a collapse of the clay banks upstream (above the city water intake, to boot).  The river was very turbid, and coloured much like rivers and lakes in the Rockies that are filled with glacial milk.


A family of mergansers swam in the river.  It's hard to imagine that they could dive after food when they couldn't see what was there...


...not to mention getting a beakful of mud.  

Here's mom, and one of the brood of seven.  I suspect the kid is asking why he can't see any fish.


Predictably, the city has made no mention of this event, despite receiving numerous notifications.  Many of us are left wondering what is happening with the filters in the water treatment plants.  So far our water looks and tastes ok. 

Apart from that, it was a fine morning.  I met a delightful family, mom, dad, and 2 boys maybe seven and nine.  The older boy was already a keen and knowledgeable birder.  He told me happily about what they had seen while camping at Rathtrevor, asked where they might find an oystercatcher (I could tell him!), studied his field guide to know more about the red-breasted nuthatch.  He knew the mergansers were "common mergansers," and told me about the other two species.  It's great, meeting up with a youngster so enthusiastic about nature.  

In fact, the next day, a friend who volunteers at the wildlife rehab centre here, told me he'd met the same family, and was delighted with them.

The foliage is beginning to show signs of drought.



I've been hearing quail, and finally one appeared.


1 July

The river looks more normal today.  There are still some discoloured patches but nothing like yesterday.


Setting out on my walk, I met up with a young buck, with velvet still on his antlers.


He seemed very calm, and stood grazing and gazing.

A small flock of cedar waxwings watched me from a fir tree.


I was surprised to find an adult eagle and a recently fledged youngster back in their nest in the cottonwood tree by the river.


I think the depth of the nest has misled me into thinking it was empty from time to time, when its occupants were hidden away in it.  These two disappeared into the nest as I watched, and then reappeared and flew away.

The handsome merganser family were on their log, the kids napping, Mom keeping a watchful eye out.


Actually, not all of the kids were napping.  These two look to be having a little discussion.


The trailing blackberries are ripening.  They're the native blackberry--small, but very sweet when ripe.


I'm not sure what the yield will be like this year--they're very popular among locals to pick for jam.  

I'm heading into a busy week.  I don't expect to see the Estuary again until Friday.  



  













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