7 November

eBird data  https://ebird.org/checklist/S153974954 

Weather:  9:30 am 8C,  2:00 pm 10C  clear to partly cloudy

Tide:  11:00 am 3.7m rising

If we are to believe weather forecasts, this was the last dry day for the entire week.  In any case, it was a gloriously beautiful day--possibly windier than I should have been out in the forest, but I took a chance, and was rewarded.  

The river was very high--after heavy rain in past days, and a high freezing level, much of Mount Arrowsmith's snowpack had melted and was coming down the river.  


There were two dippers, in what again looked like a territorial dispute.


foliage along the river is spectacular.


I took a detour from my usual route along the river, to check on Momma Maple--a truly splendid bigleaf maple with numerous progeny within the forest.  She, and her her offspring, all seemed late in turning golden this past month.  She is now quite magnificent.


Back along the river, Mr. and Mrs. Eagle were working at their reno as I arrived.   Mr. Eagle took flight as I approached. 


Mrs. Eagle remained on her nest, I'd assume waiting for a delivery of construction material.


Cottonwoods aren't the first choice of nesting trees among eagles--douglas fir is, in these parts.  Nevertheless, this nest has been in use for years, and appears to be weathering well.  This is the second year that I've watched these two working on the autumn renovation.  There is a second tree not too distant, which they have occupied previously, but they nested here successfully last year.

The shore was at mid-tide.  The waterfowl population is growing, as it will with the  November southbound migration.  In addition to ducks and gulls, there was a small group of 13 snow geese, visible and recognisable at a distance.


In fact, this photo is heavily cropped;  I shot it with my zoom at its longest extension and then enlarged the photo, confirming my recognition of them as snow geese.  It's kind of a cheat, I guess, but it did get the confirmation.

There had been a high wind the night before, and there was still a lively surf.


Wigeons, mallards, pintails, and four buffleheads were visible in the distance.


The nootka roses and western crabapple lining the Estuary's fields are now red.


To my delight, the hooded mergansers have returned to the Merganser Pond (my name for it--I've no idea if it has a name, really).  They were hanging out with mallards, seemingly quite amicably.



Madame Merganser was busy preening as I watched, and Mr. M. was a bit drowsy.  

It was in all, a fine day out, and indeed the day following, as I write this, is now grey, chilly, and damp--what I expect of November.  





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