23 January-28 February

 23 January 

eBird:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S159642942

Weather:  10:00 am 6C wind SSW 2,  1:30 C 8C wind calm  overcast

Tide:  11:30 am 3.9m rising

26 January

eBird:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S159855896  

weather:  10:30 am 9C windSE 15 gusts 29, 1:00 pm 10C wind SE 23 gusts 24 cloudy

tide:  12:30 low tide,  3.5m, turning

5 February

eBird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S160755545 

Weather:  10:00 am 2C wind W3,  2:00 pm 6C wind NW 4,  partly cloudy, early frost

tide:  12:00 pm  4.3m, falling

6 February

eBird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S160811561 

Weather:   9:30 am 3C wind WNW 6,   1:00 pm 6C wind N 10,  sunny, patchy frost

Tide:  11:00 am 4.2m, rising

Although I've been spending time in the Englishman River Estuary, I've been neglecting this blog.  I'll make this a longish blog, covering a couple of weeks.

The weather has remained wintry for the most part, cloudy, and at times frosty.

The river is falling--There hasn't been much snow on the high country, or seasonal rain.  This is becoming worrisome.  Unless things change, we can face a very dry summer.


Beavers have been busy on the east bank of the river.



As usual, high run-off in the river has eroded the bank and brought down trees.





I've been keeping up my checks on Grandma Maple, who seems to withstand the winter's winds and cold.


The forest around Grandma has been lively with small birds.  This brown creeper was unusually cooperative with photographs, although well camouflaged.


I'm told the herring spawn has begun early this year up-Island.  We seem to be seeing an increase in eagles and sea lions, possibly reflecting this change.

A handsome youngster (probably fourth year--starting to show his white head) was checking out the river.



Mama eagle has started hanging out at her nest.


In these parts, I gather that eagles mostly lay their eggs once the herring spawn has begun.  The spawn makes for better nourished eagle moms and stronger eggs and youngsters.

We've had relatively high tides, which makes for better viewing of waterfowl.

Pintails abound.


Finally, a pair of Eurasian wigeons have showed up, in a flock that included American wigeons and a couple of green-winged teal.



Gadwalls aren't common, here, but there are usually a few of these sociable birds.


23 February

Off to Deep Bay to try for some bird photos.  I'm now headed out there on a monthly basis to take part in the Birds Canada shorebird count, but find that counts and photography don't actually go well together.  Too much stuff to carry, for one thing.  For another, I feel a bit discourteous spending time trying to focus and shoot well when I'm accompanied by a colleague keeping track of the count.  This is perfectly fine;  it just means I get to head up to Deep Bay twice a month.  

This was an exceptionally fine day--there was a small, noisy, somewhat ridiculous flock of long-tailed ducks, attracting a noisy and somewhat ridiculous flock of photographers.

Madame long-tail looks very mellow,


and Mr.L-T is showing off.


It does appear as though spring is approaching...


There were still big mixed rafts of surf and white-winged scoters, harbingers of the coming herring spawn.


A pair of red-necked grebes, still in winter plumage.


And a red-breasted merganser-a female, with her crest feathers in a bit of disarray.


26 February

Spring is definitely approaching the Englishman River Estuary.

The plum trees are blossoming.



The stand of bitter cherry trees are showing red at their tops as are the Nootka roses.


Grandma Maple is budding



Curious to tell, just as she was later than the other maples to turn golden in the autumn, she was later than the younger maples to bud.  


The eagles are spending more time near their nest.


And as I watched, the ducks were showing all manner of courtship behaviours.  We shall soon be up to our hubcaps in ducklings.






 




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