Cluxewe 28 September-3 October

 A short visit to Cluxewe Resort.  The name Cluxewe has two meanings in the Kwak'wala language:  "Place of the changing river mouth", and "Place of refuge."  After the manner of estuaries, the river mouth does indeed shift from time to time.  And, yes, it's a refuge--a place of peace and beauty and restoration for many of us who visit.  

The Kwakiutl, who own the land and the resort (and have done so for all time), tell us that two or three centuries ago the area that is now a resort was a thriving community of about 2000 people.  It still has a very settled feeling to this day, definitely as though it has been home for people for thousands of years.  I think that's part of the "refuge" quality that the word "Cluxewe" refers to.  

The campsites along the shore offer a beautiful view of the Broughton Archipelago.  


The beach, which follows the Cluxewe Spit, is pristine, free of the inevitable styrofoam debris that defiles so much of the coast of Vancouver Island.  

This time of year, it's visited by an abundance of waterfowl.

Rafts of scoters, mostly surf scoters, but occasional black scoters and white-winged scoters, form offshore.  


From time to time they take flight, their wingbeats producing an unmistakeable music, even when they're beyond view.

Loons accompany the numerous scoters, their song an auditory icon of Canadian waterfowl 



Elegant harlequin ducks are common year-round.


More shorebirds will appear as the season advances.  For now, there were flocks of black turnstones.


There were gulls, Canada geese, and cackling geese on the sands at the mouth of the Cluxewe.



An assortment of sparrows have visited the shrubbery and shingle along the shore. (Say rapidly six times!)  At one point there were an host of savannah sparrows.


 In addition to geese, it appears that broods of northern pintails have hatched, fledged, and are maturing.


(The blurry pintail at the back of the three is a maturing male.)

Flights of geese headed south.   These are too distant for me to identify clearly, but from their calls, and from their lack of formation, they were cackling geese.


The estuary presents fine views.




One day, I watched as a wild rain squall approached from the south.


I was pleased to find that the weatherproofing in my camper is holding well.

For a reason that I've yet to understand, I have consistently bad luck photographing Steller's jays.  For once, this bird was cooperative, although he could have picked a better place to pose.


And so...until next visit to this lovely and welcoming place...









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