This last day of April, 2015 we ventured back over to Harrison Bay....really didn't want to considering what has taken place over there but with water levels once more on the rise there is really no where else to walk.
the weather was much like most of this month has been, kind of cool and showery but not too bad considering. There isn't much in the way of beach again as this photo shows, notice the Pacific Choke Cherry tree in full flower. There are a lot of these trees all along the dike and even left in the park, they don't grow large enough to be deemed 'dangerous' thank goodness as they are so important to the birds.
here is a closer look at the flowers. There was no sign of the Osprey pair that we had seen on our last visit but there was activity at the Bald Eagle nest so I suspect there must be young...with the tree leafed out it is impossible to see but there was an adult flying to and fro and suspicious noises.
The most noticeable birds today were....
Gold-crowned Sparrows. At one point there were 3 of them in one of the choke cherry trees.
this view definitely shows the 'gold' crown! There were also still....
White-crowned Sparrow in the same area we've been seeing them all along. I'm sure there is a nest in this spot.
I'm actually surprised at the number of Canada Geese still in the fields adjacent to the dike. I would have thought numbers would have thinned by now. Haven't seen any goslings yet. Could hear Killdeer and a Common Yellowthroat today and there were a number of Starlings flying back and forth from the trees...
and here we are....the view from the campground...it would appear that the goal is a larger boat launch parking lot....
and here is what paid the price for it....the trees and the birds that used them!
Today was Earth Day.....so imagine our shock when we drove over to Harrison Bay today....
only to discover that every single tree around the perimeter of the parking lot had been cut down! Even here, in the area between the drive into the boat launch parking lot and the campground an area that was always, without exception, full of birds. These pictures don't even begin to show the actual devastation!
the fact that such a thing can even be allowed to happen in what is supposed to be a park is simply beyond comprehension. How can a place that participates and even promotes the viewing of Bald Eagles then cut down every single large tree that the birds use and require?
I am absolutely appalled by what has taken place.
Wanted to point out the snow on the tops of the local hills.....they've had more snow this month than they got all winter.
also it appears this pair of Osprey are attempting to build a nest on this group of pilings straight out from the campground. Hopefully they won't be too disturbed by all the recreational boat traffic that happens.
and back up at our end wanted to show that the water levels are just starting to creep up - again.
Well the warmth is back, got to 23 degrees today....
and the water is still gone. Actually it is where it should be about this time of the year, just that it should be creeping up to this level, not just having dropped back. Should note that there have been Greater Yellowlegs Sandpipers out there the last few days, could barely spot them at a distance but have been able to hear them.
Walked over at Harrison Bay today as well....
was very calm with not a lot of bird activity although there were Tree Swallows flying about over head....
That dark on top of the pilings is the head of a Canada Goose, no doubt sitting on a nest.
this White-crowned Sparrow was about the only co-operative bird we met. Will mention that the Osprey are back as well but haven't managed a picture of one yet.
Back in February we were saying it looked and felt like April. Now it is April, we are getting weather and temperatures more suited to February! It has been cooler and there has been more snow on all the surrounding hills these past few days than we've since early December.
and another thing that has happened is all that water that was here when it really shouldn't have been....
is now disappearing....at this rate we should be able to walk over to the park again in a few days....although for how long will be any bodies guess!
Yesterday we walked over at Harrison Bay, in the rain, pretty sure there is a Canada Goose nesting on the other side of that little bay in the distance and there is an Osprey building a nest on a piling in a location pretty much impossible to get a picture of.
This Gold-crowned Sparrow was in the hedgerow yesterday, not quite in full breeding colour yet.
The pair of White-crowned Sparrow were at the same location as last time we were here so I'm pretty sure this must be a pair planning to stay and nest rather than moving on.
Just arriving back for the season are the Brown-headed Cowbirds, this one being a female.
Easter, for this year, has come and gone already....didn't have enough from any one day to do a complete report so will just post some random photos from over the long weekend.
We'll start with a photo of the very full 'log bay'. This was the first time I've been over to the park since the water levels rose. Water levels, by the way, have dropped slightly the last couple of days, due to cooler overnight temperatures which also brought snow to the local mountain tops.
Love this photo which shows the high water in the other direction.
Was pleased to see....
that the Black-capped Chickadees were still hanging about at the nesting site we reported on a few weeks ago.
Now on Easter Sunday itself these extra large 'Easter Bunnies' were, apart from multitudes of people, the only 'wild life' we saw when we ventured over to the Harrison Bay area.
Today we returned to a much quieter scene...
along the bay and river....apart from quite a few Canada Geese in the fields and a few Bufflehead out on the river, plus one Belted Kingfisher that wouldn't cooperate for a picture the only birds we saw were....
some European Starling....
and this White-crowned Sparrow busy singing it's little heart out from a blackberry bramble.
