With an improvement in the weather we've made it out on the water a couple of times recently....
one was a fairly short trip as it was pretty windy, but managed a decent picture of one of a pair of Spotted Sandpiper.....have been hearing them all over but don't always get to see them.
yesterday was a picture perfect day on the water.....didn't see a lot of bird life, though we could sure hear lots...
quite a few Cedar Waxwings....
and Canada Geese hiding out way back in sheltered areas.
Foxgloves coming into flower and lining just about the entire length of the bank.
Today we took a morning walk over at Kilby...
the water is just about up to the campground, which is why the campground won't be opening for a while yet.
I'm sure the geese won't mind that at all!
thought this female Mallard might have a family, but no, she was all by herself.
the Purple Martin nest boxes were sure busy though!
What a crazy year this is....even the weather is weird....it has been so cold and damp... but probably time to post a few pictures from the last little while....
lets start with this....
remember our last report and the eagle that had dove in the water and then climbed out....
well....
notice the difference? The Cottonwood tree that the eagle had initially been perched on, is now laying in the river! It seems this and several other trees have come down....why? The river has been higher before than it currently is - I suspect the very large tugs working on making and hauling out log booms may have had something to do with waves under cutting the bank.
while we are on the subject of Bald Eagles....suspect there are young in the nest, but not yet at the stage where they are visible.
It is getting to be baby bird time though....
this little guy is one of two Steller's Jay fledglings that have been hanging out near our place.
We did get out on the water one day....
that particular morning there was lots of swallow activity but we didn't see a single Purple Martin! Hoping it was just the time of day and that the females were probably sitting on eggs as there had been lots of activity before.
we did see this Bullock's Oriole, and certainly heard lots of them.
Speaking of 'hearing'...
we could hear the deep 'gulping' sounds of an American Bittern over there. Something we haven't heard here for quite a few years.
Despite the chilly weather, the Salmon Berries are ripening - much to the delight of the robins!
Not much beach left....it will be interesting to see how high the water does get as it is a very slow melt so far.
Took another showery walk today....seems to be the name of the game right now!
went the other way and probably for the last time for a while as was just able to squeeze between the wall of the underpass and the river
there was a seal out in the river...
everything is so lush and green right now! Could hear lots of birds, Orioles, Common Yellowthroat, Doves, Barn Swallows flying around.....masses of Goldfinch by the river
this female American Robin posed for a picture...
and this male Anna's Hummingbird was in his usual spot.
The other day I'd done a short walk and was treated to seeing something I've never seen here before....
Canada Goose Goslings! We know there have to be goslings every year, but normally it is so busy they keep hidden, but with the campground and park closed....they have the place to themselves.
another find in the last few days was this guy..
a male Western Tanager down in the area of our boat launch. Had been hearing them for a while, but this was the first one I'd spotted.
here he is again, now in the Pacific Crabapple tree whose fruit are starting to form. Have also been hearing Evening Grosbeak, but so far haven't been able to get any pictures.
One more item of note was the same day we saw the goslings....
this pair of Gold crowned Sparrows were in the bushes.
After several days of unseasonably high temperatures, today's showers came as a bit of a relief. We took advantage to go for a lengthy walk along the dike...
very lush and green with rising water levels...
the log sort is taking advantage of the high water, there are log booms being put together everywhere out there.
this Bald Eagle was perched in the Cottonwoods in the above picture, searching for dinner no doubt!
could hear lots of these Common Yellowthroat - this male perched nicely for a change...usually they are almost impossible to find down in the bushes.
was surprised to see the Wild Roses in flower already....
not sure why this Song Sparrow was laying down to vocalize....
there were a number of Spotted Sandpiper on this portion of the dike, but I didn't manage a decent shot....
headed back...
had just taken this picture of this Bald Eagle by the nest....where I think I could hear young...when there was an almighty thud as it hit the water....we tried to find a spot where we had a clear view of what was going on....
it then came climbing up out of the water....must have missed whatever it was after...then ...
flew up to drip dry before the next try....
there seems to be a Eurasian Collared Dove nest somewhere close to where the eagle nest is....as this one was sticking close.
One last note....we did get out for a brief canoe trip off of the estuary and noticed...
an amazing amount of activity around all the nesting boxes....primarily Purple Martin, like these 3 and Tree Swallows.
Can't believe it has been so long since I did a posting. Internet connection issues for a week or so certainly didn't help, but seems we've had difficulty getting out an about lately....we did, however, get over to Harrison Bay for a morning walk today....
it is pretty spectacular over there right now, everything very lush and green with the Pacific Crabapples and Black Hawthorne in full flower.
water levels have been creeping up slowly, expect that will change soon with the very warm weather we are experiencing. There were 3 Common Loon out there today and could hear Spotted Sandpiper on the shore
Perhaps most exciting...
not the Canada Geese, who have the place to themselves right now....but out there in the water, the pilings....
those martin boxes were put up a couple of years ago, and the Purple Martin have found them so that is great news....the colony can really grow now. Hopefully we will get out in the canoe very soon to check on what is happening at the ones here at the estuary....we are waiting for a wind free day as we have a new dog who has never canoed so we want the first experience to be a smooth one.
Also today, when we first set out, there was a bird sitting in the top of a shrub. I couldn't tell what it was, the sun was right behind it but turns out....
it was a Lazuli Bunting! Not the first time we've seen them here but still thrilling. Keep hoping they will decide to nest in the area. Also saw and heard a lot of Bullock's Orioles but couldn't get a picture.
