The water is back

 Here we are, the 24th of April, and after a stretch of sunny and unseasonably warm weather, we are into our 'summertime' mode here at the estuary.  Lets back up a bit, because no matter how many times you watch this happen, it is always amazing at just how quickly things change!

So here we are on the 18th of April (just 6 days ago), the water had risen slightly at the log bay but still lots of dry areas....

this Greater Yellowlegs Sandpiper was down there in the bay that morning.

and 'out there' gravel bars were still visible, almost as far as the eye can see.

back up our way, the first bay was filling in a little bit

and by evening someone had erected, in preparation, a 10 foot pole on a level area of the Wildlife Management property at the base of our boat launch.

by evening on the 19th....the water was spilling across the grasslands, covering up the lower path to the park....

and check out the log bay....this is the morning of the 19th...24 hours later than the photo that starts this post.

Evening of the 19th....note the foreground log, still well above the water and two logs still showing of the other section....

by the morning of the 20th, the path was well and truly underwater

Compare this, to the evening of the 19th...

and here is the log bay again...

that particular morning, one of the Tree Swallows actually perched long enough for a photo1

and what is happening over at Harrison Bay?

well, much the same.  Everything is leafed out and very green....

the beach is rapidly disappearing...

Osprey are back and busy nest building...

White-crowned Sparrows are back....have also heard Common Yellowthroat but haven't spotted one yet.

back at home, by the morning of the 21st (2 days ago) the base of the marker post was in water...

the water was even deeper at the log bay....

and by evening, on what would be our last walk across to the park, the log in the foreground was now sitting in the water and only part of the top log was still visible in the other section.

this was the boat launch yesterday morning.  I haven't taken a picture yet today, but it is even higher, although, with the cooler temperatures does appear to have slowed somewhat.  Mind you we have a week of on and off rain in the forecast so that will off set the cooler temperature.

In all this we have had a few more interesting sightings....

Savannah Sparrow over at Harrison Bay....

and Lincoln's Sparrow...this in my yard.

The most exciting sighting, and I missed it, but have seen pictures, was a group of 5 American White Pelican settling down briefly out in the estuary area, while enroute to their nesting site in the Chilcotin.

What we aren't seeing much of are Rufous Hummingbirds, in fact there are so few it is alarming!