Well my goodness, I knew it had been awhile, but hadn't realized I hadn't posted anything since the end of April, and now here it is, the end of August!
It was quite the summer with heat waves, and heat domes and wildfires (although thankfully none here at the estuary) and I think we are all looking forward to fall.
So let's set the scene with this photo taken this morning and the first thing to be noticed is just how lush and green the estuary is. Water level dropped earlier than normal which has allowed the grasses to really flourish, along with the Pacific Water Parsley that has never been quite this showy before.
Off in the distance there, are the martin boxes that were put there in the spring and pleased to say....
the Purple Martins were a great success story once again with pretty much every nesting box occupied. Even at this late date there is one family still here although every time I see them, I expect it to be the last.
One thing that seems different this year is a sort of 'all of nothing' approach.....for example, Barn Swallows.....definitely an 'all' don't ever recall seeing so many Barn Swallows, especially young ones, as we've had this month...
like this little selection....
or these little guys. There has also been large numbers of American Goldfinch. Not so many Red-wing Blackbirds, but for a few days we had a large flock of Brewer's Blackbirds, which is most unusual, and even some Rusty Blackbirds....
As for the water.....well the Pied Bill Grebes had a successful year,
also the Common Mergansers...
and it isn't just birds.....the other day we watched a family of....
River Otters cruising along the shoreline, and then yesterday evening....
there were a pair of male Elk out on the estuary. If you recall, it was this time last year when, for the first time ever, we had a small herd of Elk show up at the estuary....so it appears they are back.
Migration is now underway, we've seen a few shorebirds, and there are mixed flocks of Warblers moving through. Time to get 'back in gear!'.
