Even though it is only a 5 minute drive away, we have been trying to obey all the guidelines by just staying home, but this morning, thought we'd give a walk over at Harrison Bay a try
things have definitely greened up since we were last over here and look at all the dandelions in the field!
Social distancing requested on the dike - at least we are still allowed to walk there, although there is a bit of a walk to actually get to it now as the parking area is closed.
all the Canada Geese seem to be paired up and spread out...
I had hoped to see a lot of birds, but there was quite a wind blowing so not many out and visible....European Starling seemed to be busy, some gathering nesting material and there were Tree Swallows flying about.
We won't be able to see the eagle nest soon as the trees are leafing out. Think the female was probably sitting on the nest as the other adult was perched nearby.
flowers were limited to Dandelions....
and this Red Elderberry shrub, in a sheltered spot coming into bloom.
headed back to where the car was parked....
we found where the Northwestern Crows were hanging out!
Here at home we had a couple of firsts of the season today...
a White-crowned Sparrow....
and...
a Purple Finch.
We ventured over to the dike at Harrison Bay today for our walk - and yes, it was snowing! Not a lot, just the occasional flurry.....but still, it is now the 2nd of April!
there wasn't a great variety of birds....
but the ones that were there, like American Robins, were in large numbers. Probably a hundred or more in the area.
here is a sampling. There were also quite a few Red-wing Blackbirds.
lots of Canada Geese as well, but spread out...this pair (female on top of the piling) are probably thinking of nesting as these pilings are a favorite nesting site.
Geese in the fields are getting harder to see as the grass is really growing!
No sign of anyone near the eagle nest today, there was some activity the last time we walked by, but not until we were well past so couldn't see exactly what was going on.
a number of Spotted Towhee out and about today too.
The last day of the month of March, and who would have thought when it started we'd be living like we are right now and for the foreseeable future! The weather must be conspiring to enforce staying at home, because it has turned wet and chilly again sending the Tree Swallows who knows where, and halting the return of the Rufous Hummingbirds - at least we will hope that is the only reason there has only been the occasional sighting of a male now and then.
the few times we have made it over to the park, it has pretty much looked the same.
occasionally there is a single gull - this was the one this morning, the other day it was a young one
Red-wing Blackbirds are spread out.....
and the females have arrived.
lots of American Robin still around.
This afternoon we ventured over to the dike, the first time since everything was shut down.
a definite tinge of green starting to show up.
Canada Geese in pairs just about everywhere in the fields and I'm pretty sure there was a Greater White-fronted Goose on the beach with a pair of Canada, unfortunately, before I could get a clear view, someone walked down the beach and spooked the trio. What ever it was, it definitely wasn't a regular Canada Goose.
the middle tree trunk is certainly being made use of! Pileated Woodpecker have obviously been busy at the bottom - we actually saw a pair of them today - and there is a pair of Northern Flicker on the trunk higher up.
here is the male.
There was also a ....
Hairy Woodpecker being very busy and not terribly cooperative.
Now, one last thing.....back at home....our native squirrel is the little Douglas Squirrel, this past winter we had a large black squirrel show up - this is a colour variation of the Eastern Squirrel that was introduced to Stanley Park back many years ago, and gradually spread over the entire lower mainland.... well, a week ago,....
this one showed up - the black one is still around but much shyer than this guy. We've never had 2 of this species here in all the time we've lived here.
Just a few things from the last few days...
we were rather surprised to see a Great Blue Heron over at the park the other day as most are busy nesting now. We had hoped to get over to the heronry this year, but with the present situation that is no longer really an option.
there was also a Mallard......think they are feeding on Salmon eggs because we have to remember that this was all under water in the fall and is where the salmon were spawning. One of the reasons no one should be walking along the foreshore.
back at home, we've had a Fox Sparrow amid the masses of Junco. A little strange for this time of the year.
Today's walk was just along the road, but still we found....
Salmon Berries in flower....
and even more exciting....
some Trillium in flower!
I've heard that Goldfinch are back but haven't seen any yet. Am beginning to wonder where the Purple Finch are too.
Here we are, the 23rd of March and nothing is the same is it! Who could of thought life could change so drastically, so quickly.
Fortunately, we are still able to get out for local walks and it is nice to see that although most things are different, some stay the same....
The first Rufous Hummingbird of the season was at our feeder last night, and we also saw the first Turkey Vulture yesterday, which was a beautiful day, at least weather wise.
Today the weather had changed...
Mt. Woodside was topped with snow once again, but if you look closely, the willows in the foreground are leafing out.
this was the log bay today....
and this is one of the American Robin that were there.
The other day, when it was sunny, there were two pair of....
Brewer's Blackbird. This is one of the females (photo of the male didn't work). We only seem to get this species of blackbird here in spring.
Back at home....late this afternoon another 'first of the season' showed up....
a Band Tail Pigeon! Not a great photo but considering the antics I had to go through to get it, not bad at all!
The most surprising - and definitely 'different' thing we saw today though was this....
leutistic Dark-eyed Junco! This is, of course, the time of the year when masses of junco move through (counting them tomorrow for Project Feeder watch is going to be a challenge!) Every year it seems one or two of these 'odd balls' is among them, but this one has to be the 'oddest' I've seen yet.
this, of course, is what they normally look like!
The last day of winter was pretty spectacular, more spring like than winter, which, considering everything else going on right now, is much appreciated!
We got for a walk over to the log bay...
there were a couple of pairs of Canada Geese, pair on this side....(only 1 visible in photo)
and another pair over here.
This was interesting....
A Northwestern Crow and a gull. I'm not sure what kind of gull, it looks a little dark to be a Herring Gull, possibly a Herring Gull/Western Gull cross? Really don't know. It is the first gull I've seen close up for a while.
There were also a number of Red-wing Blackbirds and House Finch as well.
The numbers of....
Tree Swallows is increasing. Not a great photo, but 'proof they are here'.
It sure has been a slow start to the spring season....life is so crazy right now with everything going on but at least finally we are getting some warmer weather after a few crazy days of sunny but frigid temperatures....
this was the scene on the dike yesterday, the first day in at least 5 months when it felt 'warm'! There were a lot of swans in the field, won't be seeing them much longer! I thought I heard Tree Swallows while we were walking here but I couldn't actually see any, however,
a little later in the day I walked over to the park and saw some swallows. This is actually about 2 weeks later than when we normally have a 'first of the season' sighting.
There hasn't been much else to see....
we did spot this Great Blue Heron in a tree one day and robins continue to be seen. I expect things to pick up soon. Apparently a Rufous Hummingbird was seen in Delta yesterday so soon!
