Harrison always pleases the kids when he flies in for Eaglefest Plans are underway for the 5th Campbell River Bald Eagle Festival, sponsored by BC Hydro, to be held by Discovery Pier at the Maritime Heritage Centre in Campbell River on Saturday February 20/2010. Guest speakers include well known author, conservationist and ornithologist Dr. Rob Butler. Butler is President of …
Central Vancouver Island
Exploring Qualicum Beach
One of the things about living on Vancouver Island is that there are so many beautiful natural places to visit. This week we took advantage of a break between storm fronts and packed the kids, backpacks and strollers into the car and drove south to Qualicum Beach, a sleepy little retirement town on the eastern side of Vancouver Island, British …
Birding at Buttertubs
Open water at Buttertubs Marsh from the vantage point of a viewing tower. No ducks here! Yesterday I headed down to Nanaimo to pick up my brother-in-law at the ferry and planned the day to include a little morning birding at Buttertubs Marsh. Buttertubs is accessible in a couple of places but I find that the easiest access point is …
Birding at Woodhus Slough
Ruby-crowned Kinglet in blackberry brambles. Did a little birding at Woodhus Slough, just north of Oyster River on Vancouver Island this afternoon. The slough is accessed by either the parking area at the Salmon Point Pub or at the Oyster River Park parking area near the Fisherman’s Pub – hence its popular name the “Pub to Pub Trail.” The trail …
Winter Shorebirds
Sanderlings and Dunlins at Air Force Beach As we gear up for the Christmas Bird Counts in December, now is the time to do a little winter shorebird watching. Last week, during a break in the weather, we got out to Air Force Beach in Comox and scoped out some of the shorebirds on the rocks near a decommissioned boat …
Sunbathers vs. the Large-headed Sedge
Some weeks ago there was a letter in a local paper complaining about the “invasion” of Large-headed Sedge (Carex macrocephala) at Air Force Beach in Comox. The complaint was based on the fact that the sedge was taking over the prime sunbathing area. Removal was the only solution. Jocie and I decided that it was worth taking a drive out …
Jingle Shells
After Monday’s deluge there was a break in the weather yesterday. We made the most of it, taking the kids to Air Force Beach in Comox to enjoy the sun. Surprisingly, we had never been to Air Force Beach before despite the length of time we’ve lived in the Comox Valley. We’ll definitely be back. It’s a beautiful beach that …
Orange Jelly
Keep your eyes open when you’re walking in the woods, mushroom season is upon us! Jocie and I found this fantastic jelly fungus growing on a fallen Douglas Fir while walking the Karst Creek Trail in Strathcona Provincial Park today. Commonly called Orange Jelly (Dacrymyces palmatus) and often mistaken as Witch’s Butter (Tremella lutescens), this delightful, bright orange fungus is …
Spectacular Snow Geese
Airpark Lagoon, Courtenay, BC I took Clara and Alden out to the Airpark Lagoon yesterday afternoon before dinner. It’s a stroller friendly walk that circles around the Airpark Lagoon and offers fantastic views of the Courtenay estuary. While many use the loop to exercise or to socialize, local naturalists know that it is an excellent place to birdwatch. Many unusual …
Deer Cabbage
Deer Cabbage (Fauria crista-galli) leaves are spectaular in the fall. These plants were photographed at Paradise Meadows in Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.