During my walks from the house to the library or the grocery store I noticed a little community of urban moss hard at work breaking down an old cement curb that used to be the base for a wrought iron fence. It gave me some hope that nature is never quite finished with the things that we build to celebrate …
Courtenay
Jelly Crep
I have discovered a number of fascinating mushrooms this fall. Even in early winter, mushrooms are producing fruiting bodies. I found this Jelly Crep (Crepidotus mollis) growing on a dead tree in an open lot a few blocks from our house. The older ones were larger and smoother, and pale ochre in colour but like their other common name, Flabby …
Backyard Birds – November 16-22
As part of Project FeederWatch, I’m keeping an eye on our feeders two days out of the week to help scientists track winter bird activity, abundance and diversity. It’s a great way to spend an hour or two drinking coffee and peering out into the rain. I’ve also decided to start a yard list of all the birds that visit …
Backyard Birds – November 8-15
As part of Project FeederWatch, I’m keeping an eye on our feeders two days out of the week to help scientists track winter bird activity, abundance and diversity. It’s a great way to spend an hour or two drinking coffee and peering out into the rain. I’ve also decided to start a yard list of all the birds that visit …
Crimson Wanderer Nymph
Back in October I wrote about a common species of shopping cart in our neighbourhood. This feral cart has an aquatic stage of its life cycle that it spends in small streams and creeks. This week I managed to capture an image of a juvenile Crimson Wanderer nymph. Crimson Wanderer Nymph Crimson Wanderer Nymph Classification: B/1, B/21 Crimson Wanderer Nymph …
Downtown Downy Woodpecker
A week ago I noticed a Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) working its way through the domestic Elderberry on our front lawn and hurried out to get a photograph. Unfortunately it had moved a little too high into the shrub and was beyond the effective reach of my lens to get a good photograph. Yesterday it returned, or at least I …
Long-billed Dowitchers at Airpark Lagoon
Things are perking along at the Airpark Lagoon in Courtenay, British Columbia. Always a good spot for winter birding, at the large viewing stand on the eastern side of the lagoon I was watching a group of Barrow’s Goldeneye when I noticed a group of shorebirds foraging in the long grass directly below the platform. Identifying Features of Long-billed Dowitchers …
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 …
Lesser Central Creeper
Lesser Central Creeper Lesser Central Creeper Classification: B/4 In this latest edition of Vancouver Island Shopping Carts I discovered a lone Lesser Central Creeper in a back alley in Courtenay, BC. Note the distinctive yellow markings and small size that are characteristic of this species. This gentle omnivore is often domesticated by humans and put to purposeful use. With good …
Fabulous Finches
American Goldfinch | Carduelis tristis The sunflowers are done in our back lane but the seeds are now attracting birds – primarily American goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) but also house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus), chestnut-backed chickadee (Poecile rufescens) and house sparrow (Passer domesticus). That’s one of the many benefits of growing sunflowers. Not only do you (and insects) get to enjoy the …