Deep Bay and Back
It's 51 km to Deep Bay from my house. I know because I've driven that route many times just like today. In a week of monsoons and fall storms, this was the best day in the forecast. It was also a day of high tides. The ducks at Qualicum often come close to the seawall at high tide, and the shorebirds are also closer. Of course, there can be surprises like loons or grebes chasing fish close in. You never know what to expect.
It was a chilly, frosty fall morning. I almost stayed home huddled warmly at my computer, but the sun and birds were calling. The glistening frost and golden fall leaves soon got me in the mood for a little photography. The water was calm and the tide was right up to the seawall in Qualicum, and just as predicted, there were scoters foraging for varnish clams close in, just south of the Shady Rest. Most of them were Black Scoters. Most were males, but this was a female. This was my first fall visit with them. I was happy to see them back. Tails and necks up is the "alert" position. In this case, they've just partially relaxed with the necks down but the tails still up. There were a few White-winged Scoters in the bunch. This male was much bolder than the rest. In general, the White-wingeds came in closer than the Black Scoters. Suddenly the scoters had their necks and tails extended. There was danger nearby. I looked west and saw an eagle on the piling. The eagle wasn't interested in scoters. It was busy with its breakfast. It wasn't a big fish, but there were a few good bites. It didn't take long to finish that off. It was quiet at Deep Bay. There was nothing close except a Common Loon. I decided to wait. Before long a pair of Harlequins headed my way. I knew that they would swim and dive until they noticed me, then they would fly. It was a good time to try a few flight shots. The scene was repeated several times at about 15 minute intervals. (notice the leg band?) The sun wasn't quite right to catch the rich chestnut flanks of the male. But I wasn't disappointed. There would be a next time. A lone female Red-breasted Merganser drifted off the point. Suddenly it turned on the jets. I looked to see what had frightened her. It was a sea lion. Out of harm's way, she decided to take a shower. On the way home I stopped at the wildlife viewing stand in north Qualicum. Ever since I missed the Slaty-backed Gull last spring, I always check the gulls. There was only the usual bunch Glaucous-wingeds, Thayer's, Californias, Mews, and 1 Western. Just for fun I decided to take a couple of shorebird pictures. I thought the Dunlin and wet gravel looked attractive. It was also time for a Dunlin close-up. A Blackturnstone was also posing. Why not? NANAIMO - BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE SAVE-ON FOODS (WOODGROVE) SAVE-ON FOODS (COUNTRY CLUB) CHAPTERS FALCONER BOOKS COLE'S PORT ALBERNI - CLOCKTOWER GALLERY COURTENAY - GRAHAM'S JEWELLERS SAVE-ON FOODS SIDNEY - VICTORIAN BIRD HOUSE TANNER'S BOOKSTORE COMOX - BLUE HERON BOOKS BOWSER - LIGHTHOUSE GIFTS DEEP BAY - Ship & SHORE SAANICH - WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED BUTCHART GARDENS VICTORIA - BOLEN BOOKS MUNRO'S CAMPBELL RIVER - CAMPBELL RIVER MUSEUM BOOK BONANZA SAVE-ON FOODS DUNCAN - VOLUME 1 BOOKSTORE CHEMAINUS - LITTLE SHOP OF NOVELS LADYSMITH - SALAMANDER BOOKS NANOOSE - SCHOONER COVE MARINA SOOKE - SOOKE HARBOUR HOUSE LAKE COWICHAN - GALLOPING MOON GALLERY TOFINO - BOTANICAL GARDENS UCLUELET - WORDS END BOOKSELLERS
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