Journal 380 -SIGNS OF SPRING
Apr. 7/13 - Spring is grudgingly making its way onto the Vancouver Island. Instead of the gradual transition to warmer weather the trend so far has been erratic fits and starts with only a few days of double digit temperatures. Precipitation hasn't been a problem, but like February and most of March, sunshine has been a rare commodity.
Despite the the seemingly cold and dreary spring, so far it has been a significant improvement over last year when it was cold, dreary, and WET for most of the spring. I remember it was perfect for my garden potatoes because I didn't have to water, and I ended up with my best-ever crop. However, it was a struggle for crops that required more sun and warmth. The best indicator for the quality of spring is the butterflies. They are the most weather sensitive of all creatures except humans. They need warm, sunny weather before they fly. This March there were 24 reports to the bcbutterfly site. Last March there were 5. I know that's a very rough measure depending on so many variables like who was around to post sightings, but the reporters are are a fairly consistent and reliable group. Of course, I think it's a bad spring because I'm working on a butterfly project and needless to say, I've been very impatient.
With my primary focus on butterflies this year, I'll be carrying my macro lens most of the time instead of the big telephoto bird lens. That means the only chance for bird photos will be stricly up to the birds. In other words, large birds like Barred Owls will have to sit nicely on a branch about 10 feet from me, and small birds like chickadees will have to be within 2 feet. That was no problem for my chickadees as I stood next to my feeder. Immediately, two chickadees flew in and sat on a branch about 2 feet away.
Another heat sensitive creature is my Northern Alligator Lizard. Lizzie lives in the crack between my foundation and patio. I always look for her when the sun is warm enough, and so far I've had 3 sightings this year. I also have another one in my garden. So far I've only seen Izzy once.
My first bumble of the year was a surprise. I thought it was too cold, but on March 9 I was checking a patch of gorse in Nanoose Bay, and surprise, surprise. I thought it was sleeping, but when I angled for a better shot, it flew away.
Despite the over abundance of deer in the neighborhood, it's difficult not to feel an affinity to our regular yard visitors. Bilbo was one of the regulars, but he was distinctive becuse of his dwarf size and patches of dark fur along his flanks. Unfortunately, from his diarrhea stains I could tell he was not well. On Mar. 12 I saw him lying under a rhodo bush, and I knew the end was near. He did not move when I approached him and petted him for the first time. I cut off an arbutus branch and placed it beside him hoping some extra nourishment would help. He ate the leaves and two hours later he struggled to his feet and wandered off with three other deer. I didn't see him for two days and decided to look for him. I found his body under a tree by the forest ...
From the "invertalert" on the Nature Victoria website I discovered that Ian C. photographed a Moss's Elfin in East Sooke park on Mar. 10?10. That prompted me to contact Moralea to request permission to visit her Camas Hill property in Metchosin on March 14. She was most accommodating and offerred to show me around. Unfortunately, the weather gods weren't quite as cooperative. The forecast for sun and cloud was heavily biased towards the the clouds, and we knew that any butterfly that ventured out would have to be wearing a parka. However, that didn't spoil the day as the cool mountain air was invigorating and the spring wildflowers like the blue-eyed Mary's were delightful.
Once again I'll have to yield to the botanists who are reading this journal. My guess is rusty-haired saxifrage based on what I think Moralea told me.
My guess is Henderson's shooting star.
This was the first time I had ever seen satin flowers. I've never seen them on around Oceanside or on Denman and Hornby. They are gorgeous.
This tiny flower measured about 6 mm across. I need help on this one.
I'm sure you'll all get this and the next one - pussy willows.
Mar. 23 - After the spawn. The herring may be gone, but there's still lots of roe for the birds.
Oops, I spoke too soon. There was a late spawn on Mar. 23 at Qualicum Bay, and a late treat for the eagles and sea lions.
The ducks were still active off Qualicum. I think they were now diving after baby herring.
Meanwhile, down at Esquimalt Lagoon there was no talk of herring. It was just spring life as usual with many Drake Mallards looking for eligible ladies regardless of species.
The gulls here still preferred clams.
Common Mergansers were built for flight. They have that sleek aerodynamic build.
The duck population has declined significantly. The ones that were still here are almost domesticated.
The pair of Common Goldeneye were waiting around for handouts.
Esquimalt Lagoon is an excellent venue for practicing flight photography.
When you bring duck food you can be sure that ducks will fly in from other parts of the lagooon.
A few flowers from the Notch just above Nanoose Bay - chickweed monkey flowers were common.
Paintbrush was only seen on the edge of the cliff where it couldn't be cropped by the deer.
One plant that didn't have to worry about deer was the prickly pear cactus.
I saw my first Mourning Cloak of the year on Mar. 18 in my yard. I finally got a photo on Mar. 27 near the Garry oak meadow at Fairwinds.
It took 3 trips to Camas Hill in Metchosin to get the Moss's Elfin, but it was worth it. Thanks to Moralea the Moss's is my first butterfly photo of the year. In flight the Moss's looks quite dark, but a close-up shot reveals its subtle beauty. 1,000 km for one butterfly - my butterfly project is going to be more difficult than I originally thought.
Ater 2 weeks the satin flowers have almost expired.
The Satyr Comma was another butterfly on my wish list. We found quite a few at Cowichan Station. I had to get close for a decent picture, but this was a little too close. My daughter, Jasmin, got the shot.
I decided to outsmart the Satyr by placing my hat on the ground. It didn't take long for the Satyr to find it.
Natural beauty surrounded us at Cowichan Station. Besides an abundance of butterflies, the wildflowers were magnificent.
The fawn lilies were spectacular and abundant.
Moths were 10 times as abundant as the butterflies but reluctant to land. When they did it was for less than a second. Out of about 100 moths I tracked, only one landed for more than a few seconds.
Apr.7 - The butterfly expedition today Camas Hill today was to look for Sara's Orangetips. Again, the sun was reluctant to show, but Moralea assured me that if the sun did the Orangetips would show up at her patch of winter-cress where she had seen them two days earlier. While I was waiting I was serenaded by pleasant trill of an Orange-crowned Sparrow foraging for insects in a giant maple. While waiting for the butterflies, the orange-crowned foraged close by and posed for a couple of shots. Shortly afterwards, a pair of orangetips surfaced from the depth of the ravine.
On our way back from Camas Hill we decided to stop at Cowichan Station to look for more butterflies. At a very small secluded pond my wife spotted a pair of Wood Ducks. Being extremely wary they tried to hide at the back of the pond then decided to fly. We looked for a few minutes trying to see where they went and were ready to throw in the towel when my wife spotted the drake abour 8 m up on a tree about 20 m away.
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A Change of Focus
As mentioned in my last journal, my plans for 2013 include a book on butterflies. Since then I have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and support offered by all the major experts in the butterfly community. Cris Guppy replied immediately to offer his enthusiatic support and since then, Norbert Kondra and Jon Shepard have also offered to help any way they can. The big news is that that our own island expert entomologist, James Miskelly, is joing me as a co-author and will be constructing distribution maps, assisting with the photography, and vetting the write-ups.
On the technical side of the production, I have my new ISBN number and a quote for the printing cost. Tentatively, I'm aiming for October printing and November release. My decision to only publish a 1,000 copies hasn't changed so it's essential for anyone who wants a copy to pre-order by emailing me. I'm hoping to sell all books directly which means they might not be available in the stores. So far I have orders from as far as Minnesota.
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Bird Poster
My poster is on display at: Victoria - Swan Lake Nature House. (Note: This poster has been produced in a more manageable size and is now available for $20 unlaminated and $32 laminated.)
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