Centennial Beach
Our first major outing of Twenty Twenty-Six was a bit different! At the time I wasn’t in love with the foggy effects, but you take what you can get. That said, it did get me to look at familiar scenery with whole new eyes.
This lovely Bald Eagle was devouring… something?… up a tree. We didn’t want to get too close. At one point it dropped a little bit of its breakfast on the ground, and we just hurriedly moved on.
You have to wonder how the fog affects these birds. They can’t see anything from way up in the air. Even fishing would be challenging, I’d think!
Another one who’s not a big fan of the weather is this Great Blue, huddling up on a branch above the main pond.
These guys don’t mind the fog, at least. Probably makes their lives easier since raptors don’t see them.
(Though likewise, they don’t see the raptors. Hmmm.)
At first I thought these might be Canada Geese? Then I thought they might be loons, even though I’d never seen loons congregate in such numbers. But Merlin says they’re Brant! And also apparently the plural of Brant is Brant!
I wish I’d gotten a better look at them, but I’m happy for the lifers!
Ooo haunted heron on a haunted tree
I really like this shot! There’s just enough light to show colours, but it’s still spooky and ooky.
Richmond Nature House
The fog was starting to clear up by the time we swung by the Nature House. That place is always frustrating to me, since there are so damn many targets I get overwhelmed! Maybe I just need to quiet my mind and focus on one target at a time.
Anyway, here’s a Red-breasted Nuthatch figuring out the perfect spot to cache this seed!
And then, posing!
Of course, there were a zillion juncos. But one in particular was really calling to me! I love the murky wintery colours here.
The Nature House has a few hummingbird feeders, but I could only see this one little gal, high up in a tree. Ah well!
Piper Spit
The fog was down to some soft decorative wisps by the time we got to Piper’s Spit, and the light was getting seriously golden.
Some ducks still went for some late-afternoon dabbling…
… while others were full and content, I guess.
Oooo this is nice. Just enough fog left to make the Jesus lights across the water.
Pity that coot just doesn’t appreciate it.
It’s funny, Ring-billed Gulls always look so grumpy but this one looks… serene? Calm? Is it because of the sunset? Because I swear I’ve seen Canada Geese look at sunsets the same way. Not to mention the Mallard two photos above.
Well that’s just nightmares.
