Blakeburn Lagoons Park
Finally, after repeated attempts, we saw the Green Heron! Props to the nice older birder couple on the lookout spot who pointed it out on the opposite shore, so still and hidden. That combination of brown and dark bluish-green really is fantastic camouflage when you’re near the water or amongst the reeds.
Not so great when they’re on a beach, and even less great when they’ve got their ridiculous extendo-neck thing going on.
The other birders did have to ask me not to squeal so loudly when I spotted the heron. They are extremely shy and finicky creatures, and even at that distance, I could have made it leave. So I stayed quiet and it stuck around, first on the beach, then flying up to a nearby tree for a bit of preening.
DeBoville Slough Trail
We were startled near the start by a Belted Kingfisher chasing off what looked like a Northern Harrier. Never seen a harrier around here, didn’t think it would be quite open enough for their needs. Well, apart from all the nearby farm fields, I guess. And maybe it really is new, and the kingfisher was shocked at another raptor even though they absolutely don’t compete for the same meal.
Saw quite a few other kingfishers along the trail! And another kind of royal, the Eastern Kingbird. There were piles of them on some of the nearby trees, quite near in fact, giving me some amazing shots. If we’re being honest, I wish they were clearer shots, but I’m happy with what I have for now.
A lot of people we passed kept telling us about nearby bears, either up in the trees or walking along the shoreline — a solitary bear, as well as a mother and two cubs. I got a bit nervous, because we had seen (1) actual bears wandering the fields just that day, and (2) numerous instances of fairly recent bear droppings* on the trail, but we never saw these bears!
(* every species’ poop has a different look. You get to know these things after a while.)
ƛ̓éxətəm (Tlahutum) Regional Park
The river was extremely dry, as you can see above, and the main pool was only mud! Of course, being only mud, it was empty of birds, so we didn’t linger.
The gardens were much more productive. I could hear lots of birds around, but only managed a couple good shots of a White-crowned Sparrow… but there were plenty of pollinators. I’m really happy with these shots, especially the artsy bumblebee-on-sunflower ones! In fact, I think I’ll add them to my store.
The photos
