Durrance Lake

Yesterday's photo of the Foxglove flowers was taken near the shore of Durrance Lake, about a half hour's drive from the City of Victoria. Above is a photo of the lake itself. Just before we left, one of the local residents swooped down and perched overlooking the lake.

Bald Eagle

One of the exciting aspects of birdwatching is that you never know what you are going to see when you set out with your binoculars and/or camera. I went out to Pkols (Mount Douglas) yesterday hoping to see a hawk or two. They like to cruise the thermals rising from the mountainside. Turkey Buzzards are usually circling also. And often, there are a few Bald Eagles. I saw one of these swooping by quite low but then he disappeared to the other side of the summit. Later I wandered over to that side of the mountain and there he was, peacefully perched overlooking the Saanich Peninsula. He sat quietly for nearly a half an hour as I crept closer.

Distraction!

Whenever I get out into the rural setting in the spring I tend to get focused on what's on the ground, those brilliant spring wildflowers such as I posted yesterday. I am also a little impatient of distractions so that earlier this week when I was zeroing in on the Shooting Stars a very loud sort of rusty squeaking kept breaking in on my concentration. Finally I looked up to see what could be making such a noise and there it was, in a nearby tree, a glorious Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). (Roger Tory Peterson in "A Field Guide to Western Birds" describes their call as "...a harsh, creaking cackle....") When I suddenly see something like this there is always a period of frantic activity (remove close-up lens, replace with telephoto lens, adjust ISO and aperture, lengthen tripod legs, etc.). At the same time it all has to be done calmly and quietly so as not to disturb the subject or destroy the equipment. With this eagle I barely got set up when he took off from the branch where he was sitting. But at least he left me this one clear shot to take home. There were actually three Bald Eagles cruising around above the summit of Mount Douglas that day, two of them apparently jousting for the attentions of the third.

Race Rocks Webcam

I didn't take the striking photos above. They were kindly sent to me by Dean Lewis and were taken using the Race Rocks Webcam. Thanks, Dean, for sharing these with us. Above on the left is a juvenile Bald Eagle. These can be seen in other places locally - even on my morning walks. On the right, however, is an animal I have never seen before, an Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris). Race Rocks (just off the tip of Vancouver Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca) is their most northerly location. They are quite extraordinary animals - they can dive up to 1,500 meters or more and hold their breath for over an hour and a half. They are BIG and can weigh a couple of tons. Anyone can use the webcams on Race Rocks - http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/video1.htm - it takes a bit of practice but if you have some time and patience you can see some wonderful things.

Unwelcome Visitor

I could hear the gulls' angry cries long before I reached the shore and saw the eagle they were harassing. Eventually he tired of the in-air chase and landed on this small island. Gulls perched on telephone poles and trees along the walkway continued to broadcast their danger signals as long as he rested there. The Canada Geese didn't appear to be worried by his presence but as soon as he took off the gulls were after him again.

Bald Juvenile

This is a young Bald Eagle, spotted one morning a few weeks ago perched above the West Bay Walkway. He looks like a scruffy teenager though he's not more than two or three years old since the white head and tail of the adult bird comes with maturity around four years. Though he looks quite imperturbable, he was being buzzed mercilessly by a couple of crows and finally took off in search of a quieter place to take a break.

Thunderbird

I was passing through Beacon Hill Park a few days ago when I realized that I have not before posted a photo of this totem pole although, as one of the tallest in the world, it is certainly worthy of note. However, what drew my attention to it on this day was the topmost figure, one of our local Bald Eagles taking advantage of this splendid vantage point. Below is the best I could do for a close-up since I didn't have a true telephoto lens with me. A passerby informed me that this eagle often perches atop this pole at this season during the last few years. The pole itself is very noteworthy, carved by Kwakwaka'wakw craftsman Mungo Martin and erected in 1956. As to whether the Bald Eagle is the original thunderbird of native mythology, you can read Wikipedia's discussion of this question by clicking HERE and decide for yourself.

Early Morning Eagle

This is the Saxe Point resident Bald Eagle once again, here seen just as the rising sun struck him a few mornings ago. Photographing birds is a new endeavor for me so I hope regular visitors will bear with me while I explore and learn (and repeatedly photograph this eagle and a few other dependable subjects....)

Fierce Love

Many people are watching this pair of Bald Eagles and hoping that this year their mating will result in some chicks, unlike a past year when the nest (visible on the left) remained empty. Bald Eagles are thought to mate for life but will choose a new partner should one die or the union fail to produce offspring. They generally live for about 20 years.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

This is a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), the national bird and symbol for the United States of America. This one is perched near a nest that has been used by Bald Eagles for some years. This nest is in Saxe Point Park in Esquimalt. I apologize for the poor quality photo but I wanted to introduce this bird here since I have seen him several times now but have failed previously to capture any usable pictures. I'll be checking on him and his mate (she's not visible in the nest to the left) over the next few months and will be trying to get some images more worthy of this splendid bird. (This is all done with a 300 millimeter telephoto lens. The nest is at the top of a very tall tree and I will try to be as inconspicuous as possible on the ground so as not to disturb the brooding/hatching/rearing processes.)

Raptors on the Causeway

Yesterday's photo of the high-style canine reminded me of other animals on the Inner Harbour Causeway. Above is a man having his photo taken with a falcon. A photographer on the causeway offers this service and will print photos of you with this magnificent raptor and an Inner Harbour scene in the background. Well worth the $5 it costs. To the left is another raptor I spied recently on the Causeway. This is one of a number of Bald Eagle statues that have been painted by local artists and distributed around the city. This particular eagle, entitled "Free Fall", was painted by Wendy "Sage River" Rogers. The eagles will remain in place until the spring of 2010, when they will be auctioned to raise money for the BC Lions' Easter Seals Campaign that raises money for children with disabilities. To find out more about this campaign, visit Eagles in the City.

Birds in Bronze

In a photograph of the Legislative Assembly Building I posted in September there is a fountain in the foreground. Around the outer rim of this fountain are sculptures of four animals important in the mythologies of the native peoples of British Columbia. Above is a raven. Below is an eagle. There are also small sculptures of a bear and a wolf and, in the center of this fountain a few stone sea otters.

Great Blue Heron

A nesting colony of Great Blue Herons is located in Beacon Hill Park, within a few minutes walk from downtown Victoria. The colony has been under attack lately from Bald Eagles who occasionally nest nearby, causing a small controversy amongst locals, some maintaining that the herons should be protected while others say that the eagles and herons are natural enemies and the attacks are simply nature taking its course. However, the herons are a small and at-risk population while the Bald Eagle is thriving - estimated population in BC is 20 to 30 thousand, about a third of the North American total. In any case, it seemed like a rare privilege for a city dweller like myself to be able to approach such a splendid creature so closely and I hope the eagles will find something else to eat.