Fleming Beach

Fleming beach is a small cove on the western side of Macaulay Point. It is protected by a breakwater and the small docks are used by sport fishermen.

Fleming Beach

On the western side of Macaulay Point is a small area known as Fleming Beach. It's a small bay protected by a breakwater and used as a boat launch by sport fishermen.

Silhouettes

When I posted the photo to the right a few days ago it reminded me of another silhouette photo also taken at the Fleming Beach Breakwater in March 2010. After a bit of searching I am happy to share it with you. I think what fascinates me most about silhouettes is how much information is communicated despite the lack of details. For instance. it's easy to see that this is a young boy, probably about 10 or 11 years old. And yet we can't see anything beyond his mere outline.

Evening Walk

I went out to take some photos today but it was so cold I just turned around and came home. So, here's another from the archives, almost exactly 5 years ago this week. It's one of my favorites and was a part of a calendar a few years ago.

A Night Time Walk

This was one of those moments where you hold up your camera and in that instant something happens that makes for a perfect shot. This fellow appeared out of the dark and and as quickly as he'd come he disappeared. - Fern

Sculpture Splash

I mentioned the Community Arts Council Sculpture Splash that was held on the weekend. It was really a terrific show with a large number of exquisite and professionally executed pieces displayed in the beautiful surroundings of Buxton Green. We'll have a look at some of the individual pieces over the next few days.

Fleming Beach Sunset

There is a small bay on the western side of Macaulay Point. It is called Fleming Beach. Its breakwater provides a sheltered mooring for sport fishermen and a great place to enjoy the sunset.

Saxe Point from Fleming Breakwater

The Saxe Point panorama posted last week shows a few of the houses facing Saxe Point Park. Above are a few more such houses further around the same point pictured in the panorama. I always enjoy the contrast these houses provide to their rocky location.

Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

Just as I was packing up to leave Fleming Beach last week I spotted this duck near the boat ramp and snapped this quick shot (above). This is a female Common Goldeneye. I don't see them very often and this is the first I've seen this year. They are so different from the male of the species that I always think I've come across a duck new to me. Below is a photo of a Common Goldeneye drake (from last spring) so you can see how much the genders differ.

Looking Westward

Yesterday's photo was taken from Macaulay Point looking east towards the city. Today's photo is also taken from Macaulay Point but looking west towards Esquimalt Lagoon and Metchosin. In the foreground you can see the Fleming Beach Breakwater. A bit beyond that the red and white Canadian flag identifies Saxe Point. Beyond that and to the left you can see the Fisgard Lighthouse, also red and white.

Double-crested Cormorant

Just offshore and between Macaulay Point and Saxe Point are a couple of small rocky islets favored by Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) as places to rest between dives and to dry their wings. Often these cormorants fly just above the surface of the water as in the photo above.

Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser)

There are some fairly large flocks (50-100 birds) of these birds in coastal waters now. These are a kind of diving duck called Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser). That's the male with a black and white body and a greenish black head near the center of the photo. The others are females and juveniles. These were photographed near Fleming Beach.

Another View

On Sunday afternoon both Fern and I independently sought the shoreline. Her photo, published yesterday, was taken from Saxe Point Park. I didn't go quite so far west and stopped at Fleming Beach and Macaulay Point Park, and took the photos above and below.

I Couldn't Resist

I know, I know, another sunset picture. Hasn't the world had enough?? But no, when you have a camera in hand and the sky is such an amazing palette of colors you have to, don't you? I do. - Fern

Dusk at Fleming Beach

My walking companions make good subject matter on a evening stroll. - Fern

Summer Seal

I was down at Fleming Beach a few nights ago and was pleasantly surprised by seeing no less than five Harbor Seals lolling around in the clear water near the fishing dock. I think they wait there for sport fisherman to bring their boats in and clean their fish. There's usually plenty of scraps. These seals were really enjoying a lazy evening in the water while waiting for the boats to come in, some of them floating on their backs and others nudging and rolling over each other.

The Sun!

So after a week of fog and rain the sun has emerged for the weekend but with it has come the wind. It was crazy down at Fleming Beach but the views were well worth it. - Fern

Fleming Beach

I never tire of this lovely stretch of coast in Esquimalt. In the spring the municipality put up fencing to protect the indigenous plant life in the area and I think it creates fasinating shadows as the hill curves up and around. - Fern

The Undulating Waves

Down at Fleming Beach,the strong winds were making waves; both on the sea and in the long grasses. Dramatic but chilly! - Fern

Sunset at Fleming Beach

Fern recently shared some lovely dawn colors with us (scroll down to Sunday's post) and here are some colors of sunset from a visit I made to Fleming Beach late yesterday afternoon. This young family were walking along the breakwater that protects the boats that moor there. (This breakwater is also a good place for silhouettes....)