Witty's Lagoon Regional Park

Here is a view of part of the beach at Witty's Lagoon Regional Park. There is a series of lagoons on the coast of Vancouver Island west of Victoria. Closest to the city is Esquimalt Lagoon, next to it is Albert Head Lagoon and a little further along the coast is Witty's Lagoon. Each of these lagoons has a good beach on the seaward side and though they are popular, they are long beaches so there is always plenty of room. Visible offshore at Witty's is Haystack Island, pictured above.

Bilston Creek

Every time I go to Witty's Lagoon in Metchosin I take a photo or two of Bilston Creek because it is always such a luscious, ferny dell. The creek runs through the park and feeds into the lagoon after tumbling down the dramatic Sitting Lady waterfall.

Crown Brodiaea (Brodiaea coronaria)

I rode out to Witty's Lagoon yesterday and was happy to discover a small patch of these lovely little flowers beside the trail that leads from the parking lot down to the lagoon and beach. Their common name is Crown Brodiaea (Brodiaea coronaria) but they are also known as Fool's Onion since they grow from an onion-like corm that is reputed to be both nutritious and tasty and was prized by Native Peoples and early settlers to this area. Witty's Lagoon is named after one of those early settlers. The same man donated the land for the building of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin that was featured here a few weeks ago. Both the church and the lagoon (a Capital Regional District Park) are located in Metchosin, one of the Western Communities.

Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)

It's always a red-letter day for me when I spot and identify a species of bird that is new to me so last week's trip to Witty's Lagoon was made especially memorable by the sighting of a half dozen Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes). The tide was out so the mud flat at the upper end of the lagoon was a perfect hunting ground for these birds who feed on insects and small fish and crustaceans.

Another From Witty's Lagoon

This snail had found a perfect spot to nestle in that lovely moss that Benjamin mentioned. - Fern Long

Maples

Fern and I spent the afternoon walking through the forest near Witty's Lagoon. There are several trails from the parking lot down to the lagoon but no matter which one you choose you will walk beneath giant maple trees. At this time of year they are bursting with their new leaves and the racemes of greenish yellow flowers that seem to radiate light. I'm not very good at identifying trees but I'm guessing this is what is called Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum). As well as bearing these lovely flowers the maple trees here seem to be more favored by mosses and lichens than other species of tree and older limbs look like they are coated with thick green fur.

Witty's Lagoon

Heading out to Metchosin, is another of our favorite spots, Witty's Lagoon. In the summer the beach is crowded with sun lovers but on this day we had the place to ourselves.

Witty's Lagoon IV

Across the strait are the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula in the USA. On this side this couple shares a landscape of blue and gray with a Great Blue Heron hunting for his supper.

Witty's Lagoon III

Many people associate the West Coast with the wild and rugged beauty of the Long Beach area. However, there are many more subtle and tranquil beauties found along this coast as well.

Swan at Witty's Lagoon

If you read the comments on yesterday's post and picture of the beach at Witty's Lagoon, there is a good description of the area by my friend, Dean Lewis. But when you're walking down from the road, before you get to the beach you walk around the lagoon. Above is a photo of one of the first views of the lagoon that you see on the trail.

Witty's lagoon

This is the beach at Witty's Lagoon, a short drive along the coast west of Victoria. I'll tell you a little more about Witty's lagoon tomorrow with a few more photos.