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Wildlife is just part of the scenery
You don't have to put much effort into observing the wildlife around here, it's part of the scenery and it often comes to you! Thi is a 2 acre lot that has been carved out of the forest next to the ocean, and the wildlife doesn't seem to have noticed, the animals just continue to go about their business. It may be a cliché, but it really is a privilege to live so close to nature, and we do get a kick out of sharing it with guests.
A Week in the Life of Manna House...
In one week (14-20 July '22) three fledgling Cedar Waxwings, 2 new fawns, 1 tiny tree frog and a Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly presented themselves to be photographed. And, as usual, the Bald Eagles stole the show...
Fledgling Cedar Waxwings
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These baby bandits were huddled up in the sour cherry tree about ten feet off the ground, looking about quite unruffled by my close presence, perhaps waiting for their parents to return, when they decided to practice a bit of preening, which didn't seem to do much for the scruffy one on the left.
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I've seen more of these entertaining birds this year, they feed on the salmon berries, thimble berries, and now our sour cherries! Whilst developing the gardens we've been careful to leave swaths of wild berries (including tons of blackberries), creating "wildlife corridors" for the birds and other critters. The berries form an essential part of many animals' diets, as diverse as deer and hummingbirds.
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One of this year's new arrivals
A few days ago the doe that had been frequenting our front yard presented her 2 new arrivals. Our garden is a place where she feels it's safe to leave them alone while she goes off to forage and take care of other important deer business.
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Bald Eagles
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The eagles spend a lot of time in the trees that grow from the bank down to the ocean, from where they call and 'chuckle' to each other. Then they will launch themselves off on another fishing trip and bring the catch back to consume.
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These two started mid-air combat as soon as they were airborne, and thanks to the iphone, I managed to snag this shot with a rainbow in the background! We get them frequently over the ocean and Hornby when it rains in the afternoon. Not usually with battling eagles at the same time however.
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More Critters seen on, from, or above this 2 acres...
River Otter, 22 July '22
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I don't remember ever seeing a River Otter in the vicinity of a Denman creek, but we often see them in the ocean, usually swimming not far off shore where the fish are found, or lounging around on a rock. Usually large family groups, with the cubs scrapping and clambering over long suffering parents. (Sound familiar?) This particular evening a lone male was preening itself on a rock and tolerated my getting within about 10 metres, taking pictures with my iphone held infront of me like a shield, and you can see he was as curious about me as I was interested in him.
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Occasionally we'll see a lone otter tearing across our back lawn enroute to our neighbour's large fish pond! They come up the steep bank from the beach using a path they've made for themselves, then cross the road and progress via the network of drainage ditches by the roadside and between the lots. Twice this year I've walked out of the drive in the evening and encountered an otter on the road.
Turkey Vultures
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Virtually always seen on the wing, silently circling above us; wherever they choose to roost overnight, it's usually in the treetops out of sight. Needing to warm up on a bright Summer morning, we caught this one sunning itself in our neighbour's dead maple next to what is now the guests' back garden.
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Canada Geese
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Large flocks live on our side of the island, flying back and forth between the pastures a few blocks either side of us, every day (and night) of the year, and they are very vocal! Occasionally one will decide to land on a topped tree and use it as a "honking post".
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Breaching Seal
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This was taken through the living room window. I had the camera set up on a tripod, trained on the snag at the bottom of the drive, the eagles favourite hang-out, doing time-lapse photography for four months. One day I noticed some activity in the water and moments later captured this decisive moment!
Seals are very common in these waters, curious and playful, but usually it's just a head up out of the water to say hello, then gone again. Leaping clean out of the water, that must have been one excited seal! |
Red Tailed Hawk
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I've only seen a red-tailed hawk a handful of times, and this one sat on that branch for a long time. Although I was able to identify it with binoculars, the light and the technology wasn't good enough at the time to capture any shadow detail. However, it did have an elegant silhouette.
Besides the Eagles, Vultures and these guys, the other raptors we see are the occasional Merlin chasing down some hapless small bird or perched on a stump consuming same; the very occasional American Kestral, and earlier this year, a big Barred Owl sitting on a fence post let me approach quite close before taking flight; no phone/camera on me at the time, darn it! |
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more Bald Eagles
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You might just pull up at the bottom of the drive and see an eagle sitting on a branch in front of you across the road; and if you are like me you'll pull out the cell phone, snap a quick pic., and be on your way. After all, one can't spend all day watching eagles...
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(Above, right.) Five eagles sitting in the snag, three immatures and two adults, with a another about to join them. During March the "Herring Run" attracts more wildlife in general, and eagles in particular, to our shores. Whist there may be many more in the trees lining our bank, they are difficult to see because of the dense foliage. When they rest in the snag, it gives us the opportunity to see them clearly; and a fine sight it is.
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I challenge you to click on this to enlarge it, and count the number of eagles in this feeding frenzy taking place off the North shore of Hornby Island; photographed from the deck. There must have been a sizeable shoal of herring near the surface, and the red pleasure boat just drifted quietly on the edge of it all.
Taken on March 11th. (2018) at the time of the annual "Herring Run", traditionally the largest wildlife event of the year. More on that soon.. |
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