 How often does one go out in search of one thing and find something entirely different .. But still rewarding. This is what I encountered this morning at sunrise as I looked for a group of Eagles... The Otter group almost escaped my view as they swam past me with the blazing sun in my eyes... All I noticed were some objects which I passed off as floating kelp. A few minutes later I clearly saw a "romp" of River Otters heading South along the water. They kept a watchful eye on a woman walking her dog and once she had gone well past, they hit the beach, climbed a steep bank and descended into a farm field with a fresh water irrigation canal.. I laboured to click and keep track of them, but here are some of the images... Eagles appeared later in my morning adventure, but not quite as I had imagined. I like to keep my options open when on a photo safari... Hope everyone has a great weekend.... TerryV   I am the Walrus!  Smile .. you're on camera! :))))  A beautiful pair of mature Bald Eagles relax in the early morning sun  Great Blue Heron... waiting for the tide  I was only able to get 2 images of these baby California Quail ... They run for cover at every sign of danger. Click on the photos of their parents above for full size. Dad is on the left and Mom on right.
 We Stand on Guard for Thee        That look you have when someone else is catching all the fish!   Click on individual photos in gallery above to enlarge*    Fireweed was quite abundant at the far end of the bog and the bees and various insects love it!  Chipping Sparrows... Tiny beautiful birds! Seen along the marsh.   The Cattails (above) are at a beautiful stage of development .. Slender and inspiring... The Marsh birds love these graceful and beneficial plants.    My quest to find the common but very unusual Vancouver Island visiting Yellow Headed Blackbird failed, but I did see some other beautiful inhabitants of Rithits Bog! And thank you for the interesting human visits I encountered !   This sequence is Momma Osprey coming back from a short flight to stretch her wings after likely a long sit on the nest.
I sat out in the field for nearly an hour last evening waiting for Dad to come back with a fish, but got rained out waiting. I bet it was tough fishing in all that heavy wind... * Also, though I can tell by the actions of the parents, I have yet to actually see a baby Osprey so no idea how many in the nest? I'll keep you posted. On another note, I want to thank all the dear people who stopped in to see me at Dockside Gallery in Sidney last weekend. Its always great to see a familiar face and also to meet new people (one from Maine... hello!) Thanks again for dropping in to see my latest work! Cheers and have a great weekend.... TerryV I will be "In Studio" this coming July 1st (Canada Day" and also July 2nd ... hours 10:30 - 4:30 both days If you are around for this coming Canada Day weekend please come in and say hello, and have a look at some of the unique art available for sale by a number of different artists . The address is 9713A Second Street Sidney (1/2 block South off Bevan) I'll have some of my latest images , greeting cards and jewellery on display. Hope to see you there...... TerryV     Osprey MOON in June  Morning of June 26th I waited patiently out in a farm field for Papa Osprey to come back from fishing. After an hour and 1/2 , I heard his greeting call to his mate and shot several hundred images of the breakfast event. He caught a small Sole (these fish live flat on the bottom of the ocean, so one wonders how deeply he had to dive to grab this fish) He flies in past the nest to show off his catch, then goes over to a nearby tree to dine on fresh fish head.      After enjoying his meal of fish head, Dad flies back to the nest where Mom is camped out and he gives her the rest of the fish! She accepts his offering , stretches her wings and flies from the nest into the same tree where Dad ate breakfast. (Then Dad takes over nest duty )   Momma O lands and gives herself a good shake before she begins her morning meal.   The last bite.. Nothing is wasted... even the tail fin goes down the hatch!   Momma O takes some time to groom after breakfast, meanwhile Dad remains on the nest snugged down with the kids ... (I have not yet seen the little Ospreys but I will certainly be watching and report and sightings) Thanks for looking ... Hope everyone has a great day! TerryV ...
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Archives
July 2018
AuthorGreetings from Southern Vancouver Island. Please feel free to say hello or comment on any images or about wildlife, photography , etc My email can be found on the contact page link or click the button below . 
March 2018 .. I just received notice that my blog has been awarded a distinction of being one of the top 100 photography blogs in Canada.
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