Next Hike — advance notice for next week.

For our hike next week we will be meeting in Van Anda and Leona has asked me to give out this notice of an after the hike event.

JD.

Hello Everyone,
Everyone is invited to my 60th birthday celebration which will be on Saturday May 8 after the hike. I live at 323 Crescent Bay Road, which is soon after Tyler Road. Bring food and something to drink and maybe a few chairs will be needed.
Please do not spend money on cards or presents. Instead a donation to my son James' "Ride to Conquer Cancer" would be appreciated, but not necessary. It is a bicycle ride from Vancouver to Seattle to raise money for cancer research.
See you then,
Leona

Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 1st May.
We meet at the Ballpark in Gillies Bay at 10:00am

Last week we decided to take the long drive down island past Bobs Lake parking finally where the gas pipeline rejoins the road not far past the south end of Angel Lake. It was dull and quite windy and cool until we were in the forest on the trail up Twin Peaks. On the peaks it even snowed for a while, but visibility was not so bad and most felt it was a good hike even if a bit too cool for comfort. My photo shows the view from the northern viewpoint with snow falling from the grey clouds above. The low island not too far away is the northern part of Lasqueti, and the coastline of Vancouver Island can just be seen as a dark line at the top of the picture.
JD.

Next Hike

The next hike is on Saturday, 24th April.

We meet at the Ballpark in Gillies Bay at 10:00am.

A couple of weeks ago on the bluffs south of Mouat Point where the cactus grow we came across some small patches of a curious cushion moss. It was striking for it's neat compact shape and also for the colour. Some of the larger colonies were dark reddish brown, but lower down the slope I photographed some small mounds that were the most vivid red. The scientific name is Bryum miniatum and my moss book tells me this species is found in BC only along the coast and then most often in rocky spots with water seeps. It adds that no other moss in our area produces such brilliant red cushions.

Bryum miniatum, a vivid red moss on rocks south of Mouat Point.

Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 17th April.

We meet at the Ballpark in Gillies Bay at 10:00am

Last week we had a larger than usual group out for a hike on a very lovely spring day. We parked just past Eagle Creek on the road to Davie Bay and hiked to the seaside bluffs where the cactus grow. On the way down to the rocks close to the waves where we had lunch and watched the seals watching us there were a great variety of spring flowers and some unusually dark mosses. Particularly vivid yellow daisy type flowers were quite eye catching, but they were not a plant I knew or even remembered seeing before. It took me a while to track it down to the name Gold Stars, Crocidium multicaule. It's an annual with short thin stems and tiny fleshy red leaves, that ranges down the west coast from Georgia Strait to California and is locally fairly common it seems.

JD.

Gold Stars in bloom on Mouat Bluffs.

Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 10th April.
We meet at the Ballpark in Gillies Bay at 10:00am

This week I am still working with the Brant geese on the beaches of Vancouver Island.  I had a very good day today as I was able to read nearly 50 leg band codes with my telescope, and all on just one beach, at Rathtrevor Provincial Park, Parksville.
    My photo for this week is of a juvenile bald eagle that was hanging around all day on the beach where I was working. It was easy to approach and seems to be unafraid of people, so I should think it must have spent some time in capitivity as bald eagles are usually quite timid.
JD.

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Next Hike - Beach BBQ update

I am still birdwatching on Vancouver Island. Here is Pam's note to everyone interested in taking in part or all of the activities this Saturday.

The Spring Raven Bay BBQ and Oyster Bake is coming up!

Date: Saturday, April 3, 2010

Place: Raven Bay

Bring: Chairs (There are some logs to sit on) and BYOB

Food: There will be oysters or clams. If you don't like oysters or clams, bring hot dogs or veggie dogs to roast over the fire or whatever you wish to eat or share with friends.

How we get there: Hikers meet at the Legion in Van Anda and walk to Raven Bay (2 1/2 hours). There are several shortcuts, if you don't want to do the full hike

We have permission to hike through the Imperial and the LaFarge Quarry on April 3rd.

If you are unable to hike right now, used to hike or are spouses/partners/visitors of Trekkers, you are welcomel You can park at the junction to the Raven Bay turnoff on the High Road. If you need a lift, please contact David Taylor. Hikers are expected at Raven Bay between 12:00 noon and 12:30 pm. Raven Bay road is only suitable for 4 wheel drive vehicles.

If you want to go early and collect oysters, bring rubber boots and your current Saltwater Licenses.

After the BBQ/Oyster Bake, those who drove down to the Bay will take the drivers and those who are unable to walk back to their vehicles in Van Anda or on the High Road.

Please contact: David Taylor, (604) 486-7659, if you are going to the BBQ or if you require more information. David needs numbers to estimate the number of oysters and clams to collect.

Yesterday, while checking out the Brant geese at Deep Bay, I was surprised to find a very handsome european swan [called the Mute Swan in UK even though they do make a noise sometimes when flying] hanging out with them for a while.
JD.