Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 26th December — Boxing Day.

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

Last week I was out and about on the north end of the island counting birds for the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count so I was not able to hike with the Trekkers this time.  It was another mostly dull day with rain showers from time to time that made it difficult to find active birds.  I met up with the hikers at Blubber Bay as they finished in the afternoon and I was not too surprised to hear that they had seen a record number of Rough-skinned Newt along the way.  It was much more of an amphibian day than a song bird day!   

I took today's photo while I was doing the bird count.  At this time of year the two species of Kinglet that spend the winter months with us are often seen in small flocks on the ground or in low shrubs in search of small bugs and they are remarkably tame.  However, they are constantly on the move and that makes it hard to get clear sharp photos of them.

JD.

             

           A tiny Golden-crowned Kinglet foraging with a few friends on the forest floor.