Rick Harbo – “Shoreline Critters”

Pisaster ochraceus, one of many common local seashore critters - A. Bryant

The lovely purple star (Pisaster ochraceus), one of the more common local seashore critters
– A. Bryant

Rick Harbo – “Shoreline Critters”
by Sherri Wretham, 15 April 2010

Rick Harbo is a well-known marine biologist, diver, photographer and author based at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo. He is the bestselling author of numerous books about intertidal life in the Pacific Northwest, including Tidepool and Reef, The Edible Seashore, Guide to the Western Seashore, Shells and Shellfish of the Pacific Northwest, and Whelks to Whales. These titles and more can be ordered on-line here.

The subject of his presentation was unsurprisingly, intertidal life, and his lively and knowledgeable talk was accompanied by his stunning photographs.

Susan MacKay – “Whales, dolphins and porpoises”

Pacific white-sided dolphins
– A. Bryant

Susan MacKay – “Whales, dolphins and porpoises”
by Janet Southcott, 15 April 2010

Susan MacKay has worked with local whale, dolphin and porpoise populations for years. She has collected lots of fabulous pictures and sounds and information about them that she wished to share. She provided useful information if you happen to see something really big swimming in the ocean along our coast!

Birding by ear Part II

Pierre listens intently

A Barred owl that Elizabeth spotted

Audubon’s warbler

Birding by ear Part II
by Heather Harbord, 10 April 2010.

Ten of us stalked the old golf course at the Townsite with Pierre listening for birds. It was “briskly cold” but warmed up later. Many of the migrants had flown north after the storm three days ago but there were enough singing for our purposes. The most conspicuous were Song Sparrows, Purple Finches, Spotted Towhees, Varied Thrushes, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets who actually showed off their ruby crowns. Several sea lions also serenaded us.

As we entered the forest part of the walk, a tiny Winter Wren was carrying some mossy nesting material in its bill and entered in a cavity about 25 feet of the ground in a cedar tree. We watched it poke its head out of the nest and then challenge us with a lively song. A little further along, a Varied thrush and a Robin sounding their alarm notes prompted Elizabeth to look up to see a roosting Barred Owl that we all saw. We ended up with a list of 32 birds which is pretty good. We saw no Rufous Hummingbirds or Turkey Vultures.

Wildflowers

White Fawn Lily (Erythronium oregonum) – H. Harbord photo

A field of lilies – H. Harbord photo

Rod Innes and Shirley Cole photographing the lilies – H. Harbord photo

Chickweed Monkey flower – H. Harbord photo

Blue-eyed Mary – H. Harbord photo

Wildflowers
by Heather Harbord, 3 April 2010.

Led by Shirley Cole and Clyde Burton, six people enjoyed the sunshine after the previous day’s big storm.

Rod Innes took us to see the white fawn lilies at Sliammon and we then proceeded on to Dinner Rock where we picked up Walter Kubany and looked at shooting stars, blue-eyed Mary, two kinds of monkey flower, pink sea blush, parsley and liquorice ferns and other floral beauties. The chocolate lilies will be out in another ten days. Up Malaspina Road we found calypso orchids still in bud and estimated that another week or so would see them in bloom.