How to celebrate Canada Day? A trek to the Boundary.

Still deciding what to do Canada Day? We are approaching the lowest tide this summer at Boundary Bay where we can see some of these critters :
http://chut7.blogspot.com/2013/06/reaching-boundary.html

Low tide between 11 and 11:30am (depending on which tide chart you consult).  Remember your sunscreen!

Venus in bloom

I replanted my Venus Flytrap this year.  It was a bit of risk - the last time I did so, over 10 years ago, my flytrap died a quick death within a month.  I felt better equipped this time.  I had repurposed a clear, plastic box many times larger than the circular cylinder as it's container.  It seemed to thrive in its moisture rich environment, so the container would need a lid, which was provided by a perfectly fitting Ferrero Rocher box.  I had also saved up some moss to add as a plant medium.  Now, about three months after its replanting, it has lost most of its original leaves, and the new ones growing back are much smaller (making it more difficult to feed).  I had used some outdoor potting soil which I had hoped would've had most of its nutrients leeched out, but that still might be too nutrient rich be burning the roots.  I'll try adding a layer of pine needles as some have had success with that.

I was cheered when a month ago, I saw three flower stalks coming up.  Two of them withered, but the strongest has produced a single flower.

I'm not sure whether it's pre-bloom, or post-bloom.  I've been checking on her every day, and she went from a bud on Sunday to this today.

Even birds sleep in on New Years

We arrived at 9am at Boundary Bay.  At -2 degrees C, we made sure to bundle up warmly before rolling out of the car.

The early morning light bathed the bay in a warm glow.  Even the birds seemed to need a bit of warming up, as we saw little action in the first hour.

We had come to see the birds of prey, and as the ground thawed, so did the wildlife activity.

Cooper's hawk

Juvenile bald eagle

Northern harrier

Hawk vs eagle

Northern harrier

Purple finch

Song sparrow

A non-mallard (mallard females will have a horizontal stripe on each side of the eye)

Baldie with captured prey

We didn't end up seeing any owls...could've been a combination of the time of year, and the early time of day.

It's owl season

I'm organizing a trip to check out the birds (hopefully a few owls) at Boundary Bay on New Year's Day (most likely AM). Leave a comment (or contact me) if interested. Search the blog for Boundary Bay to see what I've seen in the past.