Had a more restful day today – not a great deal of walking anyway! Started off by having breakfast at a cafe we hadn’t been to before – Bread and Honey. Very busy with locals so you know it’s going to be good – and it was. Bacon, eggs, proper hash browns and toast with homemade jam. Even the tomato ketchup was homemade. Cheap too.

Then it was back home to cook and do some housework. It’s always difficult cooking in a new kitchen and today was no different. Managed to make a lemon pudding but had difficulty with the oven so that it was in there for three quarters of an hour without cooking at all. By the time we worked how to get it to the correct temperature I felt sure it would be ruined – somehow it was edible (think the clotted cream helped). Paul, of course, had no problem creating a beef stroganoff.

Jeannie came with Brynn for tea and we then had a lovely walk on the beach and boardwalk and watched an adult white-crowned sparrow with two youngsters. One baby seemed self sufficient but the other wanted to be fed constantly.

Nice ending to another nice day.

The Killdeer/Plover is really vocalBaby number one fending for himselfBaby number two prefers to just shout and wait for someone else to do the work!

Didn’t do a great deal today. We spent the morning at Jack Point – what a wonderful place. I really can’t believe the number of parks with different trails to walk around in this area. I love Felixstowe but oh to have some of these trails over there. Spent most of our time watching a pair of eagles searching for food – one male and one female judging by the difference in size (the smaller is the male). There was another high in the trees above us shouting at one of them to get a move on – presumably as she/he had mouths to feed!

Just started to rain as we got back to the car so we headed to Nanaimo Harbour for a mexican meal – very tasty. Then back to Parkesville to do some shopping before going home.Most of the arbutus trees on the island seem to be dying not sure why but it’s a real shame.Busy harbour

After a lovely FaceTime call with Billy and Lottie we went to Beachcomber Park to visit the eagles. It was a real pleasure to stand in the sun, chat with Jeannie and watch the action. Mum came and went and the babies did their wingercise – very entertaining. Then we visited a park we hadn’t been to before Colliery Dam. Lovely walk around the lakes and saw loads of red-breasted nuthatches. We were then so close to the nature sanctuary it would have been silly not to drop in. Beautiful walk and saw lots of brown creepers.

Glorious day but weather not looking so good for tomorrow! We will see.Not sure what he was eating – maybe a crab?Tug towing logsThese seagulls got their heads right into the seaweed!Brown creeperRed breasted nuthatchMaybe a Kinglet

Beautiful blue sky when we left home but some black clouds by the time we reached Neck Park. Did stay dry while we were there though. Disappointed we couldn’t find the robin’s nest again but did see, and manage to photograph a garter snake. Then met up with Jeannie and her friend Barb at Piper’s Lagoon. We were on the lookout for a curlew that had got lost and ended up there but no sign of him.

By the time we reached Enos Lake the weather had turned and it was very wet but we were mainly under the trees. Didn’t see our owl again but a very nice walk all the same.

Beaver’s lodgeBrynn in her posh purple raincoat

Lovely meal last night with Jeannie and great to watch the birds in her garden.

Sunny this morning so off we go to the other side of Nanaimo. Unfortunately it was pouring once we got there but as the trail is mostly under a canopy of trees it didn’t really affect us too much – until we saw a mummy pileated woodpecker flying backwards and forwards to her nest feeding her babies. Interesting trying to capture the shots and keep me and my camera dry!

Then we went to the trail along the River Nanaimo as it was only ten minutes away. It rained on and off but we didn’t get too wet and we did get some good shots of Mr and Mrs Quail – love those guys.

On the way back we went through a thunderstorm so, after a quick visit to Beachcomber Park we decided to come home. Lunch at Smitty’s and then a dip in the jacuzzi and a sauna. Not a bad day.

The birds in Jeannie’s gardenAmerican GoldfinchMale and female downy woodpeckersPileated woodpecker going in and out of her nestCalifornian QuailsDidn’t know this was where your family came from BobMerganser drinkingRiver Nanaimo

Not much doing today. Out late as there was quite a bit of rain early. Didn’t go far as we are out for dinner later. The fish hatchery was shut for annual maintenance but the walk along the river was still beautiful even with the occasional shower. Lots of dog walkers and bird noise especially coming from one tree. Turned out it was a woodpecker nest. Difficult to see but boy could you hear those babies. Mum came and fed them a couple of times but didn’t stay long enough for a pic.

A quick visit to Qualicum Foods and then home to change – nice to put on clothes other than walking trousers and hiking boots!

A pair of mergansersA very busy dipperWoodpecker chickVery pretty

Decided to have a lazy day today so just went to Top Bridge. Part of one of the trails was closed – what is it about this trip, lots of trails and roads closed for upgrading. Never mind, did one of the other trails and lots of interesting trees.

Popped in to see the eaglets but again no action so back to Lefty’s for lunch.These two trees are more than just friendsThese look like they’re about to get up and walk.Lots of these huge trees in the river.Group of mergansers having a restRough winged swallowKingfisher

Better weather today so off on the ferry to Newcastle Island and a walk around the coastline – 6 miles but beautiful the whole way. Lots of hummingbirds but none wanted their photo taken. Our ferryKilldeerThe Pileated Woodpeckers have made a meal of this treeThe raccoon trying to hideThe Canadian Geese who barred our way.Cute little antlersNanaimo is a very busy harbour.Had the trail to ourselves most of the way. Only disappointment was that when we tried to get to the bench we usually sit on to eat our picnic the way was barred by some Canada geese with babies – one of them was not at all keen on letting us pass and started hissing. Didn’t really fancy getting in a fight with an angry Canadian Goose so decided to walk round a different way. This meant that we didn’t get to watch the raccoons looking for their lunch while we had our’s. We did have guests while we ate though – three little deer. Very cute.

On the way home we popped in to see the eaglets – not much happening but one did manage to sit up so we could see him.

Weather looking threatening today so didn’t go far. Popped in to see the eaglets who were still fast asleep and parents nowhere to be seen. On to Enos Lake for a second and longer visit. We managed to keep out of the rain and didn’t get lost! Stopped to talk to one of the locals who asked if we’d seen the owl – just as it flew off into the bushes. He said she had babies who were glorious little balls of fluff. Another local told us about an eagle nest near one of the parking lots so off we went but we didn’t see it so back we went and there was the owl in the same place so obviously the nest was near. The babies didn’t appear unfortunately.

Back for a quick visit to the eaglets but again no activity and spots of rain so came home early for once – a treat in itself!This little guy was so cute.Song sparrow sat there for ages till I took his pic.Barred owl with Robin shouting at him to go away!Xmas tree?Looked like this tree was wearing a sporran from a way off.Snapped just as this Sapsucker took off – a mistake of course!

Busy day and managed to miss most of the showers. First visit to Oliver’s Wood – lovely for the kids with treehouses to play in and a pond with lots of merganser babies.

Then off to Buttertub Marsh where all you can hear is beautiful birdsong – Paul even had a long conversation with a Redwing Blackbird! Westwood Lake was next on our agenda – would have been easier to find if there hadn’t been lots of roadworks! Lovely walk with lots of others obviously getting their 10,000 steps in!

We finally dropped in on the eagle nest. Thank goodness we did as there was a black bear crossing the road down to the nest. It happened too quickly for me to get a picture – it was definitely not something we expected. As we reached the nest Mum and Dad were returning but they landed a few trees down and had a very loud conversation. One was obviously supposed to have got dinner but neither would give in! One eaglet was enjoying stretching his wings and playing with the wind.

Enough excitement for one day so home for some bacon and eggs – yummy!

Thefirst turtles we’ve seen this yearThe redwing blackbird Paul struck up a conversation withSong sparrowShame we haven’t got smellyvision as this aroma from this bush was incredibleButtertub MarshReally want to live on this road!!!So cute while they’re smallCedar waxwingWestwood LakeBald eagle hunting and resting