Well , sorry folks you must be getting really fed up hearing this but we’ve had another wonderful day. Started off at Morden Historic Colliery park. Spent ages looking to see where the shouting of baby birds was coming from and eventually realised there was a sapsucker nest in a dead tree. We then watched the mum and dad feed the babies – we must have been there about half an hour and it didn’t matter how many times the mum and dad returned those babies didn’t stop shouting at all!

Then went to Jack Biggs Park. It’s a beautiful walk around a peninsula and we saw herons, a junco having a bath (he kept putting his head above the rim to see no-one was looking!) and finally lots of hummingbirds. We spent ages watching them as I was determined to get a pic. They sounded as if they were arguing and seemed to have a nest at the back of us. They kept flying straight up into the air and then diving down – not sure why – and, at one point, two of them flew straight at us. Eventually managed to get those elusive photos! Also saw them divebombing a sparrow just like the crows divebombing Eagles.

Decided it must be beer o’clock by then and so drove down to the harbour. One of the schools must have been having a prom as there were crowds of youngsters all dressed up and having their photos taken. We went to Trollers on the harbour for fish and chips – maybe the best I’ve ever tasted but unfortunately they weren’t licensed so beers had to wait.

Popped into seethe eagle family on the way home and saw mum feeding junior again. A perfect day.

The weather forecasters promised us today that the weather would be lousy – heavy rain and storms.  Oh good we thought – a day off. No, did n’t rain until about 3pm so made the most of the day and visited Top Bridge park where we walked along the river and met a couple from Victoria. The people are so friendly here – we chatted for ages. Mind you, the downside of that is that yesterday when we were watching the eagle family , a bloke came up to us, started talking and wouldn’t go away!  Walking along the river we saw a group of swallows swooping over the water. Two of them came over and perched on a branch. They then proceeded to spruce themselves up for their photo shoot. Unfortunately as one preened the other stood still and then the opposite. While I was waiting for them both to look at the camera at the same time a Robin obviously got fed up waiting for his turn and chased them off. If you look at the Robin you’ll probably agree that he could have done with sprucing himself up first! We then popped in on the Eagles and managed to catch another one sitting on the shoreline.

Aren’t smartphones great – got an e-mail yesterday morning telling me about a Simply Red concert at the O2 and managed to book it. Then found it was the same weekend as Rod Stewart is on at the O2 so we’ll be able to see them both. Result!

Decided to try Westwood Lake again as the tree cutting had finished. It chucked it down on the way there and was raining most of the time we were walking but it wasn’t too bad and we were under a canopy of trees most of the time. As we were so close dcoided to attempt the Wildlife Sanctuary again and it had stopped raining so we didn’t get soaked like the last time. Didn’t see an awful lot but it was a lovely walk. Finally decided to pop in to see the eagle family before making for home. Apparently it’s going to be storms all day tomorrow so we may get a day off!

Supposed to rain today so decided to do some walks around Parkesville. First of all had to do some Geocaching so that we could leave a track able we had picked up with Becca in Yorkshire. We found it in the Parkesville estuary and also managed to hear a bald eagle, and see a hummingbird. Then went to the Englishman River Falls – beautiful, although not as spectacular as the Helmcken Falls but then they haven’t had very much rain. Saw a dipper. Finally went to Englishman River Provincial Park where we saw a couple of frogs and a merganser duck. 

Forgot to tell,you that yesterday we heard a loud cawing but couldn’t find what it was. Eventually realised that it was a squirrel although we couldn’t see it. However Paulwent and stood under a tree and the squirrel kept throwing things down on him. Still couldn’t see him but we definitely knew he was there!

We started off by going to Nanaimo and the Cable Bay trail. Lovely day again and beautiful views over to Nanaimo and Gabriola Island. On the way back spent a while watching an otter and then nearly stood on a snake – yet again! It was a big one this time. Also saw more pileated woodpeckers with their babies. Nearly got a great pic but a very friendly dog had to come up and say hello so that was that! 

Then decided it was beer o’clock and so we stopped at the harbour and had some refreshment. I had a chicken, Brie and peanut burger – very nice!

We rounded the day off with a visit to the Eagles. Both mum and dad were there and the crow was causing problems yet again so dad decided to fly off and take the crow with him. While he was away, mum flew off, picked up something out of the sea, returned and spent a while feeding junior. While she was busy we were lucky enough to see a couple of seals playing just offshore. 

Last night Paul saw a hummingbird fly across our balcony and so we have put out a bowl of sugar water and are hoping he comes back to visit!

Really hot again today so decided to drive over to Port Alberni and walk along the creek. Glorious but no wildlife around until we started back when we were inundated with woodpeckers – mainly mums with babies. They were everywhere. We then had to have a drink as we were so hot and so popped into the Clam Bucket and had a blt and a couple of beers. Very welcome.

Before heading for home we went to visit the eagle family as we hadn’t seen them for a few days. At first only the baby was there but mum soon appeared. As soon as she landed a crow started divebombing her and kept it up for at least quarter of an hour. Mum didn’t seem bothered in the least!

Very hot today so decided to walk a trail beside a creek. It was beautiful and we saw a hummingbird, dippers and lots of huge trees. We then went on the southern loop of the Lighthouse Trail. Unfortunately we had a bit of trouble finding the correct path at the end of the loop so, until right at the end we didn’t know if we were on the right path – a little stressful, especially as we’d already been walking for five hours! The best bit was the constant sound of baby birds shouting for their mum to feed them!

Really hot today so didn’t go too far. The farmer’s market was on in Qualicum so popped in there before having an iced latte at Leftie’s. Then popped into our favourite shop before driving to the Lighthouse Trail where we again had to be careful where we put our feet – another snake and, unfortunately a baby black squirrel that must have been dropped by a predator. It was still alive but I’m afraid I just couldn’t bring myself to finish it off. I’ll be having nightmares about it for weeks! We felt in the need of liquid refreshment after that and so popped into the pub for another flight of beers and some kettle chips with dip. We expected the usual bought in crisps but they had been cooked on the premises and still warm – delicious. Added to that the chef did what he does every day and threw some pieces of meat for the Eagles so we were treated to an aerial display.

Another lovely day.

Decided to take the ferry and spend the day on Newcastle Island – a marine park just off Nanaimo. I know you will be thinking what a wonderful, stress free holiday we’re having but going for a walk is not as easy as it seems. 

1. There are lots of ups.

2. There are lots of downs.

3. You have to keep your eyes on the path, looking for anything likely to trip you up, such as rocks and tree roots.

4. You need to keep your eyes down looking for snakes.

5. You need to keep looking around you for animals such as deer, raccoons, bears.

6. You need to keep looking up above you for birds such as woodpeckers, bald eagles, owls and Hawks.

 See – very stressful!

Anyway we had a lovely, if not altogether stress less day. We saw bald eagles on the beach and flying around our heads. We saw a raccoon playing hide and seek with us and then shoot up a tree and spruce himself up before letting me take his photo. I nearly trod on a snake – again!!

We also ended up climbing another cliff – I do feel that we are too old to keep climbing these vertical cliffs. Luckily the trees did have roots for us to cling onto.

Oh yes – Paul’s favourite bit of the day – we went passed a photographer taking pics of a nude young lady! He couldn’t get over the size of her butt – maybe because it was pointed directly at him!!

Weather a little better today so decided to visit the Eagles nest and then another new park (this time we both had our raincoats with us) – Buttertub Marsh. Very different but just as fascinating and saw plenty of different birds. Also visited Pipers Lagoon for the first time this holiday – definitely worth it as we saw snakes (actually I almost trod on one which nearly gave me a heart attack!), and a bald eagle trying to ignore a rook which kept dive bombing him.

Finished the day with another trip to the Eagles nest. This morning the mother was right in the nest, which we’d not seen before – unless they were sitting on eggs. Tonight the mum was back sitting at the side of the nest and, again, the dad was nowhere to be seen. Just as we were thinking of leaving the mum must have spotted something in the water as she flew over us, dived, picked something up, flew back to the nest and fed the chick. We then had our first glimpse of the baby – breathtaking! 

Now sitting back with a blonde Guinness and about to have tea. A perfect day.