Ah, a miracle: Blue Sky!
Fisherman's Wharf in Cowichan Bay bathed in afternoon sun.
These little fellows live here year round. They need to be rather circumspect, and stick close to the underbrush, as Baldheaded Eagles like to snack on them, rain or shine.
Hundreds of these visiting ducks graze on the near-by golf course. They enjoy hanging around the water traps, wander the fairways and fan onto the greens. Some golfers feed the endearing little waddlers, others get rather tee-ed off..
Boater's friends - year round. They are all trained at gull fledgling school to squirt onto clean decks from the lofty heights of any mast, any mast - gull proofed or not.
Transients, taking a rest between 'going out for dinner' bouts, and giving the neighbourhood a short silent respite from their lively barking conversations. Lots to eat for them right now, as spawning salmon are not only plentyful, but also on the verge of gilling their last breath at the end of their mating season.
Our large flocks of swans are back in the Cowichan River Estuary. They probably supplement their diet with left-overs from corn crops, which cover a large part of the estuary during summer and fall.
Our resourceful sparrow population is taking advantage of an outdoor offering of 'Eco-Feed' at the local grocery store, smartly avoiding the 'pay-before-consumption' rule.
Potential tenant for an 'inviting' boat tied up to a favourite sea lion hang out.
The freshly cleared skies allow a rare glimpse of snow covered Mount Baker.
