a window into my week

Between needing to do this and needing to do that and having to be here and having to be there, I made sure to get my nature happy fix in amongst all those comings and goings.  I also included time for crafting too, that is my go to place when I need calm and quiet.  On my first out & about since returning from Victoria, the initial sight I saw other than the gorgeous autumn colours was a Red-breasted Nuthatch.  I was in another zone and was startled back to reality with the "yank yank yank yank yank" in my ear! I like to think that was my welcome!  

I was able to make it to two different locations on two different days. These shots are from both parks.  The photos were also taken before the mini blizzard hit with wind, rain and then snow.  I will say this was the calm before the storm. The colours were easy to capture yet the wildlife was another story. While the colours popped the wildlife did not!  They did though in personality just not in visibility.

a Mountain Cottontail

banded Black-capped Chickadee

I know a little bit about banding.  I referred to the book I bought in Victoria last week called "The Birding Dictionary", this is a screen shot from the book. Banding peaked my interest since Kaydee, the Big Bear Bald Eagle, has come into the picture. I also checked the Government of Canada Bird Banding Program website to learn even more, especially for here in Canada.

male House Finch

This is one of five Muskrats that I saw. 

It's a busy time of year for them as they prepare for winter. 

Dark-eyed Junco

White-tailed Deer

White-breasted Nuthatch

Northern Flicker

This Juvenile Bald Eagle was massive! I was there before it was. While listening for and watching for other birds, this big brown thing swooped in over my head and landed in the tree. I wonder if this could be one of the Carburn babies born in the spring. The lighting was not good so it looks more red than it actually was. I watched for about twenty minutes from various angles as it primped and preened.   

With Hallowe'en around the corner, I created another water colour painting of that Red-breasted Nuthatch whose welcome startled me. It's still peaking out from the tree, while it is blending into a full moon, as it yank yank yank yank's out a loud BOO!  

This is the photo I used as a reference for both paintings. 

Victoria British Columbia October 16, 2026

 I opened the curtains this morning and saw a cotton candy sky as a good morning greeting!  

Why not have an Aperol Spritz as another good morning greeting!

It was calm as the city began to wake up.

With no need to be somewhere at a certain time, I let every distraction distract me. The Songhees Walkway was busy with walkers like me and others commuting to work, or heading to a ferry or to a seaplane.  The colours caught my eye as did everything else.

The entire walkway to Esquimalt held some kind of beauty 

worthy enough to stop and give admiration. 

 Birds were in abundance!  

I spent lots of time being a birder! 

Here are some of my favourite sightings.  

Red-tailed Hawk

Dark-eyed Junco

Anna’s Hummingbird 

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Close to three hours later, I arrived back to downtown Victoria.  As if I had not walked enough, it was time to stroll the shopping area. This sign caught my attention! I entered the store and came out with…..

…..these items! I purchased my first ever quill, some real watercolour paper and paints made in Canada.  I would like to create a watercolour painting from one of my photos from this trip, using these items.  

As if I had not walked enough, after going back to my home away from home to drop off stuff and freshen up, I headed back out for a sunset stroll. 

 view from my balcony at day’s end

Victoria British Columbia Evening October 15, 2026

A little while before sunset, I headed out for a stroll around the Inner Harbour.  It was still very warm with a slight breeze. The lighting was gorgeous and was a photograph’s dream. Many people were out and about admiring the sights.  The Pickle Boats are bedded down for the night. 

 everything was glowing golden

even this Golden-crowned Sparrow was looking extra golden

a metal cutout of an Oak Tree leaf 

they were just rowing out so would be returning in the dark

Parliament Building

moon over the Parliament Building

The Empress

 

Victoria British Columbia October 15, 2026

Oh the distractions on the way to another Whale Watching adventure!

This time I picked a different company to go Whale Watching with.  We would be heading to the same area as we did on Tuesday but today the weather was forecasted to be great to see scenery near and far.  The boat was not a zodiac yet it was not large.  I really wanted to see the Salish Sea scenery more so than even seeing whales.

view as we left Victoria behind

Aahhh scenery!  Mount Baker!

This was already becoming wildly wonderful!  Being close to the water, feeling the spray, seeing scenery and this sail boat, I was loving every second.

Loving every second…my hair just happened to create an “L” the second the photo was taken!

view towards the Olympic Mountains in Washington

Washington was to our left and British Columbia to our right!

It was now that we began to see the Orca Whales.  I watched the whales more than I tried to capture images. The water was not calm, it took effort to stay balanced and still.  There was not the opportunity to move around much.  These are three of the many photos I took.  I also included three photos from a selection provided to us by the Naturalist/Photographer on board.

As we headed towards the Race Rock Eco Reserve, I got back into admiring the scenery,

Arriving at the Race Rock Eco Reserve

just a few of the hundreds of Sea Lions

a view looking back with the Olympic Mountains in the background

Mount Baker, a Cargo Ship, a Sightseeing Zodiac

We arrived back to the dock under a blue sky with the sun beating down. The load of layers I had on were now not necessary.  After a quick delayer, I headed back to my home away from home all the while not being distracted at all, I was reliving that wildly wonderful adventure and permanently planting memories!

Where we went!