Birds, borders, beach and a beaver

/ January 18, 2012

Stairs down the cliff, over the railway, to the beach


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Often on weekend days we walk to the beach and around the peninsula. It is a 1.5 to 2.5 hour trip, depending on the diversions.

Count 19 eagles in this photo

There are frequently bald eagles around. They are the official national bird of the United States, where they’ve been an endangered species, although the population has recovered considerably. They have been plentiful in Canada and Alaska. However, it seems that in recent years, the eagle count in Squamish has been declining.

We live close to the USA-Canada border. It’s about 10 km by car, but only 1 or 2 km as the crow eagle flies.

Yesterday at the beach we saw a couple of eagles harassing some seagulls. Within minutes, dozens of bald eagles had appeared and treated us to a display of swooping and gliding – they looked like an extended family on an outing to teach the juveniles the tricks of the trade.

They swooped and dived and raced about like jet fighters. Then they disappeared, perhaps to an air force base south of the border, where they have official status.

These might be Northern Pintails.

The walk continued. There is always much to watch, at any time of the year.

There is a long walking path along the ocean.

In winter, leashed dogs are allowed.

Joggers jog by, sailors sail, parasailors capsize, ducks of all stripes show their best sides ends.

Great Blue Heron

Yesterday, we saw a first for me – Canada’s national animal, the BEAVER. Sorry folks, no photo, since my phone had died.

An unmistakable beaver pulled him/herself up on the bank, gnawed at a stick, and dragged it down under the edge of the slough. Quite a crowd of us gathered 20 feet away to watch. There was no beaver dam, but clearly it had a den under the side of the slough.

We went back today with a fully-charged camera, but the tide was higher, so you can’t really see the entrance. As you can see, we had a dusting of snow overnight. Evidence of beavers has long been nearby – I just never thought they really still existed in the area.

I really enjoyed seeing that guy – so CANADIAN, boring and plodding – on the same day as we saw such a good show by the dramatic eagles. I can live with that. The world needs boring and plodding as well as sharp-eyed and dramatic.

There is a move afoot to change the national symbol from the beaver to a polar bear or something else. I say NO, NO, NO. As my daughter would say, “Beavers are cool.”

Entrance to the den was below the water line. We watched from the bank at the top of the photo.

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3 thoughts on “Birds, borders, beach and a beaver”

  1. The Canadian-ness of this blog (beavers, polar bears, et al) is completely contradicted by the jarring sight of a bare-armed sailor in January. Here, in Real Canada, we have had to empty our boat of anything that can freeze, before having it hauled out just in advance of the crushing grip of the winter ice. Since its cradle lifts it high enough to put the cabin about 12 feet above ground level, we hope not to lose track of it even after heavy snowfalls.

  2. Hahahaha. We are enjoying temperatures similar to yours today (-8 or -9 C). It adds an element of danger to our otherwise boring lives. I am very impressed to hear the stories of your hardship as you battle the elements and drive your boat down the streets of Toronto, dodging polar bears, et al.

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