Denman Island Conservation Notes

Monitoring Bald Eagles

2010-07-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

Eagle nest-tree observers, photo by Mike Yip

Denman's Bald eagle nest-tree stewards are monitoring Denman's eagle productivity.

So far, of the 30 nests being monitored, 16 may be actively occupied by juvenile eagles. In July the juveniles start to spend more time standing up near the edge of the nest and thus they are more visible to monitors observing from below. Recently monitoring of shoreline nest-trees was tried from the ocean. Despite very windy weather, 10 nests were examined. The results were very worthwhile. A new nest was identified from the ocean-viewing vantage point. Another nest that was thought to be empty and is very difficult to see from land, was occupied by a juvenile. Overall six juvenile eagles were seen from the ocean. Monitoring will continue through July.

2010-05-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

Butterfly Books featuring Denman's own Taylor's Checkerspot

and illustrating 26 other Denman butterfly species are available at Abraxas or from Jenny Balke

DCA walk to Tree Island

2010-05-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 15 May there was a very low tide and 40 people hiked across the intertidal flats to Tree Island, off the northwest end of Denman.

Wildflowers were everywhere. The dark blue Larkspur Delphinium Mensiesii and the little pink puffs of Sea Blush Plectritis congesta predominate.

In the thick of it!

The Chocolate lilies Fritillaria lanceolata were almost over but there were still a few late specimens to photograph.

We all enjoyed the sunshine and good company.

2010-05-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

More Denman Butterflies!

Anise Swallowtail upper wings & underwingsWestern tailed Blue

another butterfly...

2010-05-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

Forgot this one:

Western Pine Elfin

Butterfly Season on Denman

2010-05-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

Grey HairstreakWestern Spring Azure Western Elfin Two-banded Checkered Skipper Taylor's Checkerspot

These butterflies and others were seen flying in the last couple of days, now that the weather has warmed!

More Flying creatures

2009-07-03T17:35:00.000-07:00

This bug was flying in the forest on the proposed site for the Health Clinic.

Jenny explained to me what it is:

"It is a male common whitetail, the female has black at the wingtips"

This Jenny's picture of the female of the species.

Checkerspots flying

2009-05-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

Taylor's Checkerspot butterflies, an endangered species, have been flying on Denman since the beginning of May. Yesterday I was out looking and encountered just one. Luckily it sat still long enough for a portrait.

All the known breeding areas of the Checkerspot are on private land. Denman Conservancy has a stewardship program, informing landowners of their natural treasures and providing advice about managing the habitat to enhance butterfly survival.

Brant Geese

2009-04-18T20:19:00.001-07:00

Migrating Brant geese feasting on herring roe on Cable Beach on the east side of Denman Island. The flock had 385 individuals.

2009-04-01T13:06:00.001-07:00

Spring IS bursting through!

2009-04-01T12:54:00.000-07:00

What's a little snow? The bulbs don't mind. They keep on growing. The 18th Denman Island Home and Garden Tour is coming soon. Mark your calendars-May 9th and 10th. Tickets go on sale this week. Check out http://www.denmanconservancy.org/gardentour/index.html for more information.

Lindsay-Dickson Mink, Blenny and a Star

2009-03-31T06:56:00.000-07:00

This Mink was running for cover with his/her fresh fish lunch gathered from the pools exposed at low tide. The prey is a Rock blenny (Xiphister mucosus) which lives under rocks in the intertidal and sub-tidal zones.
The low tide also revealed a number of Sunflower stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides). This species is the world's largest starfish and can reach a diameter (tentacle end to tentacle end) of a metre. This specimen is about 0.5 m across.

Hummingbirds Return

2009-03-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

Wednesday (25 March) was a warm sunny day and I was out cleaning up a flower bed. A sharp buzz above alerted me to look up and I caught a glimpse of a bird sweeping through the site where our hummingbird feeder hangs all summer. I went inside immediately to mix up sugar syrup, fill the feeder and put it up.

I did not see the bird return that day but on the 26th he was back to feed, a male Rufus Hummingbird as I expected.

I was immediately prompted to clean and disinfect the (Violet green) swallow nest box, as it should not be long before that family shows up as well.

Orcas in Baynes Sound

2009-03-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

An exciting sight from the Denman ferry last Saturday morning. A pod of Orcas was spotted swimming south down Baynes Sound-coming to feed on spawning herring no doubt. The ship's captain obligingly diverted the ferry to get a closer look-thanks! I have posted other shots at www.denmanlandscape.blogspot.com

Is it Spring Yet??

2009-03-01T10:51:00.000-08:00

A late spring here after unseasonable cold has us all looking forward to the Denman Home and Garden Tour: http://www.denmanconservancy.org/gardentour/ scheduled for Mother's Day Weekend, May 9th and 10th this year.

Immature Bald Eagle on Venison

2009-02-15T19:42:00.000-08:00

As the recent snows melted, two dead young deer were revealed in the snow banks behind my garage. Many of last year's young have not survived this harsh winter. I moved the carcasses into the open and am observing the Bald Eagles from my guest room, Quite a spectacle!

The Trumpeter Swans are Back

2009-02-07T10:25:00.001-08:00

Now that the ice is melting, a few swans have returned to the Denman marshes. This pair was observed on Railway Marsh.

Frosty Web

2009-01-27T16:56:00.001-08:00

Despite the freezing temperatures and fog the spiders are expecting a catch.
This one caught a lot of frost crystals.

Railway Grade Marsh in the Fog

2009-01-23T07:24:00.000-08:00

This shot was taken at the north end of the conservation covenant at the end of the public trail by Northwest Road.

Pickles Marsh

2009-01-17T19:56:00.001-08:00

Now that the ice is going, the Trumpeter swans have arrived on Pickles Marsh and the Bald Eagles are watching!

Arbutus on the Settlement Lands

2009-01-07T17:51:00.001-08:00

The reflection of light from the snow brings out the colour of this young Arbutus. Despite the lack of food due to the snow cover of recent weeks, the deer have not resorted to eating this tree.

Winter Wren Wood in the snow

2009-01-06T12:16:00.000-08:00

Under a blanket of snow, Winter Wren Wood (DCA property on Denman Island) looks very different from its usual mossy green!

The snow is finally melting after more than 3 weeks.

Denman Christmas Bird Count

2008-12-29T16:53:00.000-08:00

Despite the cancellation of the regular Valley Christmas counts due to snow, Denman islanders completed a very successful All Denman bird count on Dec 27th.

Slightly prejudiced I would say the stars of the count looked like this:

But other neat sightings included a flock of Bohemian waxwings..very rare! as well as an American kestrel, Merlin, Savannah sparrow, Ring-necked pheasant, California quail and the previously noted Anna's hummingbirds. 74 species were seen on count day and 5 other species so far in count week. A great count by 14 island birders.

Greater yellow legs on the shoreline.

Winter Snow

2008-12-18T14:52:00.000-08:00

After a couple of good dry snow storms the trees and shrubs are well plastered. This view is looking down BC Hydro's Right of Way to where the power cable comes ashore on Denman Island after crossing Baynes Sound. Denman Conservancy is trying to persuade Hydro and BC Highways to steward the vegetation on the RoW as some Gary Oak ecosystem species are established on this cleared land.

2008-11-25T11:02:00.000-08:00

On October 24th the Baillie Bird Project concluded with a lively "wrap-up" birding discussion attended by young naturalists, mentor birders and parents!

Projects were presented and activities were discussed. Two of the projects that were displayed highlighted nesting birds on Denman (Galen Malthouse) and summer activities of the Marsh wren Cistothorus palustris (Sandra Puga).

Many Denman birders are now assisting with the winter Comox Valley Trumpeter swan Cygnus buccinator count. Swan numbers have been monitored weekly on the many Denman marshes from November through March for over 15 years. The numbers are just beginning to rise. Last week in the valley there were 702 swans (adults - white & juveniles - still grey).

Nov 25, 2008 Denman Is.

We also count the number of Canada geese. So far, while many swans have been seen flying over Denman, our totals have been 4 swans (TRUS) and 82 Canada geese (CAGO). Perhaps today's count will be higher:

2008-11-24T11:23:00.000-08:00

Interesting Butterfly Seen as late as second-last week of October on SE Denman Island!

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui, photographed in October by Galen Malthouse:

Also photographed on north Denman in May:

This butterfly is considered possibly the most widely distributed butterfly in the world – ranging all over the northern hemisphere and parts of the southern. They migrate here, probably from the permanent breeding populations in deserts of S USA and N Mexico. Some years none reach BC and other years, thousands. They are known to reproduce one generation here, with adults emerging in July, but they are not thought to hibernate here.

Also, Anna’s hummingbirds Calypte anna, both male and female, have been spotted regularly this fall on SW Denman. The male was still here on Nov 23rd:

These little birds appear to be expanding their range, happily adapting to gardens. They have been known to occassionally spend winters in SW BC, but this is the first time many of us have seen them here on Denman. Besides their red, irridescent head (when viewed from the front) these males also carry on a buzy chatter while sitting on their perch... Odd to hear a differnt bird song on Denman at this time of year! They have been known to begin nesting in December, so perhaps this fellow is just getting ready!

Winter Storm

2008-11-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

After heavy wind and rain yesterday the skies cleared this morning to reveal a coating of snow well down on the Beaufort Range. In the weeks since the first snow (see October 10 posting) most of the snow had melted away.
Yesterday’s wind blew the last of the leaves off the deciduous trees.

Lindsay-Dickson Covenant in place

2008-10-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

It’s a long winding road!
This is an update of our post of April 16, 2008.

The final step to complete the protection of the Lindsay-Dickson Nature Reserve was the completion of the conservation covenant on the land. The Reserve is owned by the Islands Trust Fund and managed by DCA. Holding a covenant on the land gives us security against the government changing its mind about the value of maintaining this land as a Nature Reserve. DCA started campaigning as soon as it was formed in 1991 for the preservation of this land. Success came in 2001 when the Provincial Government purchased the property to be held by the Islands Trust Fund for conservation.

As part of the Reserve is in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), it was necessary to obtain the approval of the covenant from the Agricultural Land Commission. The Commission, recognizing the special importance of the old growth veterans present in the eastern part of the Reserve, has approved an unrestricted conservation covenant on that part. The conservation covenant over the remainder recognises that agricultural land use is not prohibited within the ALR portion of the Reserve.

On 15 October 2008 the covenants were accepted by the Land Titles Office for registration against the two titles.

More of Tumblewater Meadows

2008-10-15T17:46:00.000-07:00

Blacktail Deer

Fall colour
Mountain Ash (Sorbus sitchensis)

..reflections

Frosty Tumblewater Meadows

2008-10-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 11th October I climbed again to the meadows, this time with Andrew, specifically to take photos. Wednesday's snow lurked in all the shaded places and still waters had ice.

The Yellow Cedar on the left has a girth of 337 cm, i.e. it is just about a meter through (at breast height).

Halloween Wooly bears!

2008-10-12T16:29:00.000-07:00

Spotted Tussock Moth larva (Lophocampa maculata) Yellow wooly bear with white plumes and spots on its back.

Isabella Tiger Moth larva

(Pyrrharctia isabella)

Orange-striped wooly bear.

First Snow in the Beaufort Range

2008-10-10T09:39:00.001-07:00

A dusting of snow on the top of the Beaufort Range fell on October 9. It seems early. In the north-facing gullies, the last of the heavy drifts from last winter have not yet melted. There was a light frost in our garden this morning.

In the picture the location of Tumblewater meadows can be seen in the high valley just right of centre.

The Living Dead

2008-09-28T21:39:00.000-07:00

A glorious fall day. We went walking in the clear-cut lands. At least we enjoyed the views of the mountains and Hornby Island, revealed now that there are so few trees.

This old-growth cedar stump dates from the earlier generation of loggers. Note the springboard notches.

The brush growing in the top started some years ago when the stump was under a canopy of regrowth. It is doing well to have survived the exposure to sunlight and drying winds.

Thursday evening event

2008-09-24T16:35:00.000-07:00

Denman Island Butterfly recognised

2008-09-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

Canada Post is issuing a set of stamps to show endangered species of Canada on October 1.
The Taylor's Checkerspot butterfly is one of the selected species.
The only known population in Canada is established on Denman Island. It was first discovered here on DCA's Settlement Lands and has subsequently been found on our Central Park and the Railway Grade Marsh covenant area. It is also found on some private land on Denman.

Photo by Andrew Fyson

Precious Alpine Meadows

2008-09-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

Sundew Pond in Tumblewater Meadows

Beaufort Range, Vancouver Island

On Saturday (13 September) Robb and I hiked in to Tumblewater Meadows. It is one of the most precious places we know, high up in the Beaufort Range. Every sunny day I can look across the water of Baynes Sound and see the criss-cross of ridges that hide the hanging valley where the Meadows are tucked in.

One disturbing thing about our trip this time was that another patch of clear-cut has been logged, taking the devastation just that little bit closer to the portal of the Meadows. Of course we are only able to reach there on a day trip because we can drive up to 3000 foot elevation on those logging roads.

From the end of the logging road there is no trail, just a route we know that starts with a steep, nasty climbing sidle through the old growth to climb above the waterfalls issuing from the hanging valley. Devil’s Club in the gulleys and the almost impenetrable willows and alder growing in a steep-sided avalanche chute keep the trip interesting. Nevertheless it is all worth while.

The outlet stream never rages in flood, as the snowmelt is gradually released from the sponge-like meadows.

This is privately-owned forest land, but surely the Meadows should be preserved in their natural state rather than trashed to obtain logs for export.

Finding the Trust to Give your Land Away

2008-09-07T14:56:00.000-07:00

There was a neat article in the Globe and Mail this past Saturday. They carried this photo of Inner Island Nature Reserve to illustrate the 'Central Park Vision' of DCA which looks to the conservation of some 800 acres in the center of the island.

see http://www.denmanconservancy.org/centralpark.html for more about the Vision.
For the text of the G & M article go to:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080906.BCLANDTRUST06/TPStory/Environment/

Old Growth Fir

2008-04-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Patti, J and I walked in Lindsay Dickson Forest.

A large part of this Nature Reserve is within the BC Agricultural Land Reserve. The owners of the Reserve (Islands Trust Fund) have agreed to put a conservation covenant on the Reserve, to be held by DCA. However the Agricultural Land Commission do not generally want to have the possibility of future farming restricted in their Reserve lands. In the case of Lindsay Dickson where the best Old Growth forest is in the Agricultural Land Reserve they are willing to allow us to put the conservation covenant on the best of that Old Forest.

We were looking at where the proposed boundary for the covenant would go. In our rambling we found several old Douglas fir giants that we want to keep within the fully protected covenant area.

The picture shows J standing by one of the big ones! Notice the fire scars.

Snakes Alive!

2008-04-08T16:51:00.000-07:00

Apparently it is warm enough for our snake friends to come out! photos 3.30 pm today.

On Spring Break last month my two grandsons (aged 7 and 4) were visiting. They rushed out into the garden to look for snakes and were quite disappointed when I told them the snakes were all still in their winter homes.

We are just Good Friends.

Lovely Light

2008-04-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

I walked down through the woods from NW Road to Village Point. Lovely light with the bright spring sunshine illuminating the emerging leaves of red huckleberry

More signs of Spring

2008-04-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

The salmonberries attract the hummingbirds.

and the woodpeckers (guys & gals) can be heard "drumming" their "space"

Skunk cabbage

2008-04-05T20:42:00.000-07:00

For at least the last 2 weeks, Denman marshes abound with:

Is it Spring Yet?

2008-04-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

On 28 March a late snowfall set our Spring back a little!

The daffodills were all weighed down with the snow but they are much happier now.

Our Hummingbird and Swallows have arrived back, about a week late. The Hummingbird on March 30 and the Swallows a day later. It still seems a couple of degrees too cold for this time of year.