Last of the pre-spring colours.

Browns and blues along the Myrt Thompson Trail.

North shore, from the first bridge to the islets.

Up-river from this point, it's mostly fresh water. Here, the tide brings in salt, and there are barnacles growing on the rocks under the bridge.

A hint of red, as the alder catkins start to bloom.

The final island (no bridge to this) and the opening to the Narrows and Quadra Island on the far side.

A Skywatch post.

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Los colores: azul y café, desde el sendero Myrt Thompson.

Primera foto: la vista desde el primer puente, y la ribera al norte. Río arriba de este punto, el agua es fresca, sin sal; agua del río. Pero hasta aquí llega la marea, y debajo del puente bálanos crecen en las rocas.

Segunda foto: sigue el sendero. Hay una tinta de rojo, ya que las inflorencias masculinas (candelillas) están empezando a abrirse.

Tercera foto: vista hacia la boca del río, con la última isla, esta sin puente, y la apertura al Estrecho, con la isla Quadra en el fondo.

Es un post para Skywatch. Haz clik en el enlace para ver cielos alrededor del mundo de esta semana.

Mallards on the estuary

In the light of today's news: fire, floods, war, assassinations, wilful blindness: I almost feel guilty for living where the skies are blue and gentle, where the ducks chatter among the wet grasses and bathe in the blue.

Wish I could pass on some of this peace.

Viewing platform and blind, Campbell River estuary, high tide, three wigeons.

As I passed the couple with their toddler a few minutes later, the kid was calling out, "Duck! Duck! Duck!"

Mallards. These long grasses are never dry except in mid-summer.

I'm not sure what's underneath the grass; rocks, or more probably, small tree stumps. The little strip of land is not accessible except with hip waders, even at low tide. And except in mid-summer, the mallards sleep and rest here.

Mallards and wigeon.

Walking on water.

Itchy, itchy!

Another Skywatch post.