golden eagle skirt mtn

golden eagle skirt mtn, originally uploaded by robinnestridge.

from the top of skirt mtn, the golden sailed past below me

cooper's hawk

cooper's hawk, originally uploaded by robinnestridge.

Arbutus trail to Railway lookout

some very tall trees along the goldstream river

I took a preliminary hike from Ma millers pub through Goldstream park  yesterday. I was checking on the distance and time it will take, on the CBC this dec 18th to get, to the lookout on the E&N railway line for daybreak. very quiet on the bird front, less than count day last year.

after following the Arbutus ridge trail for about 20 minutes I crossed over to the railway
track and followed that out
to the lookout where you can see across the valley to Mt Finlayson and Skirt mtn.
About  15 minutes after I got there a Golden Eagle finally appeared and crossed the valley to soar through the trees on the Skirt ridge. it weaved in and out of the tree tops for several minutes and then climbed up above the ridge to slowly dive south towards Langford lake area.

 

Golden Eagle

While the eagle was gliding south the E&N railway bud car came along the tracks below me. the daily passenger train to courtenay.

Arbutus ridge trail 

Back at the campground gate there was bald eagle giving me the "Once over". from a snag over the road