A Slow-Paced Adventure with Finnegan: Snails, Slugs, Mushrooms, and One Very Offended Heron - May 16, 2026

Today, Finnegan and I headed out toward East Sooke Regional Park with one main mission in mind: turkey vultures.

Did we find them?

Nope.

Not a single turkey vulture decided to grace us with its dramatic presence other than insanley high in the sky. Apparently, they did not receive my photography schedule.

But as nature often does, it had other plans for us.

Before heading deep into the woods, we stopped at Spirit Bay Marina, where we spotted a Great Blue Heron grazing along the shoreline. He looked peaceful and elegant, doing his very serious heron business by the water.

Naturally, I thought, Oh, what a beautiful photo opportunity.

The heron thought otherwise.

As I approached, he gave me the most unimpressed side-eye imaginable before lifting off from the shoreline.

Sorry, Mr. Heron. I promise I was only admiring you.

From there, Finnegan and I continued into the woods, where our adventure took on a very different pace. And by different pace, I mean snail pace.

Literally.

Thanks to Finn’s current adventure-cat walking style, which involves stopping often, thinking deeply, sniffing thoroughly, and occasionally refusing to move, we were forced to slow right down. And let me tell you, it's frustrating to me to slow down so this is practice for me as much as it is for him. And because we slowed down, we noticed things I probably would have walked right past.

First up: an actual snail.

This was the first time I had ever seen a snail in person, and honestly, I was delighted. He was the colour of old brick, with rich rust reds and browns that made him look like a tiny forest jewel slowly making his way through the world.

Very cool little guy.

As we moved farther down the path, we started seeing slugs everywhere. Slugs on the trail, slugs tucked into damp corners, slugs moving through the forest floor like tiny, determined explorers. It was one of those reminders that when you slow down, the world gets fuller. There is always more life happening than we realize.

Then came one of my favourite finds of the morning: beautiful cream-coloured mushrooms growing on a log. They were soft and delicate against the rough wood, the kind of little scene that feels almost hidden until you stop long enough to see it.

And really, I have Finnegan to thank for that.

If he had been marching along like a seasoned trail cat, I might have missed them completely. But Finn is still learning this whole adventure-cat lifestyle, and his slow, curious pace gave me the chance to notice the small wonders tucked into the woods.

We also spotted a robin having breakfast, tugging a worm from the ground like a little woodland champion.

I guess the early bird really does get the worm.

LOL.

As we continued along the trail, still hoping for some elusive birds, the forest offered us colour instead.

Bright green ferns stretched along the path, glowing in the sunlight.

Yellow flowers popped against the greenery like little bursts of sunshine. The whole trail felt alive in that quiet, gentle way forests do when you stop trying to rush through them.

And Finnegan? He was a trouper.

We are still working on walking consistently and not stopping at every single interesting smell, fence, rock, leaf, shadow, and mysterious forest sound. He is getting there, but he definitely has a ways to go.

Good thing we have time.

When he wasn’t walking, he was happily riding high on my backpack like a tiny cowboy on a horse, surveying the trail from his royal perch. Other times, he hopped up on fences to inspect the world around him, taking everything in with that wide-eyed kitten curiosity that makes every outing feel brand new.

The sun was out in full force, but thankfully it wasn’t too hot. A soft breeze moved through the trees, keeping the walk comfortable and fresh. It was one of those beautiful spring days where the light feels golden, the forest smells alive, and even a slow walk feels like exactly what your heart needed.

We may not have found turkey vultures.

But we found a side-eyeing heron, a brick-coloured snail, a parade of slugs, creamy mushrooms on a log, a robin with his morning worm, bright ferns, yellow flowers, and another little chapter in Finnegan’s adventure-cat training.

After all of that exploring, Finn decided the front seat of the car was the perfect place to stretch out and recover from his very important wilderness duties.

Honestly, same.

Some adventures are not about finding what you set out to find. Sometimes they are about slowing down enough to see what was waiting there all along.

Bonus Bird Moment: The Quail Side-Eye

And just when I thought the birds were going to remain mostly elusive for the day, we had one bonus surprise: a male California Quail.

He was on high alert and moving fast, so I barely spotted him at first. But when I did, he froze just long enough to give me, you guessed it, the side-eye.

Apparently, the wildlife memo of the day was: look suspiciously at Jennifer, then leave immediately. Within seconds, he scampered away, disappearing back into the brush like a tiny feathered secret.

It was quick, funny, and completely delightful — one of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it wildlife moments that still somehow makes the whole adventure feel extra special.