The Day I Got Roasted by Blackbirds and Ghosted by Osprey - May 1, 2026

Finnegan, my Aunt, and I piled into the car Friday morning and headed for the Cowichan Estuary Trail.

I had one goal: Photograph osprey building a nest. Simple. Focused. Reasonable. The estuary had other plans.

It was one of those perfect days, sunny, warm, a light breeze. Not too hot. Not too cold. Basically, a “main character energy” kind of morning.

The trail is about 4 km round trip……but that estimate does not account for:

• Cat stops

• Sniff breaks

• “Wait, what’s THAT?” pauses

• Existential bush investigations

So naturally, Finnegan went into his backpack for the first stretch so we could make actual progress.

Once he was out, harnessed and leashed, it was game on.

The Estuary Welcoming Committee (A Bit Aggressive, Honestly)

Within minutes, we were being announced by the local Red-winged Blackbird choir.

And by choir, I mean: LOUD. JUDGY. PERSONAL.

They followed us. They sang at us. They absolutely had opinions about Finnegan.

Did You Know?

Red-winged blackbirds are extremely territorial during breeding season and will defend their space like tiny, winged security guards.

Spiritual-ish Translation:

“Stay in your lane. Protect your space. Also… we saw you coming.”

Enter: The Estuary Bouncer

Next up, perched like it owned the trail, a Spotted Towhee.

Red eyes.

Spotted back.

Zero fear.

Honestly? It looked like it was about to check my ID.

I love these birds. They don’t just exist, they arrive.

Did You Know?

Spotted Towhees scratch noisily in leaf litter to find food, often kicking debris behind them like tiny backyard excavators.

Spiritual-ish Translation:

“Dig a little deeper. Also, stop overthinking. And maybe chill.”

Herons… Everywhere (I Was Not Emotionally Ready)

Then suddenly… the estuary opened up.

And there they were. So many Great Blue Heron I lost count somewhere around ten.

Fishing. Flying. Standing like ancient statues judging humanity.

I haven’t seen that many in one place in a long time, and I just stood there like:

“…is this real life?”

Spiritual-ish Translation:

“Stop rushing. Be still. Your moment will come. Also… breathe.”

Did You Know?

Great Blue Herons can stand completely still for long periods, waiting for prey—patience is literally their hunting strategy.

THE MOMENT (Cue Me Internally Screaming)

We made it to the end of the trail, slightly sun-toasted and still osprey-less…

…and then—

A Killdeer.

A mama.

On a nest.

With FOUR eggs.

Just… out in the open.

At first, I didn’t even see her. Then she moved and I was like: “Oh. OH. OMG. ABORT MISSION. BACK UP.”

I slowly stepped back, and she settled again, alert, watching, but calm. And then we just… looked at each other. No panic. No drama.

Just mutual respect.

Did You Know?

Killdeer lay their eggs directly on the ground, relying on camouflage instead of hidden nests and will fake an injury (the “broken wing act”) to distract predators.

Spiritual-ish Translation:

“Trust your instincts. You are more protected than you think. Also… not everything needs to be hidden to be safe.”

That moment?

Yeah.

I’m keeping that one forever.

Plot Twist: The Estuary Was Still Not Done With Me

Because apparently the day wasn’t already showing off enough…

We drove to another section and were immediately greeted by a juvenile Bald Eagle soaring overhead like it owned the sky.

Did You Know?

Juvenile bald eagles don’t get their iconic white head and tail until they’re about 4–5 years old.

Spiritual-ish Translation:

“You don’t have to look ‘finished’ to be powerful. You’re still becoming.”

Nearby, Tree Swallow were perched on nesting boxes: Males shimmering turquoise in the sun, Females glowing in soft, glittery brown

Basically: understated vs. flashy, both stunning.

Did You Know?

Tree Swallows are aerial insect hunters and can travel long distances while feeding mid-air.

Spiritual-ish Translation:

“Adapt. Flow. And yes, you can absolutely thrive in changing environments.”

And Then… The Mudflat Magic

Another killdeer wandered the mudflat, keeping one eye on me and one eye on… everything else.

At one point, it flashed its tail like: “LOOK AT ME. BUT ALSO DON’T.”

I laughed out loud.

Then… the final surprise.

Sandpipers.

Dozens.

My first real encounter with them.

Likely Least Sandpiper, tiny, perfectly camouflaged, nearly invisible unless they moved. Just blending into the mud like tiny ninjas.

Did You Know?

Sandpipers rely heavily on camouflage and group behavior to avoid predators—blending in is their superpower.

Spiritual-ish Translation:

“Not every moment is for being seen. Sometimes survival is in stillness.”

When the eagle flew overhead?

They flattened themselves into the mud. Gone. Just… gone.

All of this, every bird, every moment happened right here in an urban estuary, not somewhere far away, and that stayed with me. It’s proof that wildlife and people can coexist, but only if we choose to make space, slow down, and respect the lives unfolding around us. And when we do, something shifts, not just out there, but inside us too. The noise quiets. The mind softens. The world feels a little less heavy. I went out looking for osprey and didn’t see a single one, but somehow, I came back with something far more meaningful. Funny how nature works like that, it gives you exactly what you didn’t know you needed.

Bonus Moment

On the way back, I spotted a little black slug attempting what can only be described as the slowest, most questionable life decision, crossing a bird-filled trail. I thanked him for the photo, suggested he might want to pick up the pace (for survival reasons), wished him luck on his journey… and carried on, hoping he didn’t become someone’s lunch.