Urban Wildlife Chronicles: A Bee Scolded Me, an Otter Posed, and an Eagle Delivered (Part 1) - April 25, 2026

Finnegan and I set out on a simple adventure on Saturday. The sun was shining, the sky was bright blue, and our only intention was to spend time together and notice the wild around us.

The first thing we noticed was that the bumble bees are back. They were bumbling around, moving from place to place like tiny workers on a mission. Finnegan, being curious, accidentally swatted one and the bee was not happy. She hovered near me as if to give me a talking to before flying off. I apologized profusely on behalf of my kitten and we continued on.

Did you know?

Bumble bees are incredibly important pollinators and can even “buzz pollinate,” vibrating flowers to release pollen something many other bees can’t do.

Of course, I had to stop and photograph Finnegan, who was absolutely rocking his halter like a pro. He walked along with this mix of curiosity and confidence that made me laugh. It honestly melts my heart getting to share these adventures with him, seeing the world through his eyes makes everything feel a little more magical.

Not long after, we spotted a black slug slowly crossing our path. As soon as it sensed us, it curled up tightly to protect itself. We paused, gave it space, and waved goodbye before continuing on.

Did you know?

Slugs play an important role in ecosystems by breaking down organic matter like leaves and fungi, helping recycle nutrients back into the soil.

As we walked, we started noticing all the small details lichen covering rocks, fresh green leaves pushing out, and bright pink flowers blooming. The flowers were incredibly vibrant and smelled absolutely divine. It felt like everything was waking up again.

By lunch time, I dropped Finn off and he curled up in his favorite spot while I headed back out to a marina. And look what I was greeted with....

When I reached the marina, the water was completely still, reflecting the boats like a mirror.

I wandered along the dock and came across a group of purple martins flying above, clearly in the middle of their mating dance. One female had three males circling her, each trying to impress her. I couldn’t help but laugh and admire how she handled it. I wasn’t able to capture their deep purple color because they were silhouetted against the sky, but just watching them was incredible.

She stuck her chest out and popped her tail feathers up like, “Just so we’re clear, I’m the main character here.”

Did you know?

Purple martins are the largest swallows in North America and rely almost entirely on humans for nesting sites in many areas, often using specially provided birdhouses.

At one point, a purple finch landed close by and tilted her head, fixing me with the cutest little “Whatcha looking at?” expression. It was such a brief moment, but one of those tiny interactions that makes you feel seen right back.

I moved further along the marina when a gentleman I had seen earlier waved me down frantically.

When I got there, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, three harbour seals and three river otters all gathered near the fish cleaning station. Someone was cleaning fish and tossing scraps into the water, and all six animals were taking advantage of the easy meal.

Did you know?

Harbour seals can hold their breath for up to 30 minutes and often sleep floating in the water in a position called “bottling,” where they look like little buoys.

It was such a magical moment to witness. There was no chaos, just a quiet understanding as they shared the space and respected each other. The seals floated calmly, popping their heads up like curious little potatoes, while the otters moved quickly and playfully through the water.

Did you know?

River otters have incredibly dense fur—up to a million hairs per square inch—which keeps them warm in cold water.

At one point, one of the otters climbed up onto the dock right near me. It rolled around and rubbed itself along the wood, drying off before slipping back into the water. For a moment, it felt like it was just me and the otter. It’s hard to describe that feeling, but whenever I’m photographing wildlife, I feel completely calm and present. Everything else fades away.

He climbed up onto the dock and covered his face, and I couldn’t help but wonder… was the sun too bright, or was he just over the paparazzi moment?

Later that evening, after taking a break, I headed back out again. And somehow, it got even better.

I came across another otter and then spotted a massive bald eagle waiting nearby for its turn at the fish. A boat launched from the ramp, which caused the otter to grab what it could and take off, leaving the perfect opportunity for the eagle to move in.

I was only a few feet away as they both ate.

The otter happily munched on his fish, eyes squeezed shut against the bright sunset, like he was thinking, “I may be blinded, but I am not letting go of dinner.”

Seeing a river otter is a reminder to stay curious, to move with ease, and to find joy in the simple moments along the way.

The bald eagle stood against the glow of the setting sun, almost unreal in that golden light. His feathers were a deep chocolate brown, his white head glowing softly, and his yellow eyes sharp and steady. In that moment, I was in complete awe, completely still, just taking him in. There was something so powerful and magical about him, like I was witnessing a piece of the wild exactly as it’s meant to be.

Seeing an eagle is a reminder to rise above the noise of everyday life, to trust your perspective, and to move forward with strength and clarity.

The eagle would glance up at me every so often but stayed focused on its meal. Then, to make the moment even more unbelievable, a crow joined in and the two of them shared the scraps. At one point, they both looked up at me at the same time, as if to say, “What? Haven’t you ever seen a crow and an eagle share a meal?”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Did you know?

Crows are highly intelligent birds known to recognize human faces and even remember people who have treated them well, or not so well.

I spent time filming and photographing, but eventually I put my camera down and just watched. Sometimes the best part of these moments is simply being there and taking it all in.

It was an unbelievable evening.

And somehow… we weren’t done yet.

Just before I left, guess who showed up to join the show?

But you’ll have to tune in for Part 2 to see what else I found.