elle, glad to hear the nests are both intact and that you saw both Ma & Pa.

Debbie, yes we finally had a lovely sunny day yesterday; unfortunatey for me I had some business to tend to and just couldn't fit in a visit to Pat Bay Hopefully this afternoon

Yes that old nest for all its faults and the old dead tree where it is situated are both incredible survivors. I know Ma and Pa have weathered many wind, rain and snow storms in the past but I still worry about them.
Here is a short rather poorly edited video ) I am afraid. I chopped off the end bit because it was shot into the sun and is just dark silhouettes. I was also hoping to get some nice stills from the video itself to freeze frame some of Pa's amazing acrobatics but they are too blurred because of the speed of his actions!
Ah well. It is what it is. Here is our inimitable Pa in all his glory. Hope you enjoy.

PA AT PAY BAY JANUARY 26-12

I'll hopefully be back with some stills of Big Mama. She is one big girl! Of course she showed up just as we were all packed up and ready to go. Camera in the back of the car etc and key in the ignition. I do believe Pa is in courting mode as he seemed to want to please her with his flying demonstrations and she regally watched and waited on a branch to see if he would bring here an edible prezzie from the beach.

Kay I did half expect to see you yesterday. I hope you can make it today. I don't know where they were hiding for so long yesterday but it took them a good 2 hours to make their presence known.

Thanks Tucker/Debbie.

Just one ho hum picture of Ma trying to hide behind a branch
Lovely warm light at the end of the afternoon.

Oh how magnificent Pa is Elle. Ma is, of course, beautiful! Thank you. You are so lucky to see them and
we are lucky to have you to bring them to us!

I went to see Ma & Pa today. I didn't see them anywhere the first time I drove around Pat Bay; when I came back from the Market Ma was perched in a tree near the new nest tree and Pa was perched in a tree down by the Pat Bay Trading Post. The traffic control lady said Ma was there with Pa shortly before I arrived so I'm guessing she had just arrived near their nest shortly before I drove by. Here are a few pics of Pa. They were hard to get because he was hiding behind the branches. A cute little bunny came hopping down the driveway to greet me and when I started to walk down the driveway it followed me. I'll post a pic on the thread I use for my wildlife photos (link in signature line). Click pics bigger.

Elle, Sassy, ty so much for the beautiful new additional scaps, video for us, love them very much.

For all the photos of Ma and Pa. Amazing how we all miss this beautiful pair of eagles!
Awesome photos!

I am posting this article that was in this morning's news. It shocked me to the core at first ,of course, and then I realised I had actually been to the beach on Thursday, the day after this spill is reported to have occured, and there was no visual evidence or scent of an oil spill. I actually took a video of the waterfall that flows down from the ditch to the beach and into the ocean. I will upload it now and post it.
I do not see any cause for alarm and wanted to let you all know that ASAP to set your minds at ease in case you read about this and are worried. I'll keep you updated.


Diesel spill sparks fears for Patricia Bay wildlife




By Judith Lavoie, timescolonist.com January 27, 2012
.Photograph by: ., timescolonist.comBiologists are watching closely to see if fish or wildlife have been affected by a spill of up to 800 litres of diesel oil from a leaking generator into a fast-moving drainage ditch that runs into Patricia Bay.

The leak came from a backup generator at Epicure Selections, a spice and cookware company on West Saanich Road, but another company that installed a faulty part in the generator is financially responsible for the clean-up, Epicure spokeswoman Erin Acton said. "We had a part fail in the generator and Finning, the company that supplied the part, is responsible for assessments and mitigation," Acton said.

The generator was fired up last Sunday and the Environment Ministry was called as soon as the leak was noticed Tuesday, Acton said.

Ministry spokesman Suntanu Dalal said booms and pads were placed at several places between the spill site and Patricia Bay on Wednesday, and more remedial work was scheduled for Friday.

Provincial and federal staff will inspect the site Monday, Dalal said.

Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials inspected the outfall at the beach on Thursday morning and did not observe any visible contamination," he said.

Epicure is working with spill response co-ordinators and agencies that are trying to mop up the oil, Acton said.

"And we are working with Tseycum [First Nation]. They are our neighbours and our friends and we are very concerned about this," she said.

But Tseycum Chief Tanya Jones said band members knew nothing about the spill until late Wednesday when they were horrified to see the oil wash up on a beach they are trying to restore.

"We are just concerned about the wildlife and the beaches," Jones said.

"You can smell it in the air and see it in the stream and the water."

Tseycum biologist Stephen Barr was carrying out sand lance surveys,

as part of the beach restoration, when he saw the oil. "This is a big step backwards," he said.

"It's going to do some damage somewhere."

By Thursday, the rain washed more oil into the ocean and a slick remained clearly visible in the bay, Barr said.

"At the moment, the wildlife looks OK, but it's hard to tell," he said.

North Saanich Fire Department was first on the scene and laid out booms and absorbent

pads, Fire Chief Gary Wilton said.

"It got into a little drainage ditch and that takes it right out to the ocean," he said.

Recent wind and rain is helping to disperse the diesel, Wilton said.

"It shouldn't do too much damage," he said.

Meanwhile, the Environment Ministry has warned anyone who has fuel storage on-site to be especially vigilant during and after storms.

"Even small amounts of hazardous materials can have negative impacts to public health and the environment when spilled," Dalal said.

"Costs of spill response, clean-up and restoration, even for small spills, can

be extremely expensive and the person in possession or control of the material at the time of the spill is legally responsible under B.C.'s polluter-pay system."

Spills should be reported to 1-800-663-3456.