Ardmore Drive and Coles Bay Eagles Nests, North Saanich BC - 2019-2024 Seasons

[sassyk]

I did a tour of some of the nests on the Saanich Peninsula with my birding partner on April 13th. There were no eagles seen or heard in the area of the Ardmore Dr. nest. The nest is intact but we didn't see any new sticks.

The 2nd nest at the end of Ardmore Dr. (Yarrow Pt.) in intact & we saw some greenery in it
The gardeners said they have seen & heard the eagles in the area & at the nest several times in the past few weeks.

[sassyk]

Ardmore Dr. (Yarrow Pt.) cont'd.

We walked down the trail to the beach and awhile later we heard an eagle calling, then we heard a 2nd one calling from a nearby tree. I managed to snap a few photos of both eagles.

Took this one from the trail through the trees.

[sassyk]

I visited the 2 nest sites on Ardmore Drive on July 8th. I did not see or hear any eagles in the area; it was eerily quiet I took a few photos of both nests and it looks like the nests were not used to raise young this nesting season.

This is the nest on Ardmore Dr. near Coles Bay.

This is the nest at the end of Ardmore Dr. (Yarrow Pt.).

[sassyk]

This is the opening post for the Ardmore Drive and Coles Bay eagles nests for the 2022-2023 nesting season.

I visited the Ardmore Dr. nest with my birding partner on April 12th. We did not see or hear any
eagles for the first 10 minutes. There must be a few trees that have come down along Ardmore
Drive because we didn't use to have this clear view from up the road.

My partner caught a glimpse of the top of a white head in the nest when I was looking the other
way. I wasn't quick enough to capture the white head before it disappeared down in the nest.
A few minutes later the eagle got up and appeared to be rolling eggs.

[sassyk]

Apr. 12th cont'd.

The eagle in the nest continued to roll the eggs, or possibly feed eaglets, while
the partner called from somewhere in the distance.

While I was looking for the 2nd eagle it must have circled around the back of
the nest and when I turned around there it was, in the nest

[sassyk]

Apr. 12th cont'd.

The eagle in the nest continued to look down while the 2nd eagle jumped up
to the branch beside the nest.

[sassyk]

Apr. 12th cont'd.

The eagle on the branch flew off and landed atop one of the trees they quite
often perch on.

The eagle in the nest resumed attending to whatever was in the nest; eggs or chicks

One last photo of the nest before we left; taken from the Ardmore Drive. We did not have
time to go to the 2nd nest in the area.

[sassyk]

I visited the 2 nests on Ardmore Drive with my birding partner on June 14th. We were very pleased to see 2 healthy eaglets in the nest near Coles Bay. There were no adults in the area and the eaglets were very quiet.

View of the nest from up the road and through the trees; the branches were swaying
in the breeze so it was a bit tricky to focus.

View of the nest from across the road. The 2nd eaglet had disappeared at the back
of the nest.

The nest tree from across the road. The eaglet is visible on the left side of the nest.

[sassyk]

A few more photos of the eaglets, June 14 cont'd.

[sassyk]

Nest at the end of Ardmore Dr. June 14 cont'd.

The 2nd nest on Ardmore Dr. at Yarrow Point did not seem active. We chatted with the couple who live across from the nest tree and were told they hear the eagles every day. However when I asked if there were young in the nest I was told "I think so." We did not see any indication that there are eaglets in the nest but will continue to check.

[sassyk]

I visited the 2 nests with my birding partner on July 4th. Both eaglets in the nest on Ardmore Dr. were active, flapping their wings and the older one hopped and flapped up to the branch beside the nest.

[sassyk]

Ardmore Dr. Eagles July 4th cont'd.

[sassyk]

Ardmore Dr. Eagles July 4th cont'd.

You can see how part of their nest fell last season.

[sassyk]

Ardmore Dr. Eagles July 4th cont'd.

[sassyk]

Ardmore Dr. Eagles July 4th cont'd.

A view of the entire nest tree.

This is the 2nd nest at the end of Ardmore Dr. overlooking Yarrow Pt. The neighbour told us he hears the eagles every day but there is no evidence of eaglets in the nest.