Blenheim Lagoons- Eclipse Day!

We had a 75 minute drive to reach an area of totality for the April 8th Solar Eclipse. Hoping to avoid the crowds, we headed to the Blenheim Lagoons. It was a wise choice with only 7 people on the property and we got to bird watch while we waited! A few of the 55 Bufflehead in the area performed aerial maneuvers for our entertainment before landing on the water. We also saw many other species including Northern Shovelers, American Wigeons, and 350 Ruddy Ducks!

I have had a difficult time finding Bonaparte's Gulls this year, but 70 of them were waiting for me at the Lagoons.

More aerial maneuvers! Tree Swallows are back and these two were not getting along!

First Cabbage White Butterfly of the year.

A butterfly silhouette let me check out the crescent shaped shadows as the moon passed in front of the sun.

Total Solar Eclipse! We were standing in an unsheltered area. As the moon came closer to blocking the sun, the skies darkened and the temperature dropped. Two members of our party returned to the car for a warmer jacket! We were fortunate that both the weather and the location allowed us to watch this amazing spectacle!