Esquimalt Lagoon in the Afternoon

Migratory birds
love this salt sanctuary
whatever the tide

~ carliewired

A sun-filled afternoon beside the Strait of Juan de Fuca can certainly cure what ails you. Esquimalt Lagoon is another of Victoria's little gems. 

The spit along its southern edge is only 2 km long but the space is saturated with wildlife and wild fowl. Hatley Castle, the pride of James Dunsmuir, British Columbia's Lt.Governor (1908) looks over the lagoon. 

From the south edge of the lagoon one can look south to the Strait of Juan de Fuca which separates the state of Washington (USA) from Vancouver Island (Canada)

Above the lagoon old growth Douglas fir stand as the last remnants of mighty trees once plentiful along our coast line. One Douglas fir, dubbed the "Magna Carta Tree" dates back to the era of Runnymede. It measures almost 2 meters in diameter. 

Today, we watched a Norwegian Cruise ship making its way into port in Victoria. It weaved its way between sailboats already on the Strait. 

In the lagoon we saw deer, swans, Canada geese, Great Blue heron, and numerous other wild fowl. We finally moved on to a grand view of Fisgard Lighthouse (1860) before turning back to Victoria. 

Wild poppies are in full bloom. I'm sure they are the California poppy variety. Couldn't pass up on a few shots of their stunning colour. 

I forgot to mention the tearoom where we had breakfast this morning. It is a testimony to British heritage as one can see from the decor!