More Summer Please

Our summer so far this year has been brisk and refreshing (COLD!) except for about three days in early July. It seems to be warming up now and maybe we will soon be getting a bit more of the kind of real summer weather we were getting last month when I took this photo of my daughter, granddaughter and a friend at the Sooke Potholes.

Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus)

Until my recent visit to the Sooke Potholes I didn't know that we had crayfish in this area. I always thought they were only to be found in the southern USA. These were caught to show to some young children and I happened to be nearby. Although they are edible they were released shortly after this photo was taken. Crayfish are apparently very sensitive to pollution so it was nice to see them in the Sooke River, which is fed by a reservoir that provides Victoria's tap water. These crayfish were about the size of a little finger. I think they are probably Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus).

Moth

Sometimes when I am out with my camera I am looking for a specific thing or a specific category such as birds or flowers but often I am omnivorous and just shoot whatever I see that looks interesting. (One of the joys of retirement is that one no longer has to be focused.) So for the next few days there'll be photos of some of the local fauna encountered during my last couple of field trips. The moth above was spotted resting on a tree near the Sooke Potholes. I don't know what kind of moth it is and if there are any lepidopterists out there I hope you will attempt an identification. (It's odd how important size or scale is - if this moth were as large as an eagle we'd all know its name.)

Jump

Here is what the Sooke Potholes are locally famous for - the deep green pools at the foot of rocky cliffs.

Boys Fishing for Girls

About 20 kilometers west of Victoria is a string of cold emerald swimming holes along the Sooke River. These deep green pools at the base of steep rock cliffs provide the perfect relief for summer's hottest days. This is the Sooke Potholes Regional Park.