Blog From The Bog:

After listening to the torrents of rain in the early morning hours of election day. I was beginning to question my reasoning for a early morning salmon watch with Teri. But, the sound of rain also signals swelling streams and the promise of salmon returning to Brooklake in the middle reaches of Hylebos Creek.

So an early start it was. After our coffee stop at the Twin Lakes Tullys, the rains stopped and skys began to clear. Hylebos Creek in Fife at the 4th street bridge, was beautiful in the early morning light with fall colors reflecting in the stream. The tide was high, we did not see fish, but enjoyed the view and quiet sounds of the morning.

Heading on to Brooklake where the Hylebos flows out of the West Hylebos Wetlands, we could hear the rushing water of the creek from the parking area at the blueberry farm. The blueberry bushes have turned a brilliant shade of red. Brooklake is at the highest water level, we've seen this year. Water was gushing out of the overflow at the south end. We have not seen salmon at Brooklake to date. With stream conditions like this, it won't be long. The Belted Kingfisher, has been seen at the lake consistantly, Great Blue Heron and River Otter at the lake on past visits.