The North Jetty at Iona Beach Regional Park is a favourite place of mine, especially in the fall or winter during cold and rainy weather. I rarely encounter anyone, and can imagine myself further away from civilization that I otherwise am – except for the roar of jets landing a YVR airport…

I haven’t have a chance to visit since last March, and since then the second jetty breach has been created by the Raincoast Conservation Foundation to help reconnect the Fraser River estuary and improve salmon habitat.

An overview of my path along the jetty up to the first breach.

The tide was coming in by the time I arrived, and I didn’t attempt to cross lest I end up in the same situation as our friend on the sign…

While it’s not much to look at, these breaches make a significant difference to the juvenile salmon passing through the Fraser estuary.

Heading back, the rain picked up as I started passing through the somewhat forested area far down the jetty. Unfortunately there are many invasive plants on the jetty, of course the ubiquitous blackberry bushes (Rubus armeniacus), and so much Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius).

Passing through a gravel field that used to be some kind of industrial area, I found a patch of Phylloscypha phyllogena coming up near the edge of what seems like a difficult environment to live in. You can find more photos from iNaturalist observation.

I didn’t have my camera with me, but saw some incredible birds – a Northern Shrike, a Peregrine Falcon with what might have been a sparrow in its’ talons, and a Northern Harrier resting on some driftwood.

Until next time…

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