Nuthatches and snails on our balcony in SE Burnaby, BC.
All posts by Paul Cipywnyk
Great Blue Heron on the Wing
Porteau Cove, BC
A woman who watched me wing-shoot with Big Bertha came up for a chat after the action was over. I don’t often swing that big lens handheld, but occasionally it works out.
I was munching on a samosa in the car, saw the heron coming in from a distance, grabbed the camera, jumped out of the car, and click, click, click.
She said she was interested in learning photography and asked me how long I’d been shooting.
“About 50 years,” I said. 
We had a nice, two-meter chat, and I suggested she take a class or two through a community college to get her feet wet.
Smoke on the Water Series
Smoke on the Water Series.
One Mile Lake, Duffy Lake, Birkenhead Lake, Lillooet River, all north of Whistler, BC, over the last few days.
While the smoke from the massive fires down south makes for moody photos, I’ll be happy when it’s gone. . .
Above three photos are Birkenhead Lake, BC
And a smoky Duffy Lake, BC
Lillooet River
Above two shots are One Mile Lake near Pemberton, BC
Photos shot over the last few days while camping at Nairn Falls Provincial Park
Smoky, Foggy Pemberton Meadows Road
Smoky, foggy, spooky Pemberton Meadows Road the other day. Yes, that’s the sun, mid-morning. . .
Guilt is No Way to Run a Business
Trying to guilt people is no way to run a business, or any relationship.
I’ve subscribed to a photography list for several years, and over the last year I’ve received at least two, perhaps three messages along the lines of:
“You haven’t clicked on any of the links in my emails. Seems like you really don’t want to hear from me ever again, so ok . . . I won’t send you more emails.. . . ”
I know times are tough and many folks are struggling. But this approach is just, um, I dunno, counterproductive and sad.
And we don’t need more sad these days.
Give me a positive reason to stay on your list, and click on your micro-money-making links. . .
I’m not much of a link-clicker, but if there was an upside to it, rather than a guilt trip to it, I may click now and then. . .
Today I unsubscribed.
White Rock Smoke on the Water
I cut short a photo ramble down to White Rock, BC, as the smoke was giving me a sore throat and headache. I can’t imagine what it’s like for people on the US coast.
Going Back to School with Some Trepidation
Schools are reopening in British Columbia, and I know many parents, teachers, and staff are nervous, even with various new protocols in place.
My PT job teaching a watershed-based environmental education program shut down in March. We’re starting back up again toward the end of September with stringent sanitization protocols and revised methods of program delivery.
I have to admit that I’ve had concerns, but the Stream of Dreams Murals Society team has thought things through carefully, so I’ve agreed to work a few days and see how it goes.
It’s going to be a new ball game. . .
Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Storage Vandalized in SE Burnaby
Unfortunately our Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Society storage container in the spawning habitat in Burnaby, BC, was broken into recently.
Aside from a gas-powered pump there was little of resalable value in the container. Just gear that volunteers use for public events, and to count aquatic bugs, trap and ID juvenile fish, and educational materials. We’re making a list of what was taken.
The gate to the habitat was also bashed in, lock still in place but gate broken.
Sigh. I reported to the RCMP and City of #Burnaby. A very nice officer was there within half an hour of my call and we went over the site together. And a City crew installed heavy chains across the entrance gate that had been rammed open.
Now we have to figure out what needs to be replaced so that volunteers can continue their streamkeeping and educational activities.
It’s dispiriting that vandals would do this when maybe they’ll get ten cents on a dollar, or a few hundred bucks, for their break and enter.
Yet our group is likely looking at well over a thousand dollars to replace what was taken. A thousand dollars is our total annual budget, eh?
Yes, we rely 90% on sweat equity in our volunteer work.
I don’t know what’s wrong with some people.
Camping, Canoeing at Lightning Lake, Manning Park, BC
We had the canoe out to Lightning Lake in Manning Park in southern BC. First time we’d taken the canoe out there in a few years and it was gorgeous. We had an afternoon/evening paddle, and a morning paddle. Lots of fish jumping and wildlife.
Koji-marinated chicken skewers, yaki udon, and coals-baked potatoes and corn on the cob. Yum!
Common Loons
Yumi spotted three grouse on the shore and we drifted right up to them in the canoe
Great Blue Heron
Spotted Sandpiper
This dragonfly kept following us in our canoe. It seemed to have a crush on Yumi 🙂
Camping at Nairn Falls Provincial Park
We had a lovely overnight camping trip to Nairn Falls Provincial Park near Pemberton, BC.
