Had a couple of lovely ferry rides on my way to, and from, the SEP2019 streamkeeper workshop in Nanaimo, BC over the weekend.
Category Archives: Nature
Giant Crane Fly at our Door
The other day it was oodles of baby spiders, today it’s a Giant Crane Fly at our door. Cool!
My thumb for sizing
It’s Baby Spider Season Again
It’s baby spider season outside our front door again. Will have to remember to be careful coming and going until they are safely on their way.
That’s a centimeter ruler for sizing. They’re so tiny!
Keeping My Eyes and Ears Open on the way to Work
Spotted these beauties early this morning in southeast Burnaby. Northern Flicker and what I think is a Eurasian Collared Dove.
Shikoku Turtle Museum
We visited this research center and museum on the island of Shikoku in Japan in April. Loggerhead turtles use the nearby beach for nesting, but unfortunately records of nests have dropped precipitously .
Asamushi Aquarium in Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Way back in early April we visited the Asamushi Aquarium during our trip to Japan.
Lots of Fry, Caddisfly Larvae in Byrne Creek
On our morning walk today we spotted salmonid fry of at least two species/sizes, and Yumi also came across a bunch of caddisly larvae.
A mess of caddisfly larvae. Cool!
I love how they build homes for themselves out of bits of woody debris and tiny stones.
Yumi also spotted this dead raptor. Unfortunately it was across a deep pool from us so we couldn’t reach it for closer inspection. It’s not too often that you come across sights like this, for nature’s cleanup crews are fast and efficient.
SFU Ecopsychology Workshop at Lynn Canyon
Had a great day in and around the Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre. I participated in a Simon Fraser University workshop on Ecopsychology — Experiential, Nature and Place-Based Learning.
Thanks to instructor Daniella Roze for her thoughtful, grounded training, and great techniques for reconnecting people, and particularly kids, to nature.
While she was not able to arrange for someone from local First Nations to welcome us, we acknowledged traditional lands and the impacts of colonialism.
We had a chance to try basket-weaving and braiding using local plants.
This is the magnificent tree I chose for my individual meditation period. I lay on my back with the tree’s roots cradling my head, and contemplated the crown gently swaying in the breeze.
My thoughts were that viewed horizontally at human level, the tree looked so deeply rooted, mature, strong and still, and yet looking up with my body stretched on the earth, I could see the trunk bending with the wind and the crown dancing youthfully in the breeze.
It was diminishing yet uplifting to think this tree had been here long before I was born, and with good fortune, will be here much longer after I am gone.
Blossoms in Burnaby, BC
Cherishing the blossoms in our townhouse complex in SE Burnaby, BC, for they will soon be gone for another year. . .
Blossoms within blossoms. . .
Koi at Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu, Japan
Attempting the zoom-during-exposure technique despite the bright sunshine 🙂 Couldn’t quite stop down/slow down enough even at the lowest ISO, but still fun.