Took my old manual-everything Micro-Nikkor 55/3.5 lens for a blossom walk today in Ron McLean Park and Byrne Creek Ravine Park in SE Burnaby, BC.
Category Archives: Nature
Chum Fry Hatching Out in Byrne Ck, Heron Greets Them
I patrolled Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC, today looking for salmon fry. I spotted coho a couple of weeks ago, and today there were schools of wee chum salmon out and about.
It’s great to see them! Now we know that both coho and chum salmon successfully spawned in this urban creek, and that their progeny are appearing.
Shot from the upstream side of the Meadow Ave. bridge
A few meters d/s of the wooden footbridge in the ravine.
My wife has since pointed out that these are likely a mix of coho and chum, since several have orange tails and large parr marks.
As I entered the spawning habitat this heron spooked from the overflow pond, and landed in a tree overlooking the sediment pond
I’m certain it’s been chowing down on chum fry! But that’s nature…
Giving me the “get out and leave me alone” look
Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park Birding
I enjoyed a birding tour in Fraser Foreshore Park in SE Burnaby, BC, this morning, led by George Clulow. I’ve taken a number of tours with George, who has a wealth of knowledge. The tour was part of a series organized by Burnaby Parks.
The mighty Fraser’s north arm as viewed from Fraser Foreshore Park
Selfie at the start of the tour
One of the highlights was hearing and spotting several sandhill cranes in flight
George answers lots of questions!
Checking out the viewpoint east of Byrne Rd.
It was fun to see a beaver!
It was a good morning, and George always emails a list of all the birds seen or heard.
Kamloops, Osoyoos Weekend – Day 2
Day two in Osoyoos was windy, sunny, and with spectacular clouds over the lake and mountains. We took a walk in between lots of chowing down : -).
The “boys” propping up a fence
We didn’t sit long — it was chilly. Just for this shot taken by Yumi
Kamloops, Osoyoos Weekend – Day 1
We took a three-day weekend for a trip to Kamloops and then down the Okanagan valley to Osoyoos, where we met some relatives.
View from the Merritt, BC, tourist information centre
Peterson Creek Park in Kamloops
A brooding, choppy Okanagan Lake
Windstorm Knocks Trees Down in Burnaby, BC
Several large trees came down in Byrne Creek Ravine Park in southeast Burnaby in the windstorm today.
These toppled just a few meters from our townhouse complex. Sure glad the wind wasn’t blowing the other way!
Just by chance I saw the one that landed on the trail come down (the one with my foot for size reference). I’d just peeked out the front door this morning, and saw it come crashing down.
City crews cleaned up fast!
Deer Lake Birds ‘n Blossoms
A two-hour ramble ’round Deer Lake in Burnaby, BC, today produced some nice shots.
Northern Flicker
Cormorant drying its wings
Salmonberry blossoms
More blossoms
Bounty of Birds at Reifel Sanctuary in Delta, BC
Yumi and I wandered the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta, BC, for hours today. Tired, but happy with the number of species spotted and successfully “shot”.
Male red-winged blackbirds were putting on a show
American Coot
Juvenile baldy?
Why not take the biggest one?
Great Blue Heron in flight
Gone fishin’
Standing pretty
Lesser Scaup
Northern Pintail
Northern Harrier
Northern Shoveler
Ring-Necked Duck
Sandhill Crane
Taking cough syrup?
Having a scratch
Saw-Whet Owl
American Wigeon
Wood Duck
Spotted Towhee
Tom Cruise ain’t got nothin’ on me!
Byrne Creek Miniatures
My self-assignment today was to walk Byrne Creek Ravine Park in SE Burnaby and shoot photos using only my 35-year-old Micro-Nikkor 55mm/3.5 all-manual macro lens. I had a great time, and here are 32 shots on Flickr.
The experience was stimulating. Limiting the technology, and reverting to all-manual focus and exposure really made me concentrate, and look, and think.
It’s good to slow down…
Signs of Spring in Burnaby, BC
Had a lovely walk on Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby today. I was looking for salmon fry hatching out of the gravel and spotted several.
Coho fry
