Category Archives: Nature

Spectacular Aomori Sea of Japan Coast Marred by Plastics

One of my “nieces” (cousin’s daughter) is starting a project documenting all the plastics used in her life. That got me thinking about our trip to Japan last year when one day we went to the Sea of Japan coast in Aomori Prefecture.

The views were spectacular, but once you got up close, there were piles of plastic garbage strewn all over the beach. Much of the crap was not Japanese, but had floated in from other countries across the sea.

It occurred to me that I’d never posted these photos to my blog, so here they are. Shot in April 2019.

sea of japan aomori coast plastics

And then this. . .

Super Birding Day at Iona Beach near YVR

I spent about four hours rambling Iona Beach Regional Park near YVR today, part of the superb Metro Vancouver Regional Parks system.

First, welcome to the ‘hood. . . Not! Red-Winged Blackbird greeting committee. . .

blackbird corvid fight iona beach yvr

Next up, lots of tree swallows.

tree swallows iona beach yvr


Perhaps not the best spot to attempt a landing, damselfly!


Look Ma! No head!

And lots of waxwings. . .
waxwings iona beach yvr

A couple of hummers. . .
hummingbird iona beach yvr

And finishing off with an osprey. . .
osprey iona beach yvr