We saw a duck we didn’t recognize at Barnet Marine Park in north Burnaby today. Turns out it’s a Long-tailed Duck, confirmed by the hive mind at iNaturalist. Cool!
Also spotted a few Goldeneyes, a Great Blue Heron, and a Cormorant.
Long-tailed Duck
Cool, Damp Birding at Fraser Foreshore in Burnaby
Today we parked near the playground at Fraser Foreshore Park in south Burnaby and walked east to the meadow, around, and back, and then west to Sussex Creek and back.
Bald Eagle
Eurasian Collared Dove
Gadwall
Twisted Mallard couple : – )
Pine Siskin
Sleeping Great Blue Heron
BC Must Crack Down on Covid Travelers
Our two-person isolating household is getting more Covid recommendation-breaker angry.
Yes, we’re getting out and hiking and rambling, but always just the two of us, with our masks and our sanitizer. And we stay within a near radius.
When Ontario and Quebec have imposed lockdowns and travel bans, why are there apparently skiers from those provinces in Whistler, BC?
How did they get here, if they’re not supposed to travel even within their own provinces?
Hell, all of us in BC are strongly counselled not to travel outside our communities.
We are told we shouldn’t visit elderly relatives who live minutes away. So how are the tourists getting here?
Our political leaders are saying this is beyond their control.
No, it is NOT.
To get to BC you either have to cross an international border, which is supposedly closed, or you have to fly in (which is supposedly tough, but apparently not so much), or you can drive in on very few few cross-provincial highways that would be easy to control.
So what gives?
Hawk, Hummers, Harriers in Delta, BC
More photos from our ramble at the North 40 Park Reserve and the Boundary Bay dyke in Delta, BC. I posted an album of Bald Eagle photos, and here are a bunch of other birds.
Red-Tailed Hawk
Northern Harrier
Anna’s Hummingbird
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Robin
Starlings
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Eagles at North 40 Park Reserve, Delta, BC
North 40 Park Reserve in Delta, BC, is a well-known place for amazing views of Bald Eagles. Today was no exception.
Twilight in South Burnaby
Chasing the twilight at Fraser Foreshore Park and Taylor Park in south Burnaby, BC.
Unpacking Folk Songs?
From the overanalyzing folk songs files:
I have this Ukrainian folk song running in my head. It’s a humorous song about a cowardly kozak who is attracted to a girl and her aromatic pyrohy/perogies.
But a group of hunters comes along, and carries off the girl and the perogies.
So in the punch line/final stanza the kozak wails: “Oh you horrible enemies, take the girl but bring back the perogies!”
Ha ha ha. . .
I have several recordings of this song ranging from polka bands to an opera-style baritone backed by a small orchestra.
I know, I know, folks have been chortling at this song for centuries, but there is a message to unpack. . .
No idea why this popped into my mind today, but there you go.
Superb Birding Day at Fraser Foreshore Park in Burnaby
Several hours spent wandering Fraser Foreshore Park in south Burnaby, BC, resulted in lots of birds seen!
Bald Eagles
Screaming Red-Tailed Hawk
Ring-Necked Duck
Great Blue Heron
Gadwall
Wood Duck
White-Crowned Sparrow
Steller’s Jay
Spotted Towhee
Starling
Golden-Crowned Sparrow
Brooding Bridge, Birds, Berries in SE Burnaby, BC
I walked from Edmonds Skytrain Station in SE #Burnaby to 22nd St. Station and back after lunch. It was quiet, only a couple of Anna’s Hummingbirds (one at our feeder and one on the trail), a few robins, and assorted sparrows in Taylor Park.
There were some lovely colors to be found in berries and leaves along the way. . .
The Alex Fraser Bridge as seen from the urban trail. Deliberately underexposed to enhance the brooding appearance.
Lots of Mergansers in the Hood
On our ramble to and around Central Park in #Burnaby today, we saw lots of Hooded Mergansers in a pond.
