Two lovely phenomena at Campbell Valley Regional Park in the Township of Langley today: Hair Ice, and Bejeweled webs. . .
One of the many lovely parks in the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks system.
Downy Woodpecker, Steller’s Jay, Hawk at Burnaby’s Foreshore Park
Returning home from a beach walk at Spanish Banks in Vancouver, we stopped at Fraser Foreshore Park in Burnaby.
Yumi spotted a lovely Downy Woodpecker, and there were also several Steller’s Jays and a Hawk.
Spanish Banks Sunshine
We took advantage of the sunshine today to go out to Spanish Banks in Vancouver for a beach stroll.
Yumi doing some log rolling 🙂
Gorgeous Anna’s Hummingbirds
Anna’s Hummingbird at Iona Beach Regional Park near YVR this morning.
And as I post this from my home office in Burnaby, BC, I can hear hummers at the feeder near our front door :-).
Russia? I Shared Some Hope in 2014. You’ve Failed
I recall writing in social media back in 2014 that I wished Russia all the best in hosting the Sochi Winter Olympics.
At the time, I really meant it.
My hope was that by running a successful Olympic Games, Russia would finally feel proud of something and feel accepted into the international community.
I guess it wasn’t enough. Russia is always paranoid and never feels accomplished, never feels accepted, never feels safe. Hm. Is that because Russia has for centuries always been trying to expand?
Russia always feels it has to invade its neighbors to accomplish anything and feel mighty.
Russia is always claiming that some bogeyman wants to invade. Who would want to invade and have to take charge of a basket case?
You can lay all this weirdness at the feet of its leaders.
Under the Tsars, under the Soviets, under Putin, it’s been constant whining.
And constant bullying. Hello? Bullies are never respected.
What can you offer the world, Russia? Can you offer hope? Can you offer love? Can you offer democracy and human rights?
Or will it continue to be death…
Rainy Birding at Burnaby Lake, Fraser Foreshore in Burnaby, BC
I headed out this morning for some photography despite the rain.
I was glad I went, for my first stop — Piper Spit in Burnaby Lake Regional Park — was deserted. It’s usually crawling with photographers.
I enjoyed a quiet hour or so there, and then I continued to Fraser Foreshore Park in south Burnaby for more wildlife photography.
Cold, wet, and happy! 🙂
A small hawk near Piper Spit. Sharp-shinned?
Taking off. . .
There were lots of American Coots with their goofy clown feet
Lesser Scaup?
Greater Scaup?
Red-winged Blackbird
Not another person in sight. . . On a clear day, the towers of Metrotown loom over the south side of the lake. . .
Rain sleeve on Big Bertha
Lots of gull bathing action. . .
Moving on to Fraser Foreshore Park in south Burnaby:
Bald Eagle
Eurasian Collared Dove
Gadwall
Northern Shoveler
Black-capped Chickadee
Tire Chemical Confirmed to Kill Coho Salmon Juveniles
Byrne Creek Streamkeepers in Burnaby, BC, have been observing mass die-offs of released hatchery coho smolts for decades.
Study finds juvenile coho salmon at risk from deadly tire chemical.
Study finds juvenile coho salmon at risk from deadly tire chemical
Collecting dead coho smolts after a road wash kill in May 2003.
The late Bert R measuring some of the dead coho smolts collected.
It was very frustrating getting any traction from any government agency at any level on this issue back in those days.
I think people simply didn’t believe us until we kept documenting over and over that only coho were dying, while cutthroat trout, stickleback, etc., were fine.
New Year’s Day Birding Foray
On New Year’s Day, Yumi and I checked out the birding action at the North 40 Park in Delta, the Boundary Bay dyke in Delta, and the Historic Stewart Farm in Surrey, BC.
Eagles at North 40 Park
Northern Harrier off the Boundary Bay dyke
Coyote in the fields
Common Loon
American Robin nom nom
Golden-crowned Sparrow nom nom
Getting Set for 2026 — Mac Mini Ubuntu Linux Project Done
New Year’s is an important day in Japan, and in keeping with Japanese tradition, I am attempting to get things around the house cleaned, sorted, and looking better than they were, ahead of January 1 . . .
I’m happy to have completed one project — shifting my Ubuntu Linux box from a massive old tower to an old Mac Mini. Apple no longer supported OS updates for the 2012 Mini.
The Mini has a faster processor and the same amount of RAM as the old tower, and it’s way smaller. Not to mention that the Mac Mini power supply uses about 1/10th of the tower’s supply!
The Mini is tucked under a shelf on my computer tower, and the old box is waiting in the garage to be donated for parts, or if it’s of no interest to orgs that recycle computers for use by folks who can’t afford a new one, it’ll go to the City of Burnaby’s excellent recycle center.
Also cleaned the car, and my ever creatively disorganized desk.
Small steps toward getting set for 2026 
.
.Cold, Misty Birding Day at Centennial Beach
A cold, quiet, misty morning at Centennial Beach in Delta, BC.
I did get a few bird shots:
American Wigeons
Bald Eagle
Black-capped Chickadee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker
Northern Harrier. Unfortunately this was the closest this magnificent raptor was, and heading away. . . .
Sanderling?
Spotted Towhee nom nom. . .
