I watched this Great Blue Heron fishing in Byrne Creek for nearly 15 minutes this morning. Then I heard a Pileated Woodpecker right behind me! A couple of stills and a video:
Updating Camera Firmware
Just upgraded the firmware on my Nikon Z50II and Nikon D500 to the latest available.
I’ve written about this before, but yes, folks, modern digital cameras are like computers — manufacturers issue updates regularly to fix things, add features and capabilities, etc.
Learn how to check the firmware version on your DSLR or mirrorless camera, and sign up with your manufacturer to receive update notifications.
Royal Roads University
On our recent travels in the Victoria, BC, area, we dropped in to Royal Roads University. Hard to believe it’s been nearly 20 years since I completed my MA in Professional Communication there!
We enjoyed wandering the grounds and gardens.
Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse
Falcon, Osprey, Hawk at Fort Rodd Hill
We visited Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites, Parks Canada near Victoria, BC.
We visit every few years, and this time we were astounded at the raptors cruising above the ramparts.
Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Red-tailed Hawk, and a Turkey Vulture to clean up anything the raptors left behind 
.
Peregrine Falcon
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk. It was riding a thermal above the beach near the sea so perfectly that it barely moved for several minutes.
Turkey Vulture
And More Photos from Victoria, BC
More recent wanderings around Victoria, BC.
More Photos From Victoria, BC
More photos from my recent stay in Victoria, BC. Still catching up. . .
Bye bye Coho! What a lovely ship.
BC 2026 Salmon Forecast from Watershed Watch
A long, detailed look at what is likely ahead for salmon returns by species and area in British Columbia from Greg Taylor and Watershed Watch.
Streamkeeper Training on Byrne Creek in Burnaby, BC
Streamkeeper training today on Byrne Creek. Thanks to Zo Ann from the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation.
I was heading out for a creek walk when I ran across the group and joined them for a bit.
Home After a Great SEHAB Meeting in Comox, BC
Home after nearly a week on the road.
I was in Comox, BC, for a three-day SEHAB (Salmon Enhancement and Habitat Advisory Board) meeting. We meet three times a year after collating information from streamkeeper and stewardship groups from across BC, and take our advice to Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pacific Regional HQ.
I represent groups on the north side of the Fraser River from Burnaby to Mission.
SEHAB is an amazing board that I’ve been blessed to participate in for decades initially as an alternate board member, and then as a full board member. The breadth and depth of knowledge shared by board members from across the province is impressive.
We share what’s going well with volunteer groups, and what’s needed.
Unfortunately, over the last few months, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has been in upheaval due to drastic budget cuts. Staff are disappearing, even managers don’t appear to know what’s in the future.
Programs continue. . . or not.
And these are programs that leverage hundreds of thousands of hours of volunteer time from over 10,000 volunteers across BC.
I tacked on a couple of days camping on the back end.
One of the local stewardship sites that we visited:
