It was a glorious morning to walk around Deer Lake in Burnaby, BC.
Monthly Archives: December 2021
Byrne Creek in Burnaby Running Like Chocolate Milk
Here we go again! This has been happening far too often over the last few months, when it shouldn’t be happening at all.
This is near the end of the Coho and Chum salmon spawning season in Byrne Creek, and the impact of all this silt on the redds, or nests of eggs, laid by spawning salmon over the last two months is likely very detrimental.
This is high up in the watershed, above the ravine, and it’s a steady flow for significant periods of time, so it’s unlikely to be natural erosion. At the time I took this photo there was insignificant rain, barely a drizzle.
I would guess a construction site being pumped out.
Streamkeeper volunteers have been calling these events in to the City of Burnaby, and I’ve heard that other citizens have as well.
City staff are usually very good at tracking down where these flows are entering street drains. I hope they catch the offenders and levy the maximum fine possible.
Cold, Soggy Day Turns Up Plenty of Feathered Friends
I took a nearly two-hour walk in south Burnaby, BC, in the rain this morning. Good to see a variety of birds.
Varied Thrush
Northern Flicker
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Junco
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-tailed Hawk in South Burnaby
Spotted this Red-tailed Hawk on my south Burnaby, BC, ramble in the rain this morning. This is its ʼhood in the area of the urban trail near Taylor Park.
I’ve learned to watch for hawks in this area. They like the utility poles and light standards, and, of course, the school field and a small grassy area near the overpass.
Making Varennyky – Perogies
It’s been a long time since I made varennyky (perogies) from scratch.
It’s a workout!
Potato/cheddar. Boiled and then fried for crispy goodness, with sides of fried onions, and mixed vegetables.
Made enough that I could freeze a dozen for another day.
This makes me appreciate the efforts of my late grandmothers. They both made varennyky, lots of them, and while the two styles were slightly different, both were delicious. My paternal grandmother also made mouth-watering cabbage rolls.
I don’t have the patience to make small perogies or cabbage rolls. My grandmothers would smile, and gently admonish my efforts saying “those will do, but not for guests.” : – )
My late maternal grandfather was renowned for being able to down dozens of perogies in one sitting, yet he remained lean all his life. I envied his metabolism : – ).
Snowy Byrne Creek Ravine Park Walk in Burnaby
I love how snow changes views of nature, making some colours muted and some bright. A ramble around Byrne Creek Ravine Park in SE Burnaby, BC, this morning.
Still a Few Salmon in Byrne Creek as Spawning Winds Down
We, well, Yumi, processed two very mushy Coho salmon spawners that we found in the overflow pond in the artificial spawning habitat on Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC, today.
Though they were well into decomposition, we “processed” them anyway, and did not find any eggs in the female, or milt in the male, so they likely spawned. Yay!
Streamkeepers have permission and training to assess spawned salmon. We ID them, measure them, sex them, and then cut the carcasses in half and return them to the creek where their nutrients will help foster new life.
The spawning season is winding down on the creek. It was a strange season, with spawners showing up late, and Chum in much lower numbers than usual. But as the season progressed, we were happy to see more Coho showing up.
Today we also saw half a dozen live Coho, and lots of Cutthroat Trout.
This was the female, you can see her abraded tail fin with which she dug a redd, or nest, in gravel and cobble in which to deposit her eggs.
The male.
Hawk Takes Crow at Foreshore Park in Burnaby?
More drama at Fraser Foreshore Park in Burnaby, BC, today.
There were several crows harrassing this Red-tailed Hawk on the top of the Ballard building.
A few photos in, you can see the edge of what may be a crow’s wing beneath the hawk. If that’s the case, no wonder the crows were pissed. . .
Eventually they drove the hawk off and it retreated to the top of a tree across the road.
Steller’s Jay Points Out Barred Owl on Byrne Creek Walk
As I headed down the urban trail through Byrne Creek Ravine Park in SE Burnaby, BC, today, I heard a Steller’s Jay chattering away.
I didn’t see the Jay, but its “raptor in the ‘hood” warning helped me spot this Barred Owl.
Great Blue Heron Takes Frog Out For Lunch
I spotted this Great Blue Heron in the pond near the mouth of Byrne Creek in Burnaby, BC, today. Seeing that it was stalking something, I took shot after shot as it eventually caught a frog.
