A quiet walk at Mundy Park in Coquitlam, BC, this morning.
Monthly Archives: February 2022
Northern Flicker, Varied Thrushes in Byrne Creek Ravine Park
This morning on my walk through Byrne Creek Ravine Park and Taylor Park in SE Burnaby, BC, I spotted a Northern Flicker checking out some real estate, and several Varied Thrushes.
The Tyrants Attack Ukraine
This is going to be bad. Very bad.
The world stood by, the world didn’t believe Putin was willing to start WWIII to reimpose a Russian Empire.
So now what is the West going to do? Declarations and condemnations mean shit.
The tyrants are slavering, Lukashenko is also letting loose his dogs of war upon Ukraine from Belarus, like a small schoolyard bully who throws a punch after the bigger thugs start beating the innocent.
And keep an eye on China, this Russian “distraction” may be the perfect time to swallow Taiwan.
Meanwhile Ukraine and its citizens will fight as long and as strongly as they can.
Remember that Ukrainian partisans simultaneously fought both Nazi and Communist forces during WWII.
Yes, there were Ukrainians who supported Nazis, and there were Ukrainians who supported Communists. But to reiterate, there were Ukrainians who fought both to try to maintain their language, culture and religions.
Ukraine survived hundreds of years of being carved up by various empires, survived the loss of millions in WWI, more millions in the Soviet Russian-imposed Holodomor artificial famine in the 1930s, more millions in WWII. . .
Historians have called Ukraine “The Bloodlands.” I’m not a praying man, but I hope this latest incursion won’t result in the deaths of hundreds or thousands. . .
Hawk, Waterfowl, Other Birds at Burnaby Lake
I rambled the north shore of Burnaby Lake for a couple of hours this morning, starting from the Cariboo Dam and walking to Piper Spit, and as far as Phillips Point and back.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Wood Duck
Mandarin Duck
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Green-winged Teal
Pied-billed Grebe
Song Sparrow
American Crow
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Cold, Windy Walk at Silverdale Creek Wetlands
I had an errand to run up the Fraser Valley, so on the way home I stopped at the Silverdale Creek Wetlands near Mission. It was cold and windy, but there were some birds about.
There were also some young folks doing restoration planting.
Hooded Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Green-winged Teal
Mallards
Spotted Towhee
Dismayed by Western Leaders’ Meek Response to Putin
I’m finding the overall namby-pamby Western response to Putin’s manipulation toward WWIII dismaying.
Have we not learned anything? He’s a bully, and thrives on bullying. Perhaps we need some kindergarten teachers to step in where our political leaders will not.
This is bully behaviour, and needs to be nipped in the bud.
You name the metaphor, inch/mile, whatever.
He’s clearly stated he misses the days of the USSR when millions were killed, or enslaved, or sent to moulder in prison gulags in Sibera — by their own government.
The past he seeks to restore was horrific.
The past he seeks to restore benefited the Russian 0.5% — take your era, be it Tsars and the aristocracy, be it the Soviet leaders and their dachas, be it today’s toadies and corrupt “elite.”
Eagle Extravaganza at Deas Island Regional Park
Eagle extravaganza at Deas Island Regional Park in Delta, BC, this morning, part of the amazing Metro Vancouver Regional Parks system.
And some general views on this gorgeous sunny day:
Double-Crested Cormorant Preening at Fraser Foreshore Park in Burnaby
It was fun watching this Double-crested Cormorant’s contortions as it was preening in the pond just west of the Byrne Creek outfall in Burnaby, BC.
Hawks, Hummers, Eagles at Fraser Foreshore Park in Burnaby
We walked from the playground at Fraser Foreshore Park in SE Burnaby, BC, to Terminus Park, and out past the incinerator, and back. Then we walked to the pond near the outfall of Byrne Creek.
We were happy to see several hawks, eagles, and hummingbirds.
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Bald Eagle
Anna’s Hummingbird. We saw three or four in the area.
Long Weekend Project Sorting, Cataloging Old LPs
Long weekend project — sorting and cataloguing old rock/pop/blues LPs. I have a 3 X 5 card catalog that I created in my early 20s, and will update it.
One find today was a Heart Dreamboat Annie photo LP. A quick Google shows they can go for up to C$50 or so depending on condition.
I’ll have to do some research on current values.
I am holding the first two LPs I ever bought, The Best of the Guess Who and Three Dog Night Live at the Forum 
. Likely purchased in the early 1970s.
. Likely purchased in the early 1970s.
There are close to 350 albums, and that doesn’t include classical, jazz, and Ukrainian ones eh?
They’ve been hiding behind the couch in the living room, fairly inaccessible. I wonder if I can create enough room in my basement office to move them down there and play them.
Can’t remember the last time I bought an LP, but likely over 30 years ago. I gather they’ve been staging a revival. . .