We had a long but enjoyable day checking out the Bald Eagles at North 40 Park Reserve in Delta, Harriers and other birds on the Boundary Bay dyke, finishing off with a walk around the Historic Stewart Farm in south Surrey, BC.
Northern Harrier
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Purple Finch
Bunny
Red-winged Blackbird Historic Stewart Farm
Great Blue Heron on the Nicomekl River at the Historic Stewart Farm in south Surrey
I took a photo stroll around Deer Lake in Burnaby, BC, this morning and saw the most Double-crested Cormorants I’ve ever seen there in one day. There were at least a dozen of them.
It was a sad day on Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC, today.
This was just in about a quarter of the creek’s length.
City staff noticed dead fish and called volunteer streamkeepers and the province. Volunteers reported to the DFO Observe, Record, Report hotline/email, and also to their DFO Community Advisor.
City staff contacted Environment Canada, and an ECCC staff person came out in the afternoon.
Upon checking monitors in the creek, City staff noted a spike in pH that lasted for many hours. The pH was back to normal by the time we were counting dead fish.
It’s Friday night, the night I often post a Friday night song/video to Facebook and other social media.
I haven’t started listening yet tonight, just poured a glass of wine and began reflecting on all the deaths over the last months in the music world.
I’m not going to start listing them, for I’m sure to miss some major names, but, yeah, it’s been tough on us who grew up in the ’60s and ’70s. . .
I’m younger than that, but as with many of us, I got a steady diet of music from older family members and friends, so my popular music education and tastes date from the ’60s.
The rock and blues and pop and folk and country heroes of our youth are steadily getting up there into their ’70s, ’80s, and older, eh? More are leaving us at an increasing rate.
The guitar gods of the rock development era decades ago are giving in to mortality.
Social Media has an impact on this too, of course. Now it’s easy to share, to reminisce with folks who are not only our local “real” friends, but people around the world.
On the upside, there are many “bad boys” and “bad girls” of those days who are still playing, still having fun.
As Neil Young wrote: “It’s better to burn out than to fade away. . . ”
Or as the amazing Buddy Guy, who influenced generations of blues and rock guitarists, and who is still performing at age 86, writes:
“I’m gonna keep on playing
And on my dying day
A polka-dot guitar will be resting on my grave. . . “
I walked from the Cariboo Dam to Piper Spit and back this morning at Burnaby Lake Regional Park in Burnaby, BC. It was a lovely morning for birding, with a squirrel or two, too :-).
Male Wood Duck
Spotted Towhee chowing down
Great Blue Heron
Varied Thrush
Douglas Squirrel
I have been photographing the delicate fungi on this tree in Byrne Creek Ravine Park in SE Burnaby, BC, for years.
Today I was a wee bit sad to see the dead tree had toppled, but it was inevitable, and part of the cycle of life.
It will now rot faster and gradually fade into the forest floor while continuing to provide habitat for all sorts of other life.
I love how diffused light enhances droplets of rain.
A walk in Byrne Creek Ravine Park in SE Burnaby, BC.
We get out to do a loop of Deer Lake at least once a month, and more often if possible. Though it was overcast, the light was lovely, and there were plenty of birds to see.
Double-crested Cormorant
Ring-necked Duck
Bald Eagle
The area leading up to this perch has been designated as a protected wildlife area that people are not supposed to enter.
Lots to see at Fraser Foreshore Park in south Burnaby, BC, this morning. Was taking so many photos that I didn’t get home for lunch until nearly 2:00 pm!
Here are a few shots, may get to posting some waterfowl later. . .
I am a fierce and mighty Bald Eagle, hear me roar! Or, in this case, silently yawn 🙂
A Red-tailed Hawk preening. It was laid back for a hawk, letting me circle its perch several times angling for unimpeded shots through the brush and branches.
Steller’s Jay
Great Blue Heron on the prowl
The late-morning Robin catches a worm : -)
But you cannot have Ukrainian Christmas without kutya — hard wheat berries toasted and simmered to the point that they’re still a tish crunchy, scalded & ground poppy seeds, chopped walnuts, and honey.
Yum!
