Wow! Damn they were good! We saw the National Ballet of Ukraine tonight in Vancouver, BC.
They are nearing the end of a humanitarian fundraising tour across Canada to support Ukraine as the nation and its people continue to suffer from Russian aggression and terror.
You can donate to support relief efforts in Ukraine, and receive a charitable tax receipt via their website:
https://nationalballetukraine.com/
In addition to the several Great Blue Herons that I photographed at Fraser Foreshore Park in Burnaby, BC, this morning (see previous post), here are a few other species.
Hawk at extreme range. I still have trouble distinguishing between Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned, but it was quite small.
Male and female Ring-necked ducks.
Bufflehead diving in lower Byrne Creek near the confluence with the Fraser.
Bald Eagles on a log boom. The one on the right was eating something that looked like a small mammal.
I photographed several Great Blue Herons at Fraser Foreshore Park in Burnaby, BC, this morning. Several of them were snoozing.
Hands.
Hands are on my mind.
As I sit here and look at my aging hands, I see. . .
My late father’s hands.
And I see my late maternal grandfather’s hands.
It’s hard to explain what I see, from both sides of the family, but it’s there.
I love my aging, wrinkly, spotty hands so full of love and memories.
It’s been overcast and raining day after day in the BC lower mainland. Par for the course, but hoping to get some sun we headed down to White Rock.
No luck with sunshine, but we did get to see some birds off the pier.
Common Loon
Surf Scoter with shellfish
And an Amtrak train.
BCIT journalism student Chris met me on Byrne Creek in SE #Burnaby, BC, to shoot some vid and interview me about urban creeks.
We talked about water quality and water quantity issues in urban areas, infiltration and rain gardens, and what folks can do to help protect their local oases of nature.
As the rain came down Chris assured me that I could go home while he got some extra shots of the roaring creek :-).
Good job, Chris!
Happy New Year to all Ukrainian fighters everywhere, in whatever role you may be in.
Putin is a demented aggressor whose actions have resulted in the deaths of over 300,000 of his soldiers in addition to the horrors his forces have inflicted upon Ukraine.
I have been studying history for 50 years, and there is no reason for Russia to invade Ukraine, aside from Putin’s longing for lost empire.
If Putin is really chasing Nazis, as he claims, he should look in the mirror. It was Uncle Joe Stalin, a consumate Russian dictator, who signed a pact with Hitler.
And as for Russian citizens, it’s very difficult for me to wish you a Happy New Year.
At best many of you have behaved like sheep, and at worst you have participated in trash talk dehumanzing Ukrainians.
As for NATO? There is no intent from anyone to invade Russia, and never has been.
We headed out to the North 40 Reserve Park in Delta, BC, and the Historic Stewart Farm in Surrey, BC.
It was quiet at both sites, but got a few wildlife/nature shots.
I didn’t feel like carrying Big Bertha, my 150-600mm Tamron, so all of these were shot with an 18-400mm Tamron using an FTZ adapter on a Nikon Z50.
And thank you to Yumi, my amazing spotter. Always good to have a second set of eyes along that also love nature and wildlife!
Bald Eagle at North 40
Red-tailed Hawk at North 40
Northern Harrier at North 40
North 40 view
Historic Stewart Farm in Surrey, BC
Golden-crowned Kinglet at Historic Stewart Farm
Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Historic Stewart Farm
It was cold, damp, and quiet on a walk at Fraser Foreshore Park in south Burnaby, BC, this morning. There were lots of chickadees, a couple of finches, and a Great Blue Heron.
Nom nom. . .
What a great day to welcome a new City of Burnaby Environmental Planner to Byrne Creek, as an “atmospheric river” of torrential rain hits the lower mainland and beyond. . . !
