We took a long walk at Burnaby Lake today, first checking out Piper Spit for bird action, and then going west, back to the spit, and then east.
At one point as we were walking a trail I said “this looks like a place owls would like.” About five seconds later, Yumi says, “and there’s one there.”
A little further on and we saw a raptor high in a tree, eventually getting close enough to see it was an osprey with a fish.
A pair of robins on the Brynlor portion of the Byrne Creek Ravine trail in SE Burnaby around 4:00 pm today.
The 2018 Spring Forum of the Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver today at Mundy Park in Coquitlam, BC, was lots of fun and with educational presentations and a walk in the park to boot.
I joined the board of directors about a year ago, and greatly enjoy opportunities to hang out with this dedicated group that has such a breadth of knowledge and experience.
Beautiful location in Mundy Park
Good turnout
Pamela Zevit of the South Coast Conservation Program leads a walk in the park
Hmm. . .
DFO, Byrne Creek Streamkeepers volunteers, City of Burnaby staff, and teachers, kids and parents from Stride Elementary released chum fry in Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby this morning. What a lovely day for this uplifting event!
Thanks to volunteers at the Bell-Irving Hatchery at Kanaka Creek who raised these wee fish.
It’s interesting how tentative many of these kids are in a natural environment, and how quickly and joyfully they adapt to it.
A riot of colours on my post-lunch walk along the urban trail beside the Skytrain line between Edmonds and 22nd stations.
It was a gorgeous day for a two-hour tour of Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, led by Henry DeJong, retired from Burnaby Parks. Lots of history, and plant and animal knowledge.
Hummingbird
Douglas Squirrel
Saw lots of egg masses today
Another egg mass
Little frog
Big frog
Hawk
Heron adding to its nest at the Deer Lake colony
Invasive Red-Eared Sliders
Dive! Dive! I think it was a Scaup : -)
Had a lovely loop of Ron McLean Park and Byrne Creek ravine. Happy to see lots of fry in the creek!
Cloud patterns
Blossoms in Ron McLean Park
On our south Burnaby walk we noticed this not quite sun dog, not quite rainbow effect.
I went to downtown Vancouver late this afternoon, a couple of hours ahead of the start of Coastal Connections, the gathering of students, faculty, consultants, and stewards in the fishy business.
Those hours proved productive as I got lots of shots of this Double-Crested Cormorant doing some successful fishing near Science World.
I guesstimate that it got a fish about once every three dives. Now if I could catch a fish once every three casts. . .
UPDATE 4/19: Pelagic Cormorant?
Down the hatch!
A benefit to walking the ravine in the rain is that you pretty much have it to yourself. Saw only one other person in a one-hour ramble. And the rain produces lush, soft colors.
