I was happy to see American Goldfinches, House Finches, and Anna’s Hummingbirds on my morning walk in Byrne Creek Ravine Park and Taylor Park in Burnaby, BC.
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Anna’s Hummingbird
Category Archives: Photography
Heron Flyby Minutes From Home
I was a few minutes from home on a rainy morning walk in Byrne Creek Ravine Park in SE Burnaby, BC, when two Great Blue Herons soared overhead and landed in trees in the ravine.
Though I was not carrying a DSLR, I had my ever-present Canon SX730HS pocket camera with me.
I love living in a suburban area with lots of green space and trails out the back gate. A balm for the soul, not to mention the exercise while enjoying nature!
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Eagle Comes in for a Landing at Crescent Beach in Surrey, BC
Eagle coming in for a landing at Crescent Beach in south Surrey, BC, this morning.
Heron Takes Fish at Historic Stewart Farm in Surrey, BC
In this series of photos a Great Blue Heron takes a fish off the dock at Stewart Heritage Farm in Surrey, BC.
The heron grabbed the fish, shook it, and put it down in the mud and stabbed it a couple of times. It then swished the fish in the water to clean off the mud, and down the hatch.
Unfortunately it turned its head just as the fish started down, but you can see the distended neck in the last two photos as the fish proceeds down the heron’s neck.
Byrne Creek Bug Count in Burnaby, BC
Volunteers with the Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Society took samples of water bugs (aquatic invertebrates) at five sites along the creek in SE Burnaby, BC, today.
We then gathered at Ron McLean Park to ID and count what we found. Final calculations are not in yet, but the results looked meagre as usual, due to the road runoff in our urban watershed. We have fewer inverebrates, with less variety, and even smaller in size than less-impacted watersheds.
Transporting gear
Heading out to collect samples
Taking water temperature — it was 8 C.
Collecting a sample with a D-net
IDing and counting the samples
Recording data
Oops! We found what appeared to be an eyed Cutthroat egg in a sample. It’s unusual to still have eggs in the gravel this late in the year. . . Colder winter?
UPDATE: Hm, according to the BC Cutthroat fact sheet, they do spawn into April or even May in places. . .
Nice to spot a Yellow-rumped Warbler in the park
Also a Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Found this Lady Beetle hitching a ride on our equipment case. A seven-spotted?
Heron Fishing at Fraser Foreshore Park in Burnaby, BC
Great Blue Heron fishing at Fraser Foreshore Park in Burnaby, BC, ealier today.
We saw it take a wee fish on the outward leg of our walk, and saw it take another on our way back.
South Burnaby, BC, Blossoms
A short walk around the ‘hood late this afternoon.
Coho Fry, Flickers, Hummers, Goldfinches ‘n More
My south Burnaby, BC, walk today turned up Coho fry in Byrne Creek, and lots of birds.
Violet-green Swallow
American Goldfinch
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Flicker Drumming in Byrne Creek Ravine Park
Here’s a short video I shot this morning of a Northern Flicker drumming on a lamp on the urban trail in Byrne Creek Ravine Park in Burnaby, BC.
And a still of the lovely bird:
Anna’s Hummingbird Spreading Wings in Taylor Park
Gotta love hummers! Taylor Park, Burnaby, BC.
