I love how snow changes views of nature, making some colours muted and some bright. A ramble around Byrne Creek Ravine Park in SE Burnaby, BC, this morning.
Category Archives: Photography
Still a Few Salmon in Byrne Creek as Spawning Winds Down
We, well, Yumi, processed two very mushy Coho salmon spawners that we found in the overflow pond in the artificial spawning habitat on Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC, today.
Though they were well into decomposition, we “processed” them anyway, and did not find any eggs in the female, or milt in the male, so they likely spawned. Yay!
Streamkeepers have permission and training to assess spawned salmon. We ID them, measure them, sex them, and then cut the carcasses in half and return them to the creek where their nutrients will help foster new life.
The spawning season is winding down on the creek. It was a strange season, with spawners showing up late, and Chum in much lower numbers than usual. But as the season progressed, we were happy to see more Coho showing up.
Today we also saw half a dozen live Coho, and lots of Cutthroat Trout.
This was the female, you can see her abraded tail fin with which she dug a redd, or nest, in gravel and cobble in which to deposit her eggs.
The male.
Hawk Takes Crow at Foreshore Park in Burnaby?
More drama at Fraser Foreshore Park in Burnaby, BC, today.
There were several crows harrassing this Red-tailed Hawk on the top of the Ballard building.
A few photos in, you can see the edge of what may be a crow’s wing beneath the hawk. If that’s the case, no wonder the crows were pissed. . .
Eventually they drove the hawk off and it retreated to the top of a tree across the road.
Steller’s Jay Points Out Barred Owl on Byrne Creek Walk
As I headed down the urban trail through Byrne Creek Ravine Park in SE Burnaby, BC, today, I heard a Steller’s Jay chattering away.
I didn’t see the Jay, but its “raptor in the ‘hood” warning helped me spot this Barred Owl.
Great Blue Heron Takes Frog Out For Lunch
I spotted this Great Blue Heron in the pond near the mouth of Byrne Creek in Burnaby, BC, today. Seeing that it was stalking something, I took shot after shot as it eventually caught a frog.
Red-tailed Hawk, Steller’s Jay in Burnaby
Today’s Fraser Foreshore Park walk in SE Burnaby, BC, yielded a Red-tailed Hawk and a Steller’s Jay.
Evening Falls Early in Burnaby as Winter Approaches
It was nearly dark by 4:30 today on my Byrne Creek ravine ramble in SE Burnaby, BC.
The Cranky Great Blue Heron of Byrne Creek
In my experience, most Great Blue Herons seem oblivious to humans, unless approached very closely, but this heron that regularly hangs out at the sediment pond in the Byrne Creek spawning habitat in Burnaby, BC, always flushes and squawks indignantly even when you’re dozens of meters away.
Though I know to expect it, it’s difficult to get a good shot because of the narrow approach and treeline, but today I finally got a good one.
Atmospheric River Turns Byrne Creek Into River
Took my daily walk in the rain on Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC, today. With this series of atmospheric rivers hitting the west coast, it was really ripping.
Sure hope the redds, or nests of eggs from spawning salmon don’t get blown out or smothered in silt!
Red-tailed Hawk in SE Burnaby, BC
Spotted this Red-tailed Hawk on my two-hour ramble around SE Burnaby, BC.
