Byrne Creek Fish Trapping Sept. 2016

Volunteers with the Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Society have been trapping fish in Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC, for over a decade to determine species presence, and gain some sense of size and numbers. Rob and I set the traps yesterday and retrieved them today.

NOTE: Streamkeepers have permission from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to carry out these surveys, and have training from the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation.

All fish are released unharmed.

Results:

~ T515 U/S Southridge culvert (lower end of ravine)
2 X 9cm cuts
1 X 11cm cut
1 X 13 cm cut

~ T519 Near monument
Empty

~ T521 Stair bottom
Empty

~ T523 Trail Crossing
1 X 12cm cut
1 X 14cm cut

~ T524 Burnt stump
Empty

~ T530 Hedley outfall
2 X 12cm cuts
1 X 14cm cut

~ T533 Hell Hole
1 X 8cm cut

~ T539 d/s of Griffiths Pond
1 X 12cm cut
1 X 16cm cut

About three of today’s cuts had a fairly prominent pinkish lateral line area — cutbows?

Grand total 12 small cuthroat

Unfortunately no coho.

Bait used was cat food.

Volunteer hours: 2 X 2.25 = 4.5

Rainy Walk in SE #Burnaby

When I left for my near-daily walk of Byrne Creek Ravine Park in SE #Burnaby, BC., it was drizzling. By the time I got to the bottom of the ravine, the gods in their great good humour had turned the taps on full. Despite Gore-tex and umbrella, I was cold and wet by the time I got home.

Rainy Byrne Creek walk
Banana

Slug

Hey! That makes… : – )

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Autumn urban trail

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An umbrella with a view

Lots of Birds at Lightning Lake in Manning Park, BC

It was a lovely day for bird photos. All of these were shot this morning in the vicinity of the main parking lot/canoe rental at Lightning Lake in Manning Provincial Park in BC.

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Clark’s Nutcracker

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American Robin

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Is this a Collared Dove?

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Steller’s Jay

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Heron on a cold tin roof

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I’m thinking 1st winter White-Crowned Sparrow?

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Killdeer

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There were several ravens hanging around the Manning Lodge parking lot

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Lightning Lake Manning Park Birds

Using Exposure Compensation

Here’s an example of using exposure compensation to get the look you want. These plants were at the edge of a pond at Fraser Foreshore Park in Burnaby, BC.

I had the camera on a tripod, and took several shots, dialing in more and more negative, or minus, compensation with each shot.

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EV – 0.7

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EV – 1.3

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EV – 2.0

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EV – 2.7

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EV – 3.3

plant life exposure compensation examples
EV – 4.0

All DSLRs should be able to do this, and many pocket cameras. Check your manual if you don’t know how to use these controls. It’s usually a button with a +/- sign on it. On my Nikon DSLRs it’s right next to the shutter button (that’s how useful it is!), and on my teeny pocket Canon, it’s right on the back next to the movie button. On some cameras, it’s unfortunately buried in a screen menu.

Enjoying Signs of Autumn at Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park

Enjoying the imminent onset of autumn? Are you nuts?

Nope, I love autumn. The coolness, the colours, the crisp and crunchy sound of leaves underfoot.

Autumn is a great time to view and photograph wildlife. Animals are active, knowing winter is coming, with some stocking up for the leaner months ahead, others migrating.

Here on the west coast of Canada, autumn also brings the iconic salmon back to local streams and rivers. It’s the season streamkeepers anticipate with hope for strong, healthy returns.

Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park

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Belted Kingfisher

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Autumn Stream of Dreams

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Streamkeeping, sustainability, community, business, photography, books, and animals, with occasional forays into social commentary. Text and Photos © Paul Cipywnyk