It was great to squeeze in a one-hour ravine and Burnaby south slope ramble tonight after a solid 1-1/2 days of meetings this weekend.
I felt like this gorgeous full moon was rewarding me and my fellow volunteer Salmon Enhancement and Habitat Advisory Board members for our efforts over the weekend.
We’re off to Department of Fisheries and Oceans Pacific Regional HQ tomorrow to share highs, lows, and advice from the BC stewardship community.
I took a few shots from near the Lonsdale Quay Seabus terminal this morning on my way to a SEHAB (Salmon Enhancement and Habitat Advisory Board) meeting.
Had a great morning on a Burnaby Parks birding tour of Burnaby Lake led by George Clulow. I believe the outing’s tally was over 35 species of birds. And while it was spitting when we started, the rain stopped for most of the walk. I didn’t want to carry my DSLR gear on this walk, and my teeny shirt-pocket Canon Elph 520HS did an admirable job of pinch hitting.
The crew
George brings along his spotting scope and encourages folks to share it
Heading out on Piper Spit
Red-winged Blackbird
Long-billed Dowitcher
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Spotted on my pre-lunch south slope walk today.
Here’s my latest post for The Editors’ Weekly, the Editors Canada blog.
I’d heard about the great success that Squamish Streamkeepers have had in wrapping pier pilings so that spawning herrings’ eggs are not killed by creosote and other chemicals. Today my wife Yumi and I had a chance to meet Dr. Jonn Matsen at Fishermen’s Wharf on False Creek in Vancouver to see some of the techniques in action.
Jonn and my wife Yumi hold up a net as a TV news cameraman lines up a shot
Jonn points out how creosote kills herring eggs. There’s no eelgrass or kelp left around here for more natural spawning sites
Net suspended in the water from the wharf
Closer view of herring eggs on piling
Lovely afternoon at Burnaby Lake in Burnaby, BC, today.
Let’s start with some wildlife, then move on to views of nature.
The sun broke out today in the lower mainland of BC — a lovely sight after weeks of winter grey. We headed out for the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary but when we got near the entrance, staff were out directing overflow traffic to park back up the road.
While we were happy so many people were out enjoying the wonderful sanctuary, we were not in the mood for crowds, so we thought we’d try Centennial Beach in Tsawwassen, which is another great place to see all sorts of birds.
It was not very crowded at the beach, and once we were out on the raptor trail, there were only a few other walkers around.
Yumi finds a quiet spot on the beach
Yumi working out while I twiddle with cameras
Mt. Baker with people walking on Delta dikes in the foreground
Mt. Baker
Gull carrying a crab for lunch
Harrier eyeing lunch? : -) Just kidding!
Great Blue Heron in flight
Watch your head! Gulls use the pier to crack shellfish.
Surf scoter
Scaup double date
It was a cold, wet day for a wetlands tour in south Surrey, BC, today.
Thanks to City of Surrey, BC., Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society, and Ducks Unlimited for a cold, wet, but educational wetlands tour in south Surrey today.
Shot this mallard couple in flight during the tour