Had a great morning shooting Bald Eagles and a Northern Harrier at Centennial Beach in Delta, BC, this morning.
My Main Handy Reference Tome is Replaced
I’ve been an editor/writer, both in-house and freelance, for over 30 years.
There’s a handy space between the two printers (laser and colour inkjet) on my computer stand in which I keep my most-used reference book.
Well, today I realized I’ve been getting up and walking to a nearby bookcase to grab Stokes Birds way more often than I was reaching up for The Chicago Manual of Style.
Sorry, Chicago, but you’re being displaced . . . 
Streamkeeper Volunteers See Lots of Wildlife on Byrne Creek Tour in Burnaby
A group of Byrne Creek Streamkeepers volunteers toured the creek this morning. We focused on the upper third to see where the water comes from, and the bottom third, to see the dykes and the outfall into the Fraser River.
We were fortunate to be treated to many birds ‘n beasts along the way!
This Red-tailed Hawk came soaring in over the dyke
It perched in a tree for a minute or two . . .
and then it took off
We spotted this raccoon near the mouth of the creek
It swam away across the creek
We saw three Great Blue Herons over the course of the tour. This one was just upstream of Edmonds Skytrain Station
This one was in the pond near the Byrne Creek outfall
And this Great Blue Heron was perched on a light standard along the dyke
A Double-crested Cormorant in the pond near the outfall of Byrne Creek
Hooded Merganser near the mouth of Byrne Creek
Ring-necked Duck
House Finch near the top end of the creek
Soviet/Russian Horrors Against Ukraine Run Deep and Long
The horrors of the Russian-Soviet induced Holodomor/Genocide that purposely killed millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s will reberverate to the end of time.
But tonight, it occurs to me in these troubled times that I’ve never been to the villages in Ukraine where my paternal and maternal grandparents were born.
The closest I got was as a pre-teen in 1972.
But when we got near the village, our 24/7 KGB minder got freaked, and wouldn’t let us go the final few miles. Our entire tour group, who all had family ties in the area, was deported across the border into Romania.
Even in those dark days, I fondly recall the Romanian border “guards” greeting us with bread, and cold cuts, and cheese, and wine, after observing our 12-hour interogation/ordeal at the border.
The damn KGB still owe me several rolls of Fujichrome that they confiscated from 12-year-old me, eh?
But as we were driving through the border town the day before we got kicked out by the KGB, my lingering memory is of an aunt spotting a relative on a street near the family origins (gait and facial features umistakable — an image of grandad), and demanding to stop and being allowed to see if he was really who we thought he was.
He was, and said he’d been told by the KGB to go home because we were not coming.
How cruel.
And to the KGB minder’s dismay he stayed with us for our final night and shared stories of the KGB’s inhumanity, and the Soviet Russian attempts to destroy the Ukrainian language and culture.
He said he didn’t care about what they would do to him, he’d seen so much horror in his life.
He had only a few teeth left, despite vaunted Soviet medical care, and no glasses. . . again despite vaunted Soviet medical care . . . Sigh.
So all of us in our group who had glasses let him try them out and we left a pair.
Through the night he shared stories of horrors upon horrors infilcted upon Ukrainians by Soviet killers, and we all cried.
And he crept away before dawn.
This is so sad, and. . .
Another reason why we must all Stand for Ukraine.
Abused for centuries, but still standing. . .
Varied Thrushes, Northern Flickers in Byrne Creek Ravine Park
I took a walk in Byrne Creek Ravine Park in SE Burnaby this morning and was happy to come across several Varied Thrushes and Northern Flickers.
Cavity in a dead tree — potential nesting site?
This Flicker was drumming on the top of a street lamp to spread notice of its presence far and wide : – )
Foggy Drizzle Graces Foliage in South Burnaby
It was lovely to walk Byrne Creek Ravine Park and Taylor Park in SE Burnaby, BC in the foggy drizzle this morning.
Making ‘Real’ and ‘Lazy’ Cabbage Rolls
Today’s Ukrainian comfort food – cabbage rolls.
On the right, “real” ones, albeit king size, and what my late paternal grandmother would say were not suitable for guests . Her holubtsi were perfectly rolled and bite sized, eh?
. Her holubtsi were perfectly rolled and bite sized, eh?
On the left, “lazy” cabbage rolls made with chopped bits of cabbage too small to roll.
Tavistock Point Trail at Brae Island Regional Park
We took advantage of the lovely sunny day to head out to Ft. Langley, BC. The town was crazy crowded, but Brae Island Regional Park just across the bridge was peaceful.
We walked to Tavistock Point and back, with a side trip around the loop trail, seeing only about a dozen other folks the entire time.
It was quite quiet in terms of birding, but I did get a few shots.
Double-crested Cormorant
Common Merganser
Brown Creeper
And a bunch of cool spider webs!
Seeing Battery Electric Buses More Often
I’m gradually seeing these more often — nice! Corner of Marine Dr. and Southridge Dr. in SE Burnaby, BC.
Hawk, Flicker, Grooming Robin at Taylor Park in Burnaby
A few photos from my morning walk in SE Burnaby, BC.
Red-tailed Hawk on power pole
Northern Flicker
American Robin
