Despite the cold, windy weather, I got lots of bird photos at Fraser Foreshore Park in south Burnaby, BC, today.
Anna’s Hummingbird
Nice to see Bald Eagles hanging out at last year’s nest.
Girls are attracting a lot of attention at the Fraser Foreshore Park ponds. Two Wood Duck males and a female, and two Ring-necked Duck males and a female.
Hooded Merganser
My first ramble with my new (to me) Nikon D500 DSLR body.
I’ve always wanted one of these tanks that are great for wildlife/action photography. Yes, the D500 is old, but it’s still a superb performer that got a Gold rating from DP Review.
Got the body, two batteries, charger, manual, and original strap for less than half of what a D500 body cost new at its introduction.
Oh, yes, and 81,000 shutter activations, with a rating of 200,000, so lots of life in it yet. . .
Byrne Creek blossoms
Varied Thrush in Byrne Creek Ravine Park
Kinglet in Taylor Park
Wind-blown clouds viewed from Taylor Park
And later. . . Sora the Cat asking if I’m ready for cuddly/sleep yet . . .
We’re sad that TV Japan will no longer be available via cable. We’ve had a subscription here in Canada for many years at around C$18/month.
It’s the channel we watch together the most (my partner is Japanese), and it likely takes up the most PVR recordings.
It’s got amazingly photographed documentaries and nature shows.
Heart-warming family shows like Kazoku ni Kampai with Tsurube, and travel/history/geography/geology fave Tamori.
Morning talk show Asaichi that explores interesting places in Japan, good food, and social and health issues.
The quirky Instruction Manual Theatre.
Natural Grandeur of the East with its mind-blowing nature videos.
Somewhere Street that travels the world to document cities and their historical sites and local food. . .
Kokoro no Tabi in which we follow a crusty old dude who cycles around Japan to visit sites suggested by letters from viewers for sentimental reasons. . .
“My late mother loved walking a path to a beach near . . . .”
“The best years of my life were in elementary school in . . . where we’d climb a hill . . . ”
They are moving to an online streaming service — at US$25/month, or nearly C$40/month. Sigh. That’s over double. . .
Our beloved late Choco, and our current Sora, both like(d) to sit on my lap when I’m on my computer, and reach out and rub their gums and teeth on the corner of the desk to my left.
Buds!
In addition to the Northern Harrier I chased (see previous post), I also saw other birds at Centennial Beach in Delta, BC.
There were lots of Bald Eagles. At one point over a dozen were soaring high together.
I heard these Killdeer before I spotted them.
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
I followed and watched this Northern Harrier for about an hour at Centennial Beach in Delta, BC, this morning. I’ve got a sore neck and back, but got a few decent photos out of the near 200 that I shot of this raptor!
Russian leaders are becoming increasingly unhinged.
Medvedev has threatened “nuclear retaliation” on Europe and the West if Russia returns to its 1991 borders.
In other words, he is saying that if the Russian dictatorship is forced to live within its borders, and stop invading other countries, it’s going to unleash the nukes.
It’s fascinating, but scary, at how afraid Russia’s oligarchy is of freedom and democracy.
At how Russia’s oligarchy can think of nothing but empire.
At how Russia’s oligarchy is still flogging the “Nazis in Ukraine” line, when it was the oligarchy’s fave leader Stalin who signed a pact with Hitler and Nazi Germany.
Do not fall for Russian propaganda. They are experts at it. Have been for centuries.
The oligarchs want to keep their mansions and billions. It’s not politics, it’s lust.
I cannot believe the Federal Liberals in Canada are still waffling over ever reaching our NATO committment to 2% of our national budget going to Defence.
In WWI and WWII Canada was respected. Canadian troops were feared by the Axis. Canada punched way above its weight.
We had farmers, trappers, hunters, and First Nations who grew up with rifles, with hunting, with living off the land, and who were deadly in war.
We are now for the most part urban softies who have no clue about the likely impact of wars “far away” that will impact us sooner or later.
You never win with bullies with appeasement.
We are witnessing bullies on a massive scale with Putin and Xi Jinping.
I love this shot because I look so stoked and ready to put my heart into this gig. . .
Not to mention my Samurai Photographer T, eh? 🙂
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cipywnyk/albums/72157671261331878/