Riverview Park and Zoo, Peterborough

One of the main attractions of Peterborough is probably Riverview Park and Zoo, operated by the Peterborough Utilities Group. It is quite an interesting place considering that it is completely free and actually has a fair number of animals to make it a good place to visit if you have a couple of hours to spend.

The first animal that I saw was a Monarch butterfly flying beside the playground. I didn't see a whole lot of them the limited number of days that I have been here.

The classic M on Monarch.

More from INP: Landscape, red squirrel, and caribou

No photography for me in the last few days. I've been busy catching up on my literature reading for my research and buying more things for my dorm once I move in.

Therefore, here are some photos from the summer that I have not yet posted.

In the first few days after arriving at Ivvavik National Park, park staff and I spend a lot of time scoping out potential sites for my project, and so I was able to get a good look a small part of the massive landscape.

2011 Peterborough Folk Festival

Today, my mother and I spent an entertaining afternoon at the Peterborough Folk Festival. This event is much smaller than the Mariposa Folk Festival that I attended last year in Orillia, but it is just as fun to attend (plus it's free too!).

The turnout was still quite impressive given only a handful of musicians playing and some vendors (comparing to Mariposa again).

(Almost) Back to School!

Hello from Peterborough! My mother and I arrived in Peterborough two days ago. The first night was crazy with thunderstorms and lighting and power outages in the city. The first two days were hectic with stuff-buying and getting to know Peterborough.

Today I finally had the chance to show my mother the school that I will be attending for the next two years.

A beautiful day.

Skywatching Monday

Rained almost the entire day.
I stayed home and packed.
Leaving for school in two days.
Sun came out in the afternoon.
Crazy day at home.
Glad I am leaving soon.

Fourth Annual Richmond Raptor Festival

Today was the 4th Richmond Raptor Festival. August is a great time to be back in B.C. - lots of sunshine and happening events.

Held at Terra Nova Community Garden

Attempting photograph dragonflies in flight

Do insects sleep or do they just take breaks resting in their busy short lives?

Bumblebee "resting" on a blackberry leaf.

Insects at London Farm & Goldfinch

I visited London Farm for the first time since coming back. All the tulips are gone, replaced by other brightly-coloured flowers.

There were different kinds of insects in the garden as well.

Biking to West Dyke Trail

Here are some of the things I encountered while out biking at West Dyke Trail.

Red-eared Slider, one of the many in the ditch.

Pretty good day - wildlife-wise

This Glaucous-winged Gull was staring at me when I arrived at Phoenix Pond in Steveston. Looking around, I realized there was a dead salmon in the water below.

Flowers and Insects from GRCG

Here are some photos from Gilbert Road Community Garden. On my way there, I saw a sign that said "Welcome to Gentle Cove" (or something like that) with many filming equipments around, must be for that TV show "Once Upon A Time" currently being shot in Steveston and Richmond. It would be kind of interesting to watch it just for the sake of seeing Steveston on TV.

Bright colours

Photographic Post - Swans, Cows, and Collared-Dove

Mute Swans at London's Landing

Butterflies other than Whites

Today's a good Sunday.

Nice weather.

Insects from Iona Beach

I drove my mom to Iona Beach Regional Park to check out some wildlife before we went over to pick up my father from work.

Nice weather today. I am beginning to think that birding in the summer is not as exciting as spring or fall (when the birds are passing through during migration). We saw a lot of swallows, some gulls, and some ducks.

More Than Usual

Saw an unknown grasshopper at the Gilbert Road Community Garden today. It was sort of trapped between me and meshed fence, hence the closer-than-usual photos. Hopefully someone will help me identify it over at BugGuide.  [Edit: It may be a Carolina Grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina), thanks to Tim for the help.]

Hits (Eagle and Hawk) and Miss (Snake)

I didn't stay out too long this afternoon - only went for a short bike ride to the dyke, Finn Slough, then back home.

Weather today.

Ptarmigans of Ivvavik National Park

In Ivvavik National Park, the most frequently heard and seen bird is probably the ptarmigans. There are two species of ptarmigans in the park: the more common Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) and less common Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta).

In the beginning of the breeding season, it is quite common to see males clucking and flying around the field, and sometimes perching on treetops making its presence known.

Near our tent area, there was at least one male Willow Ptarmigan that liked to call out loudly while everyone was still asleep. For people that were not familiar with their calls, the sound was definitely weird and annoying (after a while). Click here to listen to their "nasal barking notes and rattles".

Bees and Grasshoppers and Some Birds

I went out for a quick jog this morning as soon as I got off bed - the only time that makes sense for me to go running - not too hot and with an empty stomach. Then in the afternoon, I biked to South Dyke Trail. First stop, the community garden. It was cloudy and windy today so not many insects were spotted.

Saw this honey bee cleaning its tongue and wiping pollen off its body - quite neat to be close-up and see this beautiful creature doing its things without it flying away.

Looking back at Inuvik Community Greenhouse

My family and I went out for meals the entire day, as well as getting some groceries and running errands, so here are some photos from July 23 when I visited Inuvik Community Greenhouse - definitely much greener compare to almost two months ago.

It's quite incredible to see the fruits and veggies and flowers that the local residents grow. The benefits of living in a place that receives 24 hours of daylight for a couple of months in the summer.

Trading dragonflies for people

I wasn't in a particular good mood early on in my bike ride when some morons in a car decided to yell when coming up right behind me on a bike. Not cool at all.

So I pedaled past Steveston (so many people, with the festival and the farmer's market going on at the same time, as well as the event going on at London Farm) and headed towards Terra Nova. Terra Nova now is like a dragonfly heaven, so many individuals (compare to the ones I saw up North) flying around and claiming territories. That put me in a good mood already.

Quick glance at the Richmond Maritime Festival

My mother and I went to the Richmond Maritime Festival this afternoon. Despite living in Richmond for many years, this is the first time we attended this event.

A nice day with many Yellowlegs resting on logs.

Two unknown insects

Trying to figure out two insects that I saw today.

A hornet chewing on a wooden pole at Gilbert Road Community Garden. Asked for help here. [Edit: I think it may be a male Bald-faced Hornet, Dolichovespula maculata, gathering fibers for nest-making.]

Wordless Thursday - Herons and Summertime in Richmond

Insects in Richmond

I went out for a bike ride this afternoon. Such a nice day. Can't believe it is only summer here, whereas autumn is changing the colours of the leaves in the Arctic Circle. There are many things different here down South, such as the large trees, people, lifestyle, inexpensive food, and biodiversity.

I stopped at Gilbert Road Community Garden and spent a great amount of time photographing the insects that came my way.

Yellow-faced Bumblebee (Bombus vosnesenskii) sticking out its long tongue.

Roadtrip to Whitehorse and Dawson City

Our roadtrip began in the afternoon of July 27th.

Driving on the infamous Dempster Highway.

Flowers of Ivvavik National Park

I am back in Richmond now! The twelve-hour layover at Edmonton was extremely exhausting, especially when it only takes about 1.5 hours to fly to Vancouver. Anyways, I am home now and would like to relax for a bit for the next few days. Still, I would like to share some photos of the beautiful plants of Ivvavik National Park because flower identification (of the region) is a skill that I really improved this past summer.

Soapberry (Shepherdia canadensis) male flowers

Study Site 3, Ivvavik National Park

My co-workers and I just finished a whirlwind road trip through the Yukon on July 27 to 31, and I am now in Edmonton Airport waiting for my flight back to Vancouver. The last couple of days have been crazy, fun, and tiring at the same time. Hopefully I will have sorted out some of the photos from the road trip by the end of the week. But now, more photos from Ivvavik National Park.

The pristine landscape of Ivvavik never ceases to amaze me, even if it is a study site that I go every 3 to 7 days. These photos are from one of my study sites or on the way to it. Beautiful, isn't it?