Tracking down pumpkin pollen & Autumn photos

The temperature has been dropping steadily since the last weekend, when I was helping my friend searching for male pumpkin flowers with viable pollen.  We traveled to two different farms outside of Ottawa, but we only got about three small vials worth of pumpkin pollen because of the recent frost.

One of the farms we visited was Saunders Farm, a popular place to go during autumn with all of its pumpkin- and Halloween-related activies.  We got to go on a hayride to look for flowers.

Jackson Park, Peterborough

My mother returned back to BC yesterday, so I am officially on my way through graduate school now. Just need to wait for the classes to start next Tuesday.

I went for a short jog in the morning when I was taking out the garbage. It was incredibly warm and humid but it felt good to explore and discover more of Peterborough.

Then in the afternoon, I went to check out a park nearby where I live called Jackson Park. It is a beautiful place with a small lake right at the entrance with many trails and streams running around it. [Most of the photos in this post were taken with the OM lens. I'll probably use the wider lens the next time.]

Returning to Grouse Mountain

Long story short, my friend from Taiwan invited me to visit Grouse Mountain with her and knowing that I haven't been there in more than 10 years, I can't say no to the opportunity.

Starting the trip across the Burrard Inlet by SeaBus, definitely my favorite method of public transportation in Vancouver.

Fly with cool eyes

Another fair weather day.

Very low tide. It was actually pretty steep walking from the 'dock' down to the floating platform.

Seeing birds up-close: robin, cormorant, and falcon

Another day of gorgeous weather! Look at the beautiful blue sky.

Pretty good birding afternoon at Garry Point

I thought it would be colder today, apparently not. Maybe because I had another sweater and a warmer pants on. Nonetheless, it was another beautiful day out.

The first birds I saw were four Killdeers in this field sticking their bills into the water.

Walked along Iona jetty

I drove to Iona this afternoon and decided to walk the entire way along the jetty, which I haven't done before.

Definitely a nice day to take on this task.

Saw a grebe along the jetty. Probably a Western Grebe.

Carden memories come to an end & Niagara Falls

My summer field season concluded yesterday. I am now in my friend's home in Ontario before I fly back to B.C. on Saturday. There are many memories, photos, thoughts, emotions, and experiences from the last 4.5 months that I would like to share, but now they remain unorganized in my head. Hopefully, I will be able to share them as time progresses.

Here are some photos from the last few days on the field site and last boat rides on Lake Dalrymple.

Orange Sulphurs enjoying the salts on the road.

A juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird posing for the camera.

Heron doing its business

My mother and I went to Richmond Centre today to get some supplies for my upcoming trip to Ontario.

Cutting through the Minoru Park.

Using the pin-hole art filter in the camera. Very cool.

Good time to visit Minoru Lakes Park!

I helped out my mother with grocery shopping today in Richmond center. Before that we walked around the Minoru Lakes Park. It was very beautiful with the blossoming flowers and the colors! It was a very nice walk!

White Magnolia flowers.

Colorful hyacinths.

Langley and then sunset watching at dyke

Today was quite tiring. I had an on-call job all the way in the Kwantley University Langley Campus today, so I had to wake up really really early and after 3 bus transfers and more than 2 hours later, I was there. After it finished around 3-pm. I took the bus again back to Richmond. It rained most of the day, but it stopped when I got home in the afternoon. The golden sunset looked quite interesting today and so I grabbed my bike immediately after I got home and enjoyed the sunset.

Mother finding chickadee cavity and bittern

Seeing how the Spring-like conditions have brought some flowers to blossom, my mother and I went for an afternoon stroll in front of my old school today.

The Moon was also visible in the daytime, and I thought the flowers and branches framed the Moon nicely. Plus, I like the bokeh.


Close-up on the flowers.

While cutting through the neighborhoods, we spotted a Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) flying in front of us. While I was hoping to photograph the bird, my mother (from another angle) saw it poked its head into a tree and came out. Examining it closely, I realized this is a cavity!

The hole is probably quite a bit larger than a loonie and about 2 meters above ground. You can't imagine how excited I was when I saw this - since I just spent the entire summer looking at nest cavities. I didn't spend too much looking at it since the chickadee was back and I did not want to disturb it. [Hugh of Rock Paper Lizard also saw the cavity excavation by chickadees last spring.]

Then we slowly walked to the dyke.

Not a happy duck to be photographed...

My mother seemed to be on a roll today and pointed out this bird to me when I didn't even see it. It's an American Bittern!

The bittern went into its usual stop-raise head-move again routine.


It has been a while since I last saw this bird. So gorgeous! And good to know it is still around.

We were hoping to see the Bald Eagle today but they were not around when we got there. However, shortly after we sat on the bench an eagle had arrived.

Thank you!


My mother also said hello to her friend, the heron.

Moon watch of the day.

Another Great Blue Heron as we slowly walked home. This one was on someone's roof.

Enjoying the sunset.

And pretty soon, the sun disappeared behind the island.

So grateful to have my mother with me on my walk, otherwise I wouldn't see so many new things today.

365 days ago (2009-02-21) ... My 100th post, and right now I am in my 362nd. Wow!

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Awaiting blue day

As much as it is great for the world to see Vancouver's true winter gray, miserable colors (and why nobody know about this beforehand, I have no idea), I wish sunshine would just appear for a while (I tried to go out on Thursday, but as soon as I got to the dyke, it started pouring and so I went back home).

Today was just one of the days I been wishing for - although many people probably wished the same thing judging by the number of people today at the dyke.

Beautiful blue sky with a good view.

Plenty of birds, such as Golden-crowned Sparrows, were out foraging.

While at the Share-Farm, I saw a Short-eared Owl flying towards the Snow Geese and disappearing behind the tall grasses. I decided to go and see where it had landed and hoped I will be able to photograph it. And there it was! Standing on top of a pole and looking at the grasses below.

So magnificent. It flew away shortly afterwards, but what an experience to see it closer!

By the Terra Nova Slough, I saw a pair of Killdeers again at the spot where a pair nested last year. I wonder if they are the same couple.

Such elegant birds. I wouldn't know they were there had they not make any noises.

Beautiful sky-watching at Terra Nova.
Zooming out of the TCON lens gave this interesting dark corners around the image. Is this what lomography is?

Sunset - time to go home.

Oh yeah, Happy Valentine's Day / Chinese New Year / first Canadian gold medal in Canada (can't believe no one won a gold back in '88).

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Loose Gravel = Goose Rave?

Today's weather was nice with blue sky. Good day for a bike ride. I didn't see too much (2 Great Blue Herons, Mallards, and a Northern Harrier) before I reach Terra Nova.

Nice view from Terra Nova Slough.

Arrived just in time for a "Goose Rave".

Everyone is invited!

Party!

First come, first serve.

I watched the Snow Geese feast a bit before calling it a day.

Saw this cute Song Sparrow.

Handsome Red-tailed Hawk.

Good day overall.

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Biked to Steveston & Saw Kingfisher

I biked southward along the dyke today - towards Steveston. I did not saw too much wildlife today. But while I was photographing some Mallards, a blue something flew in between us. I looked at it and it was a female Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)!

It didn't stay perched for too long, and pretty soon it was off to another tree and then gone. Definitely made today's trip worthwhile.

I biked around the Garry Point Park enjoying the sunny blue sky and the sound of the ocean.

Looking at Olas de Viento (Wind Waves).

Mt. Baker.


Another lengthy photo of the sunset in Garry Point Park.
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