Rare sightings...all in one

I had my first driver's lesson today to bring me up to speed for my upcoming full driver's license test in the upcoming month or two. Can't say I am a big fan of driving, but it's a necessity that we as humans can't live without. I know that. But sometimes I rather walk, bike, or take the bus than drive. The lesson went okay, although driving a smaller and lighter Toyota feels different from driving an old Chrysler mini-van - causing me to turn too quickly and drive over the lines. Oops. I hope I can get use to the instructor's car soon so that I don't have any problem passing the test. Cross my fingers!

With that finished in mid-day, I biked my way to the dyke, and today's sightings were unbelievable! I saw an American Bittern, a Muskrat, and three Coyotes all in one day!!! Amazing! Here are some of the photos I took.

This was what the afternoon started out as. Beautiful, isn't it?

And then I saw this bird hiding among the Cattails. It's an American Bittern!

What gave them away (or how I usually spot them) is usually their round bodies. The brown streaks on the neck are absolutely fantastic in avoiding being seen, but their round fat body just stands out in a field of tall, stringy Cattails. Maybe they should not be too close to the edge of the field in the first place.

My friend, the Great Blue Heron, posing for me.


Then I saw something swimming in the water. Definitely not a duck nor a snake. It's a Muskrat! I spent a good 10 to 20 minutes looking for it in the water or behind some bushes. I could never get the perfect shot! Just as I was giving up and moving on...

I saw it again. Out of the water and nibbling on grasses. A snowfall is headed our way again tonight so this is probably the reason why I am seeing this little guy again! I always see them when weather is about to turn bad. I kind of like it now.

Beautiful male Mallard feasting on the grasses in Terra Nova.

And the clouds are coming! Covering the entire region in coldness and whiteness.

As I was heading home, I heard howls and yelps in the distance. They were the Coyotes. I am pretty sure they were the ones I saw last time. Although I only saw three today, not four.

Doing its business.

This one seemed to be the pack leader, as it was followed by two others.

The "Two Others". I definitely recognize the one on the left that is infected with the mange mite. I don't understand if the Coyotes are really common or not in this area, because nobody seems to be amazed at appreciating these beautiful wild mammals literally walking beside us. I just don't understand when I am the only one getting excited seeing them when others should be too.

Sigh. Bad weather is coming. This late into Winter too?

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Photographic outing on a sunny afternoon

"To learn something new, take the path that you took yesterday."

John Burroughs, American Naturalist

Cicero Sings' comment yesterday gave my daily outing a new meaning. Here're what I learned (or observed) in the gorgeous afternoon.

Saw the pair of Bald Eagles again. Hooray! I haven't seen them in a long time.

Whispering sweet love, or nagging for food? I think it may be the latter as the one on the left flew away immediately heading towards the sea.

Leaving this one alone.

And waiting.

My friend watching this American Wigeon ruining its reflection. Near here, I think I heard a frog croak!? Very interesting.

Not impressed at all.

Beautiful bud.

One versus Many. Alone versus Belong.


I am guessing plants that flower this time of the year depend more on wind-pollination than insect pollination.

A cloud that looks like a dog.

Look at the way this Red-winged Blackbird is perched! One of the many things them birds can do that us humans can't.

Clouds that look like a snake.

Such a beautiful clear day.
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First ever (for me): Peregrine Falcon

Sometimes, I wonder if I will ever become bored about walking (or biking) the same route day after day. Perhaps. But then something special happens and it made it all worth it, and it makes you want to keep coming back. And that's the thing with nature - you ever know what you are going to find or when you are going to find it. And throw in me taking photographs, you will never know if you are going to get that perfect shot until you go out and find that opportunity and press that shutter.

I'll leave the bit about the falcon at the very end. But these were some of photos prior and after the falcon.

Northern Harrier on the horizon.

My friend who I see almost everyday.

Another Great Blue Heron who is very shy (or afraid of me/humans) and always takes off as soon as it sees me.


Black-capped Chickadee watching old man with dog.


I think I finally figured out why this lonely Snow Geese are always hanging out with the Mallards and Wigeons, and not the rest of the Snow Geese group. See that limping left wing? Every time the goose folded its wings, that left wing felled again. I suspect it's either injured or broken - hence the inability to fly, join the rest of the group, and/or even migrate North. I hope I am wrong.

Not entirely sure what this heron was thinking or doing. Or maybe it was just in that particular position at that moment. Interesting though, hiding behind that post. You can see the large group of Snow Geese behind. They were just meters away from the lonely one mentioned above.

White-morph juvenile Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens). I kind of like the gray color. It shows off that interesting pattern on the feathers unseen on the white adults.

Now, onto the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). It was sighted on the North end of the Quilchena Golf Course (next to the residential areas) on that tree where the Red-tailed Hawks usually perched. At first, I thought it was a hawk, but it looked much smaller.

Coming up close, I realized that it was something I have not seen before (since I only really started birding last year), but I know enough to say it wasn't a hawk and was either a merlin or falcon.

According to Environment Canada, their long pointed wings enable them for rapid flights, as they can dive at speeds up to 300-km/hr, making them the fastest of all raptors! They are larger than Merlins and can be differentiated from the Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) by their distinctive "sideburns".

Mostly importantly, they are a species-at-risk here in Canada as their population were almost wiped out by DDT usage during the 60s. Now, it was estimated that over 7000 pairs breed in North America, including Mexico. And I am quite privileged to see one today!

Close-up photo (cropped). They are a beauty! This is the reason why I want to go out everyday.
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Photographic post: Northern Harrier, funky Towhee, and the life under wood debris

A Northern Harrier was observed several times today circling around fields and even residential areas. It finally landed in grassy patch in front of me. I do not think it made any successful catch though. It's a very beautiful bird with the unique-looking face.

This is either a female or a juvenile since they are both brown. But juveniles are rusty beneath, which I still can't tell from these pictures.

It sort of looks like a lion's face on a hawk's body, almost the opposite of an Egyptian Sphinx.

Caught no meal, it took off after a few minutes.

Let's play a game. Guess who is(are) not the same as others.

While looking around, I saw this bird raised its tail feather high above its head. It then turned around and mooned me!


Turns out to be a Spotted Towhee with a funky hairstyle.

I gently flipped over a fallen tree branch, and this was what I saw. Took a few pictures, then I put it back carefully. Life is still abundant in the dark and moist underground. Anyone know what kind of centipede and snail they are?
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Hints of Spring

I finally got outside today to enjoy this beautiful day. Sunny days with beautiful clouds are my favorites because I can daydream away morphing the clouds into animals and things.

Sky-watch picture of the day.

March is here, meaning Spring is less than a month away, and it sure felt like Spring today with the warm temperature and other clues.

Crocus ready for Spring

Warbling and/or presence of American Robins may be a sign of Spring for people in many areas. Not here in Vancouver though, since they are common all year round. Read more about them here (by Huckleberry Days).

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis). Juncos are considered "snowbirds" of the mid-latitudes because they appear only during wintertime in eastern US. As spring arrives, they will return back to the mountains. Again, this does not apply to us here in Lower Mainland neither.

One good indication relevant to us here in Pacific Southwest is the migration of Snow Geese as they slowly fly back to Wrangel Island in the Arctic for Summer, a journey of more than 4000-km! Amazing! Read more about them here (by Huckleberry Days).

A breath-taking sight when hundreds of Snow Geese fly over you. And you also hope none of them will poop on you.

I will surely miss these humble-looking animals as Winter leaves. Birder's Lounge had just posted an informative post regarding the overpopulation situation of Snow Geese here. I hope a more justifiable solution(s) will be implemented other than culling these beautiful birds.

More a more brighter note, there are other more subtle and interesting clues observed by Rock Paper Lizard that indicate the arrival of spring here.

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Sunday Comic: The Other Coast (2009-03-01)

One of my favorite cartoons to read in the Sunday Funnies is "The Other Coast" by Adrian Raeside, a local cartoonist whose inspirations probably come from things that affected me personally as well. I like it because...well, it is usually about humans sharing Earth with other creatures and some of our uncaring or ignorant views about it.

Source: The Other Coast at Creators Syndicate

I like this week's cartoon because it might be what my future looks like. I just hope my life is more Steve Fury than Mr. Couch Potato.

PS - I tried to go out today. I really did, but rain started to fall as soon as I stepped outside. Sigh, the forecast predicts four straight days of rain. I hope they are wrong again.
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