Owl Talk at Richmond Nature Park

I always wanted to go to one of those events held in Richmond Nature Park but they are usually too late at night or full already for me to attend. Well, today's Owl Talk in Richmond Nature Park gave me the perfect opportunity to attend and come close with one of the most interesting animals ever!

Before the event, I wandered around the Nature Park. There was a lot of chickadees, juncos, towhees, Downies, sparrows, and others around the feeder. Further away from the feeder were these wrens that were almost impossible to photograph (or see). But it was a beautiful day to be outside.

Walking through the park.


Enjoying the reflections.


And watching the puffy clouds and the gorgeous blue sky.




Some Black-capped Chickadee shots.

When the time approached, I went to the building and it was almost packed already - with children, parents, grandparents, everyone!

The talk was given by Ted Williams, a volunteer educator from Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (O.W.L.). Ted shared some background information about the society, some of his conservation and preservation views, interesting adaptations about owls, and his personal experiences and stories. Ted is definitely passionate about the animals he's caring and is experienced in handling the animals and the audience. It was also great to refresh and learn new things about owls!

Near the end of the talk, it was time to show off the stars!

Scooter the Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii)

Scooter feels threatened by human contact, but not by a feather.

Curious George the Barn Owl (Tyto alba), who is under care of the O.W.L. volunteers ever since he was abandoned by its mother - due to its hyper-extended right wing.

Jesse the Barred Owl (Strix varia) - my favorite of the day. Jesse is so attached to Ted now that she views Ted as her mate and will even preen his hairs.

Beautiful Jesse

What a wonderful day today!

PS - O.W.L. is a NPO run primarily by volunteers caring for injured bird of preys and releasing them when they are healed; therefore, they need a lot of space and funding to maintain the facilities. It would be nice if people could donate or visit them to help them out. Thank you.

365 days ago (2009-01-16) ...
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Long-missed Blue Sky & Long-due Good-bye

Today is my last day at work. And the weather in the morning was miserable - rainy and windy. But by noon, the wind blew all the clouds away and we had this long-missed blue sky right above us.

During lunch, a few co-workers and I had lunch at Moose's Down Under (excellent food). I am definitely going to miss working with them again.

Thank you and good luck with you all! Good bye!
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Thank you, my friends in Taiwan

As the rain continues to pour from the sky without any indication of stopping, my desire to go outside is close to zero. Plus my temporary work in downtown is terminating tomorrow, so my mood is quite gray and black and crazy at the moment.

Then the sign of hope and strength arrived in a brown envelope today! Inside are all of my friends' well-wishes from Taiwan, a wedding invitation (that I missed - Congratulations, Kai & Cindy!), and the latest issue of Forestry Research Newsletter which has an article of me receiving the 3rd price award for my internship project a couple of months ago!

I do not what to say except thanks everyone! And this will be a source of energy for me to stay determined and strong for the long road ahead.

Cheers and I wish the best of luck to you all too!

368 days ago (2009-01-11) ...
367 days ago (2009-01-12) ...
365 days ago (2009-01-14) ...
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Visiting QEP on a (relatively) nice Sunday

Today, my mother and I visited Queen Elizabeth Park (QEP). It has been a while since we went there and it sure brings back a lot of fun childhood memories.

There was not many birds to see today. We only saw a couple of Mallards swimming in the ponds and this Great Blue Heron.

I wonder if they are always here when I was young.


Entering the quarry with beautiful over-towering bamboos.


Watching the garden from above.


Beautiful garden shot.


The statues were stolen awhile back, but they were returned and back remaining in their positions.


Nice background!

Panoramic view of the mountains. So grateful that it was not rainy today.


Saw this while passing by the "portable" office/church/ceremony place (my mother tried to explain it to me, but I am still not completely sure). I thought it is a nice placement to capture.


And of course, can't come to QEP without taking a picture of the conservatory. We didn't go in because it was slowly getting darker by that time. Maybe next time - before it closes down (or whatever the future holds for this historic landmark).

Back to work tomorrow.

365 days ago (2009-01-10) ...
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Gray Friday at Harbour Green Park

A pretty gray day today. I went out to Harbour Green Park for a stroll during the lunch break. After a short while, a light drizzle started to come down and so I went to buy lunch and went back to the office to have my meal.

Pelagic Cormorant

Unknown Gull (Larus spp.) Juvenile

Have an enjoyable weekend, everyone!

365 days ago (2009-01-08) ...
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More Morning Colors

For two days in a row, the morning sky has been just absolutely breath-taking. I just can't resist taking my camera out while waiting for the skytrain and capture the moments.

Waiting for the train.

Inside the train. This could easily be the most beautiful image I had captured...had there not been a person's head or the window blocking the way.

Another shot looking across the river.

After arriving at Vancouver, there was still some time for some more pictures.

Morning sun rising...

... and painting the city in one of my favorite colors.

I went out for a quick stroll during lunch break to the Harbour Green Park.

Sky/mountain/tree/seaplane-watching all at once.

A B&W shot of the waterfront.
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Wordless Wednesday: Morning Colors at Skytrain Station

367 days ago (2009-01-04) ...
365 days ago (2009-01-06) ...
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Visiting Steveston on a Sunday

I bought a monthly transit pass this January and so today my mother and I visited Steveston using the Sunday special (one family per monthly pass).

Even though it wasn't sunny, the weather was dry and many people visited the harbour.

A black and white shot of the harbour.


There were many boats as usual. This is suppose to be a colored image, but for some reason only the boat in the middle stood out from the seemly black-and-white surroundings. Nice unintended effect, no?

Sky-watching

Gull on Patrol

While photographing, I noticed something on the water surface. Turned out to be a Harbour Seal, Phoca vitulina, swimming among the boats.

It never raised more than its eyes and nose above the surface, but my mother and I had a great time trying to spot this mammal. Last time I saw a seal was about a year ago at the same spot.

On the other hand, the visitors focused more on the magnificent and attractive Mute Swan.

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

Someone brought a huge bag of bread loaf sides and was feeding them.

Having enough of people feeding wild animals, my mother and I walked to the other side of the harbour.

A magnificent ship - Ku'ulakai.

Someone sailing away, I wonder where to.

Then we walked along the waterfronts and saw this male Common Goldeneye (because of the rounder white spot). It swam farther and farther away from us as I was trying to attach my teleconverter lens to the camera.

Bald Eagles on the other side of the bank.

Resting a bit.

Enjoying the golden reflection

A lone male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) was found.


It played catching-up with us, and I had a difficult photographing it.

We also saw this cute Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) in winter plumage.

It swam farther away from us. We saw it eventually again on the other side of the waterfront as we were heading to the bus stop, and it was continuing swimming towards the harbour.

What a great day!

Back to work tomorrow. Hooray! (but not really).

365 days ago (2009-01-03) ...
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Hasty Sky-watching

Once again it was drizzling all day until about 4-pm when I saw sunshine outside my window. That was when I quickly grabbed my stuff and biked to the dyke knowing that I only have a few more minutes of light before the darkness arrives. So here're my sky-watch photos of the day.

The only bird I watched today.

A HDR-esque photo as the sun vanishes behind the island.
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Dark and rainy to start off 2010

Not the greatest day, weather-wise, to start off the new year. It was dark and rainy when I woke up in the morning. So I went back to sleep.

It was in the afternoon when the rain stopped and sky cleared. And a rainbow even appeared! I quickly grabbed the camera and tripod and the the garbage bags to be thrown out. By the time I got to the dumpster with the trashes, the rainbow had already disappeared. Such a shame! It was a nice-looking rainbow too.

Then I quickly pedaled to the dyke. It was even sunny...but not for long.


The wind picked up and the clouds rolled in. And it was dark and gloomy again.


I got the hint and turned my bike around and started going home.


Watched a couple of harriers flying along the beaches. Overall, a pretty boring day.

365 days ago (2009-01-01) ...
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