Afternoon Tea for two

Last winter, my co-workers won a free afternoon tea for two at Sutton Place Hotel in downtown Vancouver, it expires in November, so today my mother and I went there for tea (because my parents are visiting Taiwan tomorrow for a month or two).

We had a brunch beforehand and the afternoon tea was delicious. Lots of tasty pastries and sandwiches. Yum!

Heron and Cats

I biked to Finn Slough again in this cloudy weather, and saw this heron in the ditch, and when it flew to the next section of the ditch, you could see all the frogs hiding in the grasses jumping into the water for cover.

Biking along the railway tracks

The rain stopped and blue sky appeared today. Time to grab my bike, leave the computer, and go out for a much needed break.

I slowly biked to South Dyke. Once I got there, I headed towards Finn Slough and spotted a couple juvenile Cedar Waxwings eating the fruits (of what?).

Another bike ride to Terra Nova

The weather was so nice today that another long bike ride is a must to Terra Nova. A lot of people were out today too to enjoy the sunshine.

Lots of Yellowlegs resting on the logs in Steveston.

Wind sailing.

Photo of the day: Pacific Treefrog

Today I biked all the way to Terra Nova and back. It feels weird seeing this area still in its summer clothes - green and bright colours, while the autumnal equinox is coming in just 3 days. As I was biking past the Terra Nova Natural Area (and noticing its new signs), I saw a Woolly Bearer on the ground, some kind of warbler, and a tiny stranger looking at me through the needle leaves.

It was a Pacific Treefrog (Hyla regilla)! Lifer! Too bad it disappeared while I was trying to get a photo of its dorsal.
.

Day trip to North and West Vancouver

Today, my family and some family friends went to North Vancouver to do some sight-seeing.

Our first stop was the Capilano Salmon Hatchery. We saw a lot of salmons trying to swimming upstream to get to their destinations. Definitely a group of species that deserves to be admired and protected.

My mother said the "fall" is quite loud. I said Niagara Falls is definitely a thousand times louder than this.

Mist over the Capilano River. The mist added a sense of mystique to the river.

[Video] LCBO Enviro Report - Shrike Recovery Project

This video was done a few years ago, but this was my job/home this summer and I miss it very much.

Same species, same care, but still endangered.

The video is from this website: http://www.lcbo.com/socialresponsibility/enviroreport/
More information about the efforts trying to save the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike: http://www.wildlifepreservation.ca/wildlife/shrike.php
.

Sky-watching and Mount Baker

Didn't go out the last two days because of the rain and working to find a job/grad school supervisors on-line.

Drove my mom to Steveston to find some wall art to hang up in our new home, but we didn't see any. Then we did some grocery shopping and borrowing books from the library.

On the way back...

Sky-watch


Mount Baker


Mt. Baker close-up, almost as beautiful as Mount Fuji.

.

Biked to Steveston again

Biked to the South Dyke Trail before the rain came. Still a lot of salmons in the river, I guess this seal was having a feast.

Proximity to Finn Slough

Today I just realized how close Finn Slough is to where I live. Life is certainly going to be interesting from now on.

Really like the sign and the writings.

I rode my bike to here, so it was a bit awkward to bring it across the bridge. Maybe I will remember to bring a lock next time. This time, I didn't cross the bridge. [I always hesitate when crossing the unsecured wood boards.]