Biking to Terra Nova

When I was pedaling towards the dyke this afternoon, for some reason, I felt so out of shape. Maybe it was because I was moving against the wind or maybe I just need to work out more regularly.

Anyways, today was relatively sunny with blue skies.

Eagle soaring overhead scaring the ducks.

A handsome Mallard male with the shiny green head.

A couple of Pied-billed Grebes were also present.

At Phoenix Pond, a Belted Kingfisher was ratting and fishing. Unfortunately, photographing here in the afternoon is always difficult because it means shooting into the light.

This kingfisher was quite shy and stayed in the branches for a long time. It also had its back against the water and was rattling while facing the trees - not sure if it is warning the other birds of its territory or something else.

In Garry Point Park, I spotted the Crocus flowers flowering now. Unfortunately, I didn't stop to take a photo.

A heron walking in the muddy ditch.

Reaching West Dyke Trail - getting cloudier.

Snow Geese still around in Richmond. It's hard to know if they are still here without coming to Terra Nova (frequently) and the local newspaper not publishing annoying articles against them.


Photographing the reeds in Terra Nova Slough. I like the blue gradation and the reeds at the bottom. I can easily make this into a background for PowerPoint and write the text in the water.


Cattails.

I then heard crows cawing and flying towards me. Immediately, I noticed a crow was chasing something else and it flew away and perched on a tree across the slough. I quickly stopped photographing and went to check it out.

It was a Red-tailed Hawk! First of the year!


What a beautiful creature.

It taking off. This image was sort of out-of-focus so I had to sharpen it (a lot) and shrink the image to make it presentable. Darn!


This was an under-body image that was sharper. Wow!

Looking across the Fraser River.

Something chasing the shorebirds.

While standing on the bank, I saw at least five herons flying upriver from the marsh.


Continuing to search for the Great Horned Owl found around here. Still no luck. Sigh.

Crocus flower popping out along the dyke near Terra Nova. Five days later than last year's (at the same area).


Heading home.

I decided to bike directly from the West Dyke straight home (along Williams Road). Turned out that it only took me about 16 minutes to bike about 4.5-km (plus stopping for red light two times).
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