Signs of Spring - native flowering plants and bees

After yesterday's post about the emerging plants seen last Monday at McCarthy Woods, I decided to go there after school today (and before I mailed my tax forms) to see if the plants started flowering yet.  And indeed they were (but in very small numbers)! 

The first thing that caught my attention was a wild Nomada bee (as oppose to the honey bees observed more than two weeks ago) with yellow pollen on its body!

Rock-climbing on a rock-flipping day

Today I went rock-climbing for the first time in my life. It has always been something I wanted to try two years ago but never really had a chance, and whenever I stared up on a rock surface or a tall tree, I always have the urges to reach up and pull myself up. Well, I finally did it today at Trent's rock-climbing wall. I went through the orientation of how to tie the knots when climbing, as well as how to belay climbers. Now I just need to find a partner to go regularly to fulfill my desires of leaving the surface of the earth and move upwards.

Speaking of rocks, today is also rock-flipping day. I remembered it when I got back from the gym and so I decided to just flip rocks around where I live.

Trent University's Kerr House.

(Great) Blue (Heron) Sunday...

While it was still a cloudy Sunday, the good news was that the rain had finally stopped (for a while); thus, giving me the chance to finally go outside and do some biking and wildlife watching.

While there was a thick blanket of clouds northward in Vancouver and the North Shore mountains, there was actually some clear breaks in the clouds over at Steveston and the islands.

Immediately arriving at the dyke, I saw this Juvenile Great Blue Heron doing some catching.

There were many harriers flying over the marsh today. I also saw my first Red-tailed Hawk (and possibly two) first time this season.

Then over in the distance was an adult Great Blue Heron standing on top of the "giant skull" (which is actually just a large piece of wood) and watching the field and the horizon. Quite a beautiful but lonely scene, I think.

Watching.

Zooming out.

The complete scenery.

Then a few meters away in the ditch stood another adult heron. Again posing beautifully.

Such a handsome creature, no?

By the time I was done, I had saw 5 Great Blue Herons, some harriers, many sparrows and blackbirds, a wigeon, and two coots. Not a great day, but I'll take whatever I get from this long-desired outing.

While heading home, the sun was slowly setting and the clouds blocked the view, but at the same time creating this beautiful warm orange color.

This was a panoramic shot of the scenary. I wish my camera did a better job capturing the colors. Nevertheless, today was better than I expected. Hooray!

365 days ago (2008-11-22) - Forest & Ocean. ... How I wish the weather right now is just as good as last year's.
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