Went back to BC for 10 days

I went back to BC for reading week from Oct 11th to 20th.  Aside from going out twice nature-watching and five times for food, I spent most of my time indoors working.  Such is the life of a busy PhD student.

On the second day back, I went to Richmond's Sharing Farm for an hour or two with my mother.  The sky was cloudy and cool temperature - typical Vancouver.

Dew

Birds of Ivvavik National Park

Here are some of my better bird photos from this summer.

One of the first animals that we saw in the park once we arrived - a male Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in winter plumage.

Wordless Wednesday - Biked to Phoenix Pond & Finn Slough

Pair of Yellowlegs

Insects from Iona Beach

I drove my mom to Iona Beach Regional Park to check out some wildlife before we went over to pick up my father from work.

Nice weather today. I am beginning to think that birding in the summer is not as exciting as spring or fall (when the birds are passing through during migration). We saw a lot of swallows, some gulls, and some ducks.

Quick glance at the Richmond Maritime Festival

My mother and I went to the Richmond Maritime Festival this afternoon. Despite living in Richmond for many years, this is the first time we attended this event.

A nice day with many Yellowlegs resting on logs.

One more post before leaving for fieldwork

Hi all, this will probably be my last post for the next ~70 days as I will be leaving for fieldwork tomorrow (Saturday) morning.

Left the office a bit early yesterday morning so that I can check out some wildlife along the way.

American Robin singing.

First (decent) photos of Barn Swallow of the year

Before I reached the dyke, I saw a crow on wire removing feathers from a mysterious dead small bird. Unfortunately, it flew away after I took out my camera, and changed the lens and settings. Moments later, two Barn Swallows landed on the same wire and started singing.

Fly with cool eyes

Another fair weather day.

Very low tide. It was actually pretty steep walking from the 'dock' down to the floating platform.

Hummingbird Observing

Six straight posts; three straight days of nice weathers; excellent!

A bit cloudy today, but overall it was acceptable.

Crystal Clear Day

A crystal clear day today. Spring doesn't get any better than this, I don't think.

Biking along the South Dyke Trail

Bird- and blossom-watching in Steveston.

In the afternoon, I drove my mother to Steveston to buy groceries. We went there via Dyke Road to see some wildlife along the way.

Common Mergansers resting on a floating log.

First bike ride to the dyke of 2011

Hope everyone is having a good 2011 so far. Yesterday, I went out for a short walk with my mom around the neighborhood. Today, I biked to Steveston and then to West Dyke Trail to watch the eagles, then back home.

I gave my new jacket and pants a test today. Very warm, I didn't even feel cold at all today - maybe because today is warmer than the last couple of days.

One of the first photos of the year - photographs of Lesser Yellowlegs at the beach across from London Farm.

Looking down below.

Photos from my birding Sunday

These photos were from Sunday when I biked to Terra Nova to do some bird watching. It was cloudy with some sunny breaks but at least it wasn't raining.

The background and the silhouette really caught my attention and deserved a photo.

Gulls and Yellowlegs on a cloudy afternoon

The weather was quite nice this morning - sunny with some blue skies. Unfortunately, I wasn't ready to go out until the afternoon, which by then was cloudy and windy. I ended up just biking to South Dyke Trail and part way into Steveston before heading back home.

Across from London Farm, there is a little beach where you can wander into. There were some gulls resting on the logs, so I thought it was a good opportunity to get some bird-in-flight shots. I took a lot of shots, but only these ones were presentable.

Like its yellow bill and pink feet.

Applepalooza and bird-watching in Steveston

The last few times I biked along the dyke, I saw a few signs about an upcoming Applepalooza festival at the South Dyke Sharing Farm on Oct 3. So this morning, I decided to go and check it out; plus, it would be my first time at this sharing farm.

There were only four tents, a small lunch-selling table, a game tent, and live music playing.

I did not buy any apple trees, so I didn't stay for long. But there were still many pretty flowers to take pictures of.

Bright red!


Probably my favorite flower in this farm. No idea what it is, but it's so beautiful.

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.

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.

Photographic Post: Happy Happy Halloween

Saw too many interesting things today and resulted in taking too many photos. What a fun day!

Biked to the dyke and enjoyed a beautiful sunny afternoon.

In the distance was a Northern Harrier resting. This is probably one of my better shots of the harrier. Today was officially the first time I taken out the TCON and used it for wildlife pictures.

Today also marked the first time I observed Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum)! What a beautiful bird! They were unafraid of me and flew over my heads again and again. The ones I photographed were mostly juveniles resting on trees, as identified by their "streaked fronts and generally washed-out appearance."

I believe this is an adult.

After spending a good amount of time admiring the waxwings, I continued on with my bike ride. Along the way, a Bald Eagle flew in front of me and tried to perch on a skinny branch. The stick broke, the eagle then did a somersault, and flew over me with the branches in its claws. What a spectacular sighting.

Bald Eagle flying over me and heading towards the nest by the golf course. I guess it's time to come back and repair their nest.

By the Terra Nova slough, I spotted a single Yellowlegs all by itself. I am guessing it was a Lesser Yellowlegs though I can't really tell for sure. Again, I took these shots with my TCON.

I like the bird and its reflection.

Snow Geese over Terra Nova.

Beautiful views.

Snow Geese over the Moon.

Time to head home.

In the evening, after dinner, my mother and I walked to the local community center where a firework display was held. Below were some shots of the beautiful fireworks!

One of my favorites. Look like feathers or something.

Another one of my favorites. A flower perhaps?

Overall, just a wonderful ending to a memory-lasting October (of 2009)!!!
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Finally a sunny break

What a gorgeous day it turned out to be in the afternoon. The sky cleared and animals were out in full forces enjoying the rare sunshine.

The Bald Eagle was out too. Although it didn't look too happy?

Turned out the reason was this annoying crow that kept diving at the eagle and cawing loudly.

Ignoring it won't work.

Nor will screaming at it. Some people (or birds) just never get it.

I was also lucky enough today to see this Great Blue Heron enjoying a nice, big, fat fish. Yum.

Mushrooms are here? I guess the rain the last couple of days had the fungi thinking it is autumn already.

A couple of Lesser Yellowlegs were out feeding.

While looking at the mushroom and Yellowlegs, I sort of wondered too close to the Killdeers' nest - leading to its infamous broken wing act. It was my first time seeing it performed and they did it quite well.

Yes, I fell for your trick. Now go back and attend those eggs, please.

Near the same location, four Canada Geese and a pair of Gadwall were enjoying the fresh green grasses.

Love this view. Too bad the trail was only a few metres long. It would be pretty amazing if there is an entire forest beyond this opening.

A Golden-crowned Sparrow pulling out the Dandelion fluffs and eating the seeds. Must be tasty because it ate quite a lot.

A nice round tummy.

Probably the same Great Blue Heron as the one I saw earlier.

Hooray, Friday tomorrow!

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