Rainy Saturday with Bill

Before I get to my day with Bill, there is only one bird in this post, and it was taken near my school on Friday. You guessed it. A crow. I think the crows in that area are beginning to know me. They don't seem to fly away from my camera as quickly as they used to.

And, this picture, taken Saturday morning, in a lane on the way to Jericho Park, before Bill and I got together. Wet leaves, shiny and red and beautiful against the green.

I took a few pictures in the park, but the steady drizzle posed quite a challenge to keep my camera dry. I had a white "doggy bag" around it, but it was tricky getting it off, focusing quickly, and putting it back on again. None of my pictures were postable, but I did see some fascinating little birds with white tails. It struck me that there's at least as much wildlife action on rainy days as there is on clear ones.

Three photographers were by the bridge, and I could tell immediately that they were enjoying the day. One took a picture of me. I tried to be gracious, thinking of all the times I have wanted to photograph strangers, but didn't dare ask. The man said he was doing a "Vancouver in the Rain" story. He had a beautifully designed rain cover on his camera, and I decided on an afternoon trip to Broadway Camera to see if I could find something similar.

I took this picture of a Flamingo Plant when Black Jack and I arrived home from our walk. Bill gave it to me over two years ago. I'm not particularly talented with plants, but this one has flourished in many different light conditions. It spent the summer on my balcony, and is now brightening a corner of my sunlight-starved living room. I love it all the time, but especially on rainy days.

I called Bill and we tried, rather aimlessly, to come up with a plan for the rest of the day. I mentioned the camera cover, and also that I was thinking about a new pair of glasses, and we thought a bit about movies, but neither of us were feeling very decisive. Finally, we came to the conclusion that the best plan of action would be lattes at The Wicked Cafe before moving on to a more definite plan of action. Those lattes were particularly good. I rated mine a 10.2.

When we left the cafe, perfect leaves on the ground and on the sidewalks seemed to say, "Look at us." I picked up one, and then another, and then Bill picked up a few, and before we knew it, we were looking for a place with a bit of shelter from the rain, so that I could photograph them. We found a spot nearby, and Bill began to arrange our selection for the photo shoot.
He wasn't quite satisfied with the arrangement, and here, tried a casual approach, gathering the leaves, and dropping them in a pile.
That didn't quite work. We liked this one, but thought it needed something in the centre.
We moved just a bit to the side, for a cement tile background, and decided to tuck the stems under.
A solo shot..
A duet..
And, a trio.
With each arrangement, I felt my energy picking up. We were laughing like two kids, and it felt good. Bill has so many sides to him - the artist, the comedienne, the guy's guy and the sensitive soul. More too, but those were the ones that came forward on Saturday.
As we finished our leaf project, he said, "I'm going to give these leaves a proper rest spot." He laid them gently at the base of a tree.
Black Jack was waiting in the truck, all curled up in her bed, with a towel over her. She posed for a picture. She had no worries about looking funny with the purple towel around her head. Maintaining her body warmth is serious business to her, as is her love for Bill.
But then she yawned, and we laughed some more.

That's it for the day's photos, but it went on to be one that I know will stay with me. Bill held Black Jack, waited while I had my eyes checked (the right one, as I suspected, needed a stronger prescription) at Image Optometry Broadway, picked out new frames, talked to the guys at Broadway Camera, helped me choose a rain cover, encouraged more picture-taking, raved over my Caper's deli supper, walked to Limelight Video, held Black Jack who goes nuts waiting for the biscuit the clerks always give her, and watched a slow-paced, quirky, and somewhat interesting movie (Medicine for Melancholy) with me. Just a perfect rainy Saturday. Thank you, Bill!

Windy ride on Thursday

I watched the wind through the school windows in North Vancouver on Thursday, and fretted just a bit that the ride home would be one of those when I have to dismount and push my bike across the bridge. The gusts felt strong enough for that, but as it turned out, the wind direction made all the difference, and the ride was a good one after all. I took a couple of pictures from the road below the bridge, trying to capture something of the dramatic sky.

This crow has snuck into the post. I think I saw it on Wednesday. It was sitting on the school fence.
Back to the ride. I stopped on the Lions Gate, and looked a long way down to see these birds. I had to brace myself to take the pictures. It is amazing how much force the wind can pick up over open water. I'm going with Double-Crested Cormorants, after quite a search through my bird book. They did seem like larger birds than cormorants, and I was surprised to see so much white in the one bird. I think, after doing some reading, that it may be a juvenile. I wondered at one point if they could be a kind of albatross, but came back, finally, to my first choice.
This one struggled when it left the rock.
It smashed into the water, I think caught in a wind gust. I worried for it..
..but it finally righted itself and flew under the bridge.
I continued on my way, making my next stop at Stanley Park. The gulls were incredibly entertaining to watch. They do appear to love windy days.

Just a tree blowin' in the wind.

The mallards were sticking close together.

The last stop was my favorite bicycle shop, Ride on Again, mentioned at great length in my last post. On Sunday, we had agreed that my chain and back cogs needed to be replaced sooner than later. I rode home, feeling absolutely spiffy with shiny new workings. Once home, they gleamed from my balcony, the perfect touch to conclude an exhilarating ride.

Park walks and Bike tune-up on Sunday

I took pictures pretty much all day long on Sunday, so here is a run-down of the day. Black Jack and I were at Jericho Park by seven, on a day when the extra hour of sleep evaded both of us. We were in time to feel the warmth of the sun as it rose in the sky, and to catch its magic light.

There wasn't much warmth for the first half hour or so, and 100's of crows were having quite a conference. Here are three of them.

A little bit later, the difference in temperature was dramatic. The crows continued to be very active, and I took a lot of pictures, but continue to struggle to find a way to catch what I see as their great beauty. This was my best flying shot, but as you can see, there isn't much definition in the crow.

I think this was my favorite shot of the day, although I would have liked it even better with wing tips included. As you will see, it was a day of missed wing tips. My friend, Jock, and I talked about the lack of respect most people afford seagulls, simply, we are convinced, because of their abundance. I see the finest and most exquisitely patterned lace in this one.

This Blue Heron came along just as the sun was at its most golden.
It took off beautifully and silently. I wasn't quite ready for it, but here is what I caught.
Over by the rabbit bushes, I couldn't resist the light on these leaves.Birds were singing up a storm all around me. This little one obligingly perched on the same bush I was photographing. l have really tried to identify it, but my best guess is just that - a guess. Maybe a Lark Bunting? Always looking for help here, so any other suggestions welcomed.
I'm going with Rufous-Sided Towhee for this one - maybe a juvenile?
Heading along the trail to return home, I heard a happy voice behind me. It was Roxanne, with Merry Lou. I have known Roxanne for quite some time now. I would like to do a post dedicated to her, and her much loved dogs over the years. Merry Lou came to her from the Pitbull Rescue, although it's not certain that she is indeed a pitbull. She was found on the street, either on Christmas Day or around Christmas (thus the spelling of Merry), mother to several pups, one of which died. The others were adopted, and only Mom was left needing a home. She and Roxanne really lucked out in finding each other. She is a sweet, gentle dog and I absolutely love her. I feel honored that she likes me well enough to approach my camera so closely, I didn't do that well with the pictures. I'm looking forward to another opportunity to photograph her, and to tell you more of her story.
Walking home along side streets, Autumn colors were still catching my eye, even in November.
After a short break at home, Bill came over, and drove me, with my bike to my favorite of all bike shops, Ride on Again. We dropped off the bike to receive some new brakes and a little much needed TLC.
I headed back to the truck, but looked back to take a picture from across the street, trying to capture something of the colorful personality of this shop. I believe that there are no bad bike shops. The very nature of selling and repairing bicycles has to be good, but there is something about this place that makes it the best, in my opinion. I'll come back to this topic shortly.
We headed off to Vanier Park. Just as we arrived at the bottom of Cypress street, a Bald Eagle flew in and landed on the totem pole. I missed its fly-in, and hoped to catch it when it took off from the pole, but that was not to be.
I waited a long time, willing it to leave. Bill tried to help me, checking out views of the eagle, and keeping Black Jack entertained.
The eagle sat, and sat and sat. It managed to outstay my patience, and I finally walked away. We had gone to the other side of the park, when I looked back and saw it heading towards us. I managed to get this shot, without a wing tip, but with lovely light on the other.
It settled in this tree, and there it stayed. It was still there when we left.
Black Jack was much more interested in squirrels than eagles. She had an absolutely wonderful time at the park.

When we returned to pick up the bike, I took a few more pictures. This is Don. He owns Ride on Again. He is a big part of what makes this shop the best. Don is honest. I mean, dead honest. I would trust him with my life. In fact, I do, every time I take my bike there. My advice to anyone who ever does business with him is not to haggle over price. Ever! He will give you the fairest price he can right from the beginning. End of story. Do not question it.
This is Clint, one of the mechanics at Ride on Again. I trust him totally as well. If he says my bike needs a part, then it needs a part. If he says a product is good, he passionately believes that to be the truth. I admire passion. It is what makes life good. Don and Clint are passionate about bicycles. I haven't gotten to know the other staff at the shop, but I can tell you that it is the place to go if you want great service. They are not paying me to say this. They didn't even ask me to say this. But, I must say it, because if you have a bike, I can't imagine a better place to take it. If you don't have one and want one, I can't imagine a better place to find the perfect one.
Here is Don one more time, this time in his shop.
Another shot from the side of the shop. It is a shop that has the same spirit my father's garage had in our small town. It's real. It's enjoyable to be in it. It feels right.
Just one shot of a dog waiting outside the coffee shop near Ride on Again. His name is Rory.
And a couple of shots taken on Tuesday lunch hour in North Van. Killdeer (I think) by the river.
Green-Winged Teal - my best guess - a male and a female.
Two more Killdeer. My goal is to get a little closer to them, one of these days.
Thanks again for taking time to share in my days.

When the forecast is wrong..

Not a drop of rain in Vancouver over the weekend. Who knows when a wet forecast would be wrong again. We took full advantage of the meteorologists' mistake.

On the way to Jericho park Saturday morning with Black Jack, I stopped to look at what I think are a type of Hydrangea. This particular bush bloomed in the spring, but seems now to be on its second wind.

Just past the flowers were birds singing up a storm in a tree. They were American Robins, the one bird that I thought I knew absolutely, but identifying them for some reason was difficult. Perhaps the confusing aspect was that they were in the tree, rather than on the lawn, hunting for worms. This one, I think, is a male...
...and this one, the female.
By the time we arrived at Jericho, the light was magnificent. This female mallard approached, I guess looking for a handout. I see people, often with their children or grandchildren in tow, feeding the ducks, almost every time I go to Jericho. The usual fare offered is stale-looking white bread. There are "do not feed the wildlife" signs all around. I know it is tempting, but I always feel sad for the lesson the kids learn and the poor nutrition the ducks receive. At the same time, I have to admit I reap the benefit in close-up shots.
I thought last year's Autumn couldn't be matched, but Vancouver has again offered up a winner. The colors have been rich, and amazingly, have lasted right into November.
Mallards are very photogenic. Add water reflections, and walking by is impossible. I couldn't choose between the next four pictures, all of the same duck, but each with slightly different color combinations in the background. If you have time and feel so inclined, I would love feedback as to whether any one of these stand out more than the others for you.



Black Jack and I headed home, had some lunch, and then joined Bill for a trip to the Brunette River, on the border between Burnaby and Coquitlam. We were hoping to see the Chum Salmon that Ship Rock had kindly taken time to tell me about in a comment a couple of posts ago. Along the way, I took this shot of a seagull through the truck window. I know it's a poor photo, but still, I can see no trace of this seagull's eyes. As always, the flexibility of birds impresses me. I mean, imagine standing on one foot on a light post, and raising the other foot to your mouth.
When Bill parked the truck, he saw a man just coming back to his own vehicle, young son in tow, and a fishing rod in his hand. They talked, and the man said that indeed, Ship Rock had guided us to the perfect spot to watch the salmon run. We were excited, and so was Black Jack. What a beautiful walk along the river. Bill offered me 10 cents to walk across this makeshift bridge, but for some reason, I declined.
Tree patterns,
and the bends in the river, as well as some camera-evading but stunning birds (Blue Heron, King Fisher) made for a truly enjoyable time. But, we either missed the salmon run for this year, or they are holding out, to make us truly appreciate the moment when it finally comes. We looked and looked, but not a salmon did we see.
However, Bill, Black Jack and I really want to thank Ship Rock for the lead. Especially Black Jack! She always loves our excursions, but this one was special. We found the best dog run ever! With a double fence around a playing field, the space between the two fences has been beautifully set up for a safe area to let your pooch run free. There is a running path, greenery, and space to either join other dogs at the watering area, or go around the perimeter of the field for a flat out run.
Bill and I both loved this tree, standing at one end of the run. I know I should take time to identify it, but for now, learning the names of a few of the birds I see is taking up all available space in my brain.
We decided to do a little work on Black Jack's recall, each of us calling to her, treats in hand. Other dogs thought the training session was a good idea as well.
Sorry the photos are so out of focus. One excuse is that I was laughing helplessly at the facial expressions of Black Jack and her follower.
Black Jack is very fast, but was no match for this kind of enthusiasm. Have no fear. Both dogs were well rewarded for their recall efforts. The golden dog's humans were more than happy for any extra motivation to take the edge of its limitless store of energy.
To see Black Jack running free did my heart good. Thanks so much, Ship Rock! We didn't see salmon but we sure had fun.
We retraced our steps back to the truck, light fading quickly. We took a minute to set Black Jack up with her own reflective wear. She was oblivious, still psyched at the sounds and smells around her.
I think this is called a fish ladder? No fish, though (that we could see).
My flash picked up a few of the textures at the water's edge.
Thank you, Bill, for another great day!
I took this shot of the moon as we arrived home.
Sunday's photos include a blue heron, a bald eagle, and my favorite bike shop. Those to follow soon. As always, thanks for reading.

Some catch-up photos and time by the river

This first catch-up photo is of the Boston Terrier, Seville, featured in my previous post. Somehow, I forgot to post my favorite picture of her. It's the victory attitude in her pose that stays with me and makes me smile.

The second is a photograph taken by my friend, Jock. His keen eye and skill with the camera caught one of nature's little gifts, and portrayed it beautifully.

And now, a few moments recorded by the river next to the school where I teach in North Vancouver.

Wednesday, a cloudy day.

The exciting thing about the picture below is not its photographic merit, but rather, that I think I've identified the bird correctly. To my inexperienced eye, so many of the little birds look similar. It takes time and self-discipline to look them up in my book. As I've enjoyed looking at the sites of a few experienced birders and photographers (Ship Rock, IPutts, Nilsson), I've realized they never post a picture without an identification. I've promised myself to try to do this a little bit more.

Song Sparrow

Hooded Mergansers

Although I've seen quite a few Common Mergansers (In my opinion, no bird should be labeled "common"), I don't think I've ever seen hooded ones before yesterday. They dart around, sometimes skimming on top of the water, and sometimes diving. I'm not sure if I interpreted their behaviour correctly, but they seemed to be aggressive about their territory, chasing the mallards away when they could. That didn't seem quite fair, since the mallards have been around that river for quite some time. I wasn't able to distinguish males from females. In the above picture, it appeared to me to be an adult pair with three young ones (There's a little one way over on the right). However, according to my book, the females are supposed to have a brown head and crest. I hope I will have some more opportunities to observe them, and to figure out the family relationships. Below, the same "family", but missing the third young one. That one always seemed to keep a distance.
They have an amusing habit of stretching their necks up.
I'm sorry I couldn't get closer to them, but they stayed on the far side of the river. This picture shows one adult leaning back, perhaps preparing for a dive? Or maybe, expressing concern that the little one is heading away? Lots of questions.

Tuesday, a sunny day.

On the left, I think, is a Green-winged Teal. It was too far away to be sure, but the green flash under the wing was really eye-catching. On the right, my guess is an American Wigeon.

American Wigeon?

Mallards

They came up to my side of the river. I always find them striking, but they were especially so against the clear reflection of a very blue sky.

While I was watching the ducks, a crow perched about two feet away from me. I always feel honored when any wild animal or bird is willing to spend a moment or two near me. From Ship Rock, I have learned that there are two kinds of crows, American and Northwestern. Apparently, the American is larger, while the Northwestern has a slightly purplish tinge. My guess for this one might be American, but without seeing them side by side, I can't be at all sure. I was certain, though, that this one was taking a good look at me. I wonder what it was thinking.
I also watched two crows at the edge of the river. Like the mallards, I found them striking against the blue background. They interacted in a most entertaining way.

First, a close-up of one of them. Could that be a purplish tinge? No, I think not.

The one on the left checks out the other.

Then, I think it decides to join in the feast.
Then, the one on the right perhaps thinks it is missing something? Maybe a "grass is greener" reaction?
I think, here, they both hear what I guessed to be a Kingfisher off to their left.
And there it was. A lucky shot for me - I just happened to catch it as it flew toward the crows. It's not perfectly in focus, but I think it was possibly a Belted Kingfisher. Whatever it was, it was the perfect conclusion to a relaxing few minutes by the river.

Salmon Run, American Dipper and Seville

Yesterday, Bill, Black Jack and I checked out Capilano River Regional Park, at the suggestion of Jean, who has been writing wonderful posts describing both the positive and the less positive aspects of observing the salmon run at this time of year. Since I have somehow managed to reach my 60's without ever seeing a live salmon, it seemed the perfect outing.

The light in the morning was poor for photo taking, but the scenery was dramatic and awe inspiring. Bill commented, as we both have before, on our good fortune to have wilderness so close to the big city. We looked and looked for the salmon, but as Jean had warned us, they are not easy to see. Still, an experienced fisherman standing on the bridge told us there were thousands in the river, so we kept our eyes peeled.

We finally took a short trail called the Coho Loop. Black Jack was absolutely psyched at the smells and sounds, and the moisture in the air, moss-lined branches and faery-tale forest setting made for a magical atmosphere.

We kept wondering how all those fishermen managed to get down to the water, and finally found some stone ledges that made steps to the shore. You can see them a bit of in this photo. Bill, patient and ever thoughtful for Black Jack's safety, carried her down, leaving me free to try to capture something of the magnificence around us.
Like the salmon, the wildlife we sensed everywhere seemed to have no difficulty staying out of the reach of my camera lens. When I did get fleeting chances to take pictures, I was usually too slow to get much of a capture. We did see this heron watching us from the top of a very tall tree.
A brave and athletic couple tackled the white water with what I could see later were grins of exhilaration on their faces. I've chosen photos that don't identify them, but if by any chance they should come by this post, I do think they would enjoy some of my captures of their impressive performance.
The girl having gone ahead, her companion prepares to follow her. Yikes!
As we climbed back up to the trail, Bill noticed this mushroom growing from a tree. I did a bit of investigating at this site, but did not find any that I thought perfectly match the one in this picture. I did get the feeling that fungi growing from trees is not a great thing for the tree.
Before we left the park, we stood at a lookout and watched the anglers. I have to admit that I was hoping they wouldn't catch any fish. As a Newfoundland fisherman's granddaughter, I think I have told this story before about crying the first time I saw my mother catch a fish. A fellow yesterday proudly showed his catch to his young daughter, and her tears brought back that memory. I know in the sensible side of my brain (it is there, if a little camouflaged:) that they will die anyway, and they make one of the healthiest and tastiest sources of nutrition one can find, but when Bill spotted this salmon, I was happy to photograph it alive rather than deceased.
Here is the same salmon again. I have no idea what those little white splashes are. The photo is poor, but perhaps someone can tell me.
We left the park and headed for Bridgman Park, also in North Vancouver. I believe it is spelled without "e" although the link I've chosen has included it.

The sun was beginning to peek through the clouds now, and we enjoyed standing by Lynn Creek. Neither of us were sure if the salmon would ever run in it, but we took a look just in case. No - no salmon, but we did see this wonderful shorebird. I am proud to say that I think I've positively identified it as an American Dipper.
I have no idea if it is commonly seen in the area, but it was definitely a first for me. They are amazing birds, choosing to be around fast moving water and diving into it to find insects. This fellow appeared to be enthusiastic about the entire process.
Several of my photographs had what I thought were defects, as the eyes appeared to be white. I found out later that these birds have white feathers on their eyelids. Unfortunately, I deleted the photos showing that, but perhaps you can see them a little bit in this one (if you click to enlarge it).
Bill and I both enjoyed the entertaining performance of this lively little bird.
Back in Vancouver, Bill drove along West Broadway so that I could do some errands. We parked in front of the school board office, and enjoyed this sculpture. The more I looked at it, the more it grew on me - one of those sculptures one wants to touch. The day, by now, was warm and sunny. Absolutely beautiful!
I took this photo of Black Jack near the statue. She looks good surrounded by green, I think.
A bit further down the block, we saw a girl throwing a frisbee for Seville, her very athletic Boston Terrier. The girl gave me permission to take pictures, and told me she is starting up a dog walking business, and is in the process of creating her own blog. I will look forward to that, for sure.

My goodness, Seville was enthusiastic about the game and so talented!
I am pressed for time, but these pictures beg captions. Any come to mind?


Seville didn't make many mistakes, but when she did, her expression was truly hilarious.

We were home quite early. There was time for a nap, some schoolwork, and even a short walk at Jericho later in the evening. This seagull was calling in a voice so piteous, I felt concerned, even though I know they sometimes appear to be drama queens. I think it was okay, although there was a red lining around the mouth that I wondered about.
And to close, just a few autumn colours as I left Jericho and headed home. They are coming to the end now, but there is still much beauty to admire.


That was our Saturday. My thanks, as always, to Bill, for planning his weekends around my pleasures, and to you, the reader, for taking time to share in our day.

Commutes last week

I've been uploading pictures throughout the past week, and waiting for some free moments to come along when I could add some commentary. The time rushed on, and now, it's early Saturday morning. I'll be leaving shortly to check out Jean's suggestion (see comments to last post) - Capilano River Regional Park with Bill. That will mean more pictures, so it seems these commute pictures from last week should have their moment, commentary or not. Here they are, in random order.

From the Lions Gate Bridge on Wednesday, the 21st.

Stanley Park, also on Wednesday, right after crossing the Lions Gate.

This swan swam up, took a look at me, and then continued on its search for dinner.

The Burrard Bridge, after leaving Stanley Park.

Lately, whenever I cross the Burrard Bridge, the bird songs (my guess would be starlings or maybe grackles) are almost frantic. Like pigeons, these birds fly short distances back and forth, always turning as a unit. Bill noted that they look like little fighter planes. This Burrard flock then takes a few moments to sit on the bridge rafters/beams before continuing their, to me, very strange flight.

This was on Tuesday, the 20th, on the bike path to the Lions Gate, heading South.

Monday, the 19th, again from the Lions Gate.

The Sylvia Hotel by Stanley Park, on Monday, the 19th. I am about half way home at this point.
Zoomed in..
Zoomed in more.
These pigeons were doing a similar fly-by routine (over The Sylvia) to that of the starlings over The Burrard.
This one goes back to Tuesday. I stopped on 1st Avenue near Cypress to take some orange flowers, and instead, was taken with the long grasses against the traffic sign.

And just a parting shot of Black Jack taken during a walk at Jericho.
The object of Black Jack's interest. All for now, but will be back soon with an account of the Capilano adventure.