Highlights

I've been having a lot of fun playing with my new camera over the past week or so.  The memories are beginning to blend together, and it seems important to me to record a few of the highlights before they become as hazy as the air has been, during this extended heat wave in Vancouver.

On my last day of work before the holiday, the owner of my school told me about an eagles' nest that I have managed to miss, even though it's not all that far from where I live.  On my way home, I decided to try and find it.  After asking at least 15 people in the area, I finally met a wise man named William.  He kindly took me to the nest.  I learned that the two juveniles have fledged successfully, so it is now an empty home, waiting until next year to become inhabited (I hope) once more.

William also took me to a beautiful garden, where he meditates each morning.  It was a tranquil spot, close to a hub of activity.  I was immensely grateful for the privilege of sharing a few moments there. 
Cormorants always make me think of ballet.  These three were in North Vancouver.
As I was watching the osprey nest (North Vancouver), a flock of geese landed right below me at the water's edge.  Talk about ballet.  It was as though they were reminding me that common birds are beautiful too.

Black Jack is usually happy to explore the rocks while I take pictures.  
The pond water is very, very murky at Jericho Park these days, but I can still see the turtles.
Bill has taken me on lots of excursions lately.  He is by no means a sun worshipper, and finding relief from the intense heat hasn't been easy.  Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver had some beautiful forested areas with great shade.  This photograph is mostly out of focus, but for some reason, I like it.
A tree at Lighthouse Park.
A neighborhood flower that caught my eye, on one of my morning walks with Black Jack.
A sunset at Jericho Beach.
I posted about the osprey in North Vancouver, and wanted to show the shared moment between the two adults, before they got down to the serious business of feeding themselves and Junior.  (Junior will be either Rosie or Pierre, as soon as I figure out its gender.)
This is Felix, a resident of the building I live in.  Felix comes when called, and is walked several times a day.  He wears that protective collar around his neck, as he has some sort of skin problem exacerbated by scratching.  I've tried several times to take his picture, but I have to be very quick, because he is so friendly, he walks right into the camera.  This is my best effort to date.
I've been watching and watching the pond by the little bridge at Jericho, hoping to get a photograph of the beaver.  The other evening, Bill and I watched (or more accurately, listened to) the activity.  I used my flash, and only realized after loading the pictures, that we had been hearing frogs (or maybe toads?)
We were both excited when the beaver finally agreed to give us a small showing, caught, again, with the flash.
I love to watch the cormorants dive.  This one was in North Vancouver.
There it goes.
A juvenile crow on a breezy day at Jericho.
I don't remember where I saw this flower.  Haze all around it.
This seagull flew by, as I watched the osprey.
It strikes me often, what an accomplishment it is for a young bird to poop successfully.  Here, Junior does a faceplant, trying to prepare himself to clear the nest.
He does it!!
But the effort takes a lot out of him.  He does another faceplant, trying to right himself afterwards.
Junior is beginning to test out his wings.  I have no idea how much longer it will be before he fledges.
More posts to come soon.  One showing Black Jack's first real swim in two years, and another to record a trip Bill and I took on Saturday to McDonald Beach and Iona Island.  Until then.