Reifel

Two posts to record a great day last Sunday, this one about Reifel Bird Sanctuary and the other about Westham Island Herb Farm.

It was a picture-perfect Fall day, and we were, as my students would say, stoked. We (BIll, Jock, Kitty, me, Lucy (Jock & Kitty's Sheltie) and Black Jack) drove to Ladner, where Jock and I were dropped off so we could have a little cycling time. Bill continued on, with Kitty and the two dogs. They arrived first, and took the dogs for a walk, as they would have to stay in the truck later. Reifel is a dog-free zone.

It was an easy ride, and I was just plain happy. It doesn't get much better than time with good friends, beautiful weather, and anticipation of visiting Reifel, a place I have been hearing and thinking about for quite some time.

Jock took this picture of me while cycling. I was impressed with his athletic ability. It takes all my concentration to ride. Taking pictures at the same time would be foolhardy, to say the least.w

When we arrived, Kitty had already talked with the people at Reifel, and she told us there was the possibility of seeing a great-horned owl. We looked for nests, but although I'm sure they were around, I imagine it would take several visits and lots of patience to spot one. Still, the very idea that they were in the area was exciting.

One of my photography goals (along with getting a truly magnificent crow shot) is to capture a quality shot of a duck flying. It seemed as though it might be realized at Reifel. There were ducks everywhere. It is one of the few places where feeding ducks is permitted, and appropriate food is sold in the shop. However, again, it wasn't to be. This is the best shot I was able to manage, and although it is nice that the color of the car goes well with the mallard's markings, getting the short in focus was another matter.

That is Bill's hand you see there. Bill drove us, looked after Black Jack, and tried to help in any way he could think of to make it easier for me to get pictures. Thank you, Bill!
Duck "bottom up" shots are easy to capture, and I have quite a few. However, what interested me on Sunday was how much power there is in the webbed feet as they churn up water.
That's Jock. He's a talented photographer, and I'm looking forward to seeing his pictures for the day. Maybe he'll even let me post a few. One great thing about three of us taking pictures (Kitty got a few that she was happy with as well) is seeing how each of us saw what was around us.
I felt really fortunate to see some Wood Ducks for the first time. I had seen pictures posted by Ship Rock and was awed by the patterns and colors. Check out a recent photograph by Ship Rock. I don't see him as much lately, now that the ospreys have left the nest, but I still check out his site whenever I get the chance. I wasn't able to match the quality of his photo, but was pretty happy to get these, especially given that the ducks mostly chose to swim in spots with poor light.
This one was perhaps the clearest. I'm curious to learn more about Wood Ducks. The red eyes seem quite unusual to me. I wonder how many other birds have red eyes.
I was never able to fully catch the back of the head, with the colors sort of draping over the neck, but you can see a little of that in the duck at the front. Jock and Kitty have gone back to Reifel today, a fact which makes me just the tiniest bit envious (okay, that may be a tad understated). I can't wait to go back and try again.
I love it that Autumn is such a colorful time. Kitty particularly liked these mushrooms.
Mallards may be common in this area, but I never get over the males' constantly changing shades of blue and green.
Reifel has beautiful scenery, no matter where one looks.
I liked the branch and reflections in this one.
There was a kind of a lookout building, and it had openings which accessed various views of the river. If one looked down, there was just enough space to get the camera focused on some surprisingly (to me) large fish. I don't know what they were, but they were very active, and had huge mouths.
Just a little bird with beautiful markings. My guess is a female Red-Winged Blackbird.
After a wonderful few hours, we loaded everyone back into the truck, took a picture of the bikes (with resident turtle) and headed home (we thought).
Here's a close-up of the little turtle on Jock's bike. It has a name, and I'm kicking myself, because I don't remember it.
As it turned out, we ended up stopping at a wonderful farm, and the post about that is coming very soon. As always, thanks for reading!

Low Key Saturday

It is earlyish on Sunday morning, and here I am blogging again. Strange how sometimes the urge is there, and other times, it sort of fades away. In an hour or so, we will leave for a trip to Reifel, a migratory bird sanctuary. I'm looking forward to seeing it for the first time. The only tiny drawback is that Black Jack cannot go in the sanctuary with us, but she will stay in the truck where she always seems to be very comfortable in her soft bed (she has a brand new extra luxurious one that Bill bought her at the Saints Silent Auction), and I've promised myself not to leave her alone for more than about an hour.

All the pictures for this post were taken yesterday. They are in order of taking, except for this first one. It's very similar to one I took exactly a week ago. I think it even comes from the same tree at Jericho Park.

A new art teacher at my school has started a photography club for our students. I would love to join it, but have to think carefully about time commitments. I saw her telling the students to get right up to the tree trunk for shots looking up. I tried that yesterday during a walk through the military grounds.
Black Jack and I crossed over 4th Avenue from the military grounds into Jericho Park. I looked up and saw an osprey flying with a crow. It was very, very high up in the sky. I'm surprised the camera picked it up at all. I wonder if it could be Rose and her crow friend.
Another view way up high in the sky. Just little specs. But when I got home and checked out the picture, I saw they were geese. Usually, I see them flying much lower.
Black Jack insisted that we do our mandatory walk by the rabbit bushes. This cutie was sitting up as straight and as still as could be.
A mallard, with its beautiful navy patch showing.
Military exercise. I thought the soldiers blended into the Fall day rather nicely. Bill said that from a distance, we could call it the Zombie walk.
Just a sweet puppy having a great day. I didn't get its name, nor did I talk with its humans very much, but was given permission to take pics.
This was about a three-second rest break before it sprung to action again.
On the way home, I was struck by the contrast in leaf colors.
Later in the afternoon, Bill drove me around town so I could do some errands. These dogs were tied up outside London Drugs on West Broadway. I took the shot from the truck window. I was going to crop out the bicycle but then thought better of it. I mean, this blog is supposed to be about bikes as well as birds and beasts.
There are some bushes outside the Safeway grocery store, and as I walked by, bird singing was un-missable. It's amazing how much happy (to me) sound these little finches(?) can produce. I had to work a bit to get the photo. Most of them (I would guess there to be a very large number of them) stayed hidden inside the bushes. This little one finally did me the honor of an appearance.
Aw...
Home for a nap, supper, more Duchess episodes, and then fairly early to bed. That was my low key and very enjoyable Saturday.

Interactions

The sun is shining and I'm blogging. As much as a couple of days of rain were okay, maybe even a bit better than okay, I want to get out and enjoy a beautiful day while I can. So, I will try to be brief (not my strongest asset:)

Last night, after an exhausting work week, I stopped by the lookout in North Van. No ospreys, and no eagles, but the seals were out in full numbers. This one, I believe, is "my" seal, the one with a cloudy left eye and compelling personality. It looked up at the seagull, in a half friendly, half curious sort of way.

Here, it soaks up the evening light as it prepares to lie back down.
A lady joined me at the lookout. She told me her name was Lynne. We talked about the seals and the ospreys and I gave her my blog address. She tried to count the seals. I liked this one at the front left, for its complete contentment.
Lynne decided it was impossible to count this gathering. I was told by a photographer that the most she has been able to count are 42 seals. I would guess all of them were in the area last evening.
I didn't linger. Bill and I had plans to watch two more episodes of "The Duchess of Duke Street" and I was looking forward to that. I am so happy that our friends, Kitty and Jock, recommended that series. Before I left, Lynne gave me this rose, picked, I think, from some nearby bushes. I wondered where to put it for its journey from North Vancouver to Point Grey, and she suggested in my v-neck top. "It will stay moist there, " she said, and you may even be able to smell it as you cycle." Well, she was right, and I smiled several times as the aroma wafted upward. It has faded this morning, but the memory of a lovely interaction has not.

When I arrived home, Bill had already fed and walked Black Jack, but we headed out for another walk, just so I could check out the beautiful evening light with my camera. In fact, the light was dying, but the skyline still had a glow on it.

It always makes me smile when Black Jack accepts as her due that Bill should transport her to views otherwise unaccessible. Last night, he referred to himself as, "Mr. Elevator Man."

There was a photographer taking pictures through the small openings in the fence, some of them cross shaped. He was getting beautiful results. I tried to do the same thing and wasn't at all successful. I did take a couple of leaves in the grass. I had never seen a black leaf before. Anyone able to tell me about black leaves?
Jocelyn lives in my building, and every morning, she takes her dog Philip, and cat, Charlotte, to the courtyard, where they seem to have a wonderful time exploring every nook and cranny. This is Philip. He was adopted at approximately 12 years of age and has been with Jocelyn for a year or so. Bless you, Jocelyn!And Charlotte! Black Jack always knows when she's around, and insists on access to the balcony so she can observe her antics.
Poor Black Jack. She quivers and yips a bit, but has mostly learned that all she can really do is observe. She does enjoy her visits with Jocelyn, as do I.

Charlotte comes when she is called, and is an absolutely fascinatingly beautiful cat. Here, she took a short trip up the tree to look around.
No "Mr. Elevator Man" required.
She turns..
..and heads back down.
Fun interactions to start what looks to be a beautiful weekend. Hope you enjoy it! Special thoughts to a blogger friend, Al, who I believe is in Manila! She survived the first typhoon (Ketsana) to hit the Philippines, and rescued a lost puppy (Bless you, Al!). I'm hoping the second typhoon (Parma) missed her completely. Let us know, Al, if you can.

Rain drops and birds

I stole a few moments on Wednesday to wander with my camera along the trail by my school. This tiny chick-a-dee was busy gathering seeds (I think). I loved the way it hung upside down, swinging freely and confidently.

There have been a couple of wet rides to school this week. I didn't mind them as much as I thought I would. In fact, they were strangely enjoyable, although, discovering that the rain had stopped later in the afternoon was definitely worthy of celebration. Camera in hand, I headed out again today for another relaxing walk around the school. This heron was sitting on the school roof.
About a year or so ago, I remember doing a post about rain droplets on leaves. I found myself doing that again.
The sun barely managed a glimmer through the clouds, but Sumac leaves added brilliance to the surroundings.
More rain droplets.
They seemed to line themselves up on the blades of grass. Little spheres of light.
The crows gather a bit earlier each afternoon. Like the heron, they seemed to find the school roof attractive today.
I thought all the bald eagles had left the area, but heard the familiar call today, and spotted one on the ship, quite a distance from shore.
More Sumac leaves.

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn," says Elizabeth Lawrence. Seems like a good idea to me.