Critters and Cormorants

Okay, the first three pics are not officially critters, but I love them, so they earn the right to appear at the top of this blog.  This lion is on the right side of the bridge, just to my left as I head over the Lions Gate to North Van.  I greet him every morning.  I like to think that he wishes me a safe trip to the other side.  I love the close-up below.  I feel I could reach out and pinch those granite cheeks, but Bill says the first photo is my best.

And there are those who have described Black Jack as a weasel, so maybe she sort of qualifies as a critter.  I love the total eagerness of her open mouth in this one.

 THE CORMORANT STORY

Three cormorants were sitting peacefully on a rock in the ocean.

I'll call them 3, 2 and 1 (from left to right) 

And then there were four.

4 approached 3, while 1 and 2 looked on.  A seagull swam by.

2 yelled at 3&4.  Was 3 its sibling?  Was 4 a Mom, and did she feed 3 first? 

1 said to 2, "I've had it with your shenanigans.  Knock it off."

4 flew away and then there were 3.  

Are 1 and 2 still hungry?  

I'm sorry, I don't know.  

Maybe you could fill in your own ending.

Okay, I agree it's not the very best of stories, but the herons are gone, and Cormorants are filling in until February.

You can tell the CRITTER part of this blog starts now.  See the sign?  There are some really thoughtful people in North Van who took the time to make and post these signs.  A good thing to do, in my book.  I pass them every day, and feel thankful.

I didn't really mean to post this over-exposed raccoon, but it is a critter, so I'll leave it.  It was wandering around in the heronry at Stanley Park one day, and I found its descent from the tree quite interesting.  The herons raised an incredible ruckus.  It was clearly up to no good.  
Bill and I met these goats in someone's farmyard, as we biked along the Galloping Goose trail.
Bill put his hand out in a friendly gesture, and even the turkey came running.  I guess lots of people feed them.
I love this picture.  Bill is so surprised when one of the goats sort of, in his words, "very firmly gums" his fingers.
This little fellow was the smallest.  I thought they all looked very well cared for.
Black Jack and this goat were curious to meet each other.  Both were very calm.

We met this bunny at the same time.  No pictures of Black Jack meeting it - she was having a fit in Bill's arms.

I went back to see the herons one day (1st two blog entries), and found all the nests empty.  I was a bit sad, but enjoyed the antics of this squirrel.  Black Jack was not with me, so the squirrel hung out calmly just a few feet away from me.

This squirrel was in a tree near the field by UBC where Black Jack and I usually play ball.  She had absolutely no interest in ball games that day.  The squirrel seemed quite happy in its safe spot above us.  

And finally, I guess this cat would not qualify as a critter, but it stared Bill, Black Jack and I down one day on a Point Grey Street.  Black Jack, as usual, in high prey drive mode, was having a total hissy fit.  The cat was neither impressed nor concerned.  I had to laugh.  Although I don't have a cat, I have HUGE respect for them.  I looked after one once for about a week, visiting it in its apartment in my building each day, and sitting with it for several hours.  We napped, watched TV and just hung out together with no problems for several days.  Then one day, when I went to leave, it attacked me at the door, leaving four deep puncture wounds in my lower leg.  I can only surmise that it was hoping I would stay longer.  I wasn't a happy camper, and it was many weeks before those wounds healed, but I didn't hold it against him.  As I said, very healthy RESPECT for cats.

Another Sunday walk with Black Jack

We found the best part of the day for our walk yesterday.  The sun broke through the clouds, and lots of animals and birds were out doing their thing, I guess in preparation for Winter.  This  squirrel drove Black Jack bananas.  I think it felt secure on its high wire perch.  The athleticism of squirrels is a never ending source of amazement to me.  One day a few years ago, I heard a fellow interviewed on CBC who's lifework was squirrel research.  He had placed a camera inside a sort of squirrel house that he built.  For two years (if I remember correctly), no squirrels inhabited the house.  Then, a family took up residence.  He said there is a kind of choreography that happens before the babies leave home.  The parent will get up and lead the babies in a circle around the nest, first in one direction and then in the other.  This happens at regular intervals, and he believed it was training for the survival activities of jumping and flying.  I didn't follow up on that story, and have forgotten the researcher's name, but I would love to know if he's still making new discoveries about squirrels.  

High Wire Observation

The beginning and end of our regular walk is along Point Grey streets.  The middle part usually includes some ball playing in a field at the entrance to the UBC endowment lands (although not yesterday, as I'm still worried about Black Jack's knee and have kept her to leash walks only since Monday).  Finally, we walk through some forest trails before heading home.  Here, we have just entered the forest, and Black Jack has spotted something.  Does anyone else hook up the leash like this?  Bill saw a lady using the leash in this way on her large dog, and after talking to her about it, decided to try it on Black Jack.  It has absolutely stopped her from pulling, and unlike the Haltie, is stress-free for her.  She doesn't mind it at all.  I guess it wouldn't work as well on a male:)  
Although the Fall colors are more subtle in Vancouver's temperate climate than the brilliant reds I remember from my years in Quebec, they still inspire feelings of nostalgia and they have their own distinct beauty.
Just before the end of the wooded portion of the walk, we saw this busy little chipmunk.  It was Impossible to focus -  Black Jack's antics drove it away after one quick click.  Still, its Mohawk haircut made it a must show.
Then we saw this lovely little chick-a-dee.  Another focus fail but must show (sorry folks).
Back on the street, this crow sounded the alarm when it  saw us coming.  Is there anyone reading this who loves crows?  I've been fascinated by them (and the entire Corvid family) ever since trying to rescue a juvenile a few years ago.  I was convinced its wing was broken and called the wild life rescue people. After three calls, a young man finally came, and I had to admire his patience as he showed me how to test the wings (not broken). He explained the best thing was to take it back where I found it and also told me that parent crows kick the juveniles out of the nest at the right time.  They then space their feedings further and further apart until the lazy teens finally get hungry enough to fly. This next part of my crow experience might cause you to scoff, but I swear, all the crows in the neighborhood became really friendly after that.  There had been cases of them dive bombing residents, but they used to meet me when I walked my dog, even following us all the way to the beach.  Okay, I did give them the odd dog treat, but it was more than that.  I believe they knew I was trying to help that young one.  It, by the way, fledged just a couple of days later.  Shortly after that, I read the book "Bird Brains" by Candace Savage.  Her photography and descriptions were the clincher.  I have been reading the mythology, and admiring the antics of crows and ravens around me, ever since.

Warning Call

This nearby crow didn't appear to be worried at all.

And finally, a couple of flowers to conclude this blog.  One of the many things I love about Vancouver is that flowers  bloom all year long.

The many happy faces of Hudson

Hudson, our resident dog at the international high school where I work, is rarely without a huge grin.  There isn't a mean bone in his body.  He lives with Kevin, the dormitory supervisor (as good natured a fellow as Hudson on most days), in the apartment across from the teachers' workroom. Hudson loves to goof around with dogs who visit the park behind the school, and with students or anyone else who will feed him a treat or throw a toy for him. Last week, one of the teachers was looking after Sushi, her friend's dog, for the day. Sushi is a full grown miniature poodle, but looks like a miniature Hudson.  (I'm pretty sure Hudson is a lab/standard poodle mix.)  Hudson tried his best to tempt Sushi to play, but it wasn't to be. 

Come play with me.

Catch me if you can.

Hurry and pick me up before he eats me.

Humans: "A-aw, they're look-a-likes.  They're so cute."

Hudson: "You smell pretty good to me.  Let's play."

Sushi: "Do we have to?"

Hudson: "I'll be your friend."

Sushi: "I said NO!"

He-e-e-lp!!!

Ah, come on.  Ple-e-ease.

Look how very handsome and well-behaved I am.

Okay, maybe you'd like to join me for some fun in the water.

No??  Gee, I don't get it.  I know.  You wanna try a different toy?

Pick me up now!  Now, I said!!  

No prob.  I play just fine alone.  Have a good day.  See ya later.

Some bike, bird and beast memory clips

This is the bike path that takes me onto the Lions Gate Bridge for the return trip home, one day in July.  

Wild flowers always surprise me here.

A snowshoe trip on Cyprus last January.

These next two pictures were taken by Jessica.    

I was ecstatic when this bird landed on my hand.  

Only an hour or so later, after taking my snowshoes off, I slipped in the parking lot and broke the above wrist.  A little over a month with no biking, and lots of bus taking.  Bill deserved an award for putting up with me.  At the end of the fourth week with the cast, I was able to ride my bike with it, but had to put up with some grins from motorists. I'm happy to say it healed really well, and taught me to appreciate both the little (opening jars) and the big things in my life (Bill).

And some geese on the little river behind my school in North Van.  

We took Black Jack to Ottawa at Xmas time to visit my sister, and stayed there for ten days.  She and my sister's dog, Zoe, had the greatest time together.  Having always had big dogs, it was really a thrill to be able to have Black Jack in the cabin with us.  She handled the flight really well.  

 

Zoe is such a sweetheart, trying to figure out how to adapt her size to Black Jack's.  

My sister's household is a busy one.  Her dog is Zoe, her daughter's dog is Tova, her daughter's boyfriend's dog is Ella, and then there was Black Jack over Xmas.  We only managed one photo where they were all sitting (well, one lying) quietly side by side.  

Tova, Ella, Black Jack and Zoe