Aug. 2 2015
Klootchamn Park
Many Harbour Seal were enjoying the sunshine at around 11 a.m.
 |
| Harbour Seal |
Over 90 Surfbirds were on Grebe Islets. Scoped the flocks a few times, but didn't see any Black Turnstones.
Surfbirds are tiny in my 300 mm lens
Ambleside
Later, I spend half an hour to check out Ambleside park before getting out of the summer heat.
To my surprise, other than the people sunbathing, more than a dozen Red Crossbills were in the sun as well. They seemed to be picking something in the driftwood on the beach. But I couldn't find anything that they can eat when I examined the tree trunks, guess they are better at finding bugs than I am.
 |
| Red Crossbill |
 |
| Red Crossbill |
Aug. 7 2015
Burnaby Lake
The Pied-billed Grebe at Piper Spit is successful at raising 4 young this year. Catching a big fish doesn't look very hard at all. The parents were able to catch so many fish that the chicks do not beg for more.
 |
| Pied-billed Grebe |
One fish was actually so big that a small grebe can't swallow it. So one of the parents ate the fish when the chick gave up.
 |
| Pied-billed Grebe |
 |
| Pied-billed Grebe |
 |
| Pied-billed Grebe |
The usual Red-winged Blackbirds were also present.
 |
| Red-winged Blackbird |
A Merlin came close to people and stretched its tail and wings.
 |
| Merlin |
Another raptor, Cooper's Hawk.
 |
| Cooper's Hawk |
The flowers at the garden welcomes hummingbirds
 |
| Anna's Hummingbird |
 |
| Anna's Hummingbird |
Butterflies liked the garden too. This one looks like a European Skipper, a species accidentally introduced into ''North America, near London, Ontario, about 1910, in contaminated imported seeds of Timothy Grass,'' according to Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility.
Richmond Nature Park
2 Garter Snakes were looking for their next meal. They circled the little puddle just outside of Nature House, but one of them gave up early. The other snake, however, with some luck, after about 20 minutes, located a prey. It was a Green Frog.
 |
| Garter Snake |
Green Frog
was alerted and escaped the snake mouth as the snake closed in. Unfortunate for the snakes, likely they would need to rest empty-stomach that night.
 |
| Green Frog |
