Burnaby Lake Regional Park
We started out at the Avalon parking lot, and witnessed this unusually bold Mallard exploring the fish ladder. She seemed to be having a grand time, dunking her head in and out and I think pulling out gunky algae? But I like to think she mostly enjoyed the turbulence. Just goes to show, individual birds have their
This is one critter that probably wouldn’t enjoy the turbulence.
The cowbirds are still hanging out at Piper Spit, with males doing their weird courting moves.
And the blackbird babies are growing up! Not really sure what this one is doing, but I assume it’s having fun exploring the world.
I like the plumage on this guy, transitioning to a darker tone (though still fringey, he’ll keep that until next spring).
ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park
Here too, the light was less than ideal, and I didn’t feel good about my chances of a killer photo.
However, I didn’t anticipate the fun of seeing an otter in Coquitlam River, and then having to track it underwater!
Besides, you know what I always say: when life gives you clouds, make moody as hell landscape shots.
But what I really didn’t anticipate was this coyote! We were on our way back when this coyote came up behind us! It seemed healthy and properly wary of humans, because it gave us a wide berth with very nervous body language. I wonder what kind of business it had at the other end of the park, that was so important it had to risk a close encounter of the human kind! Most likely (according to people I’ve talked to) there was a burrow with pups she needed to visit.
Closing off with a short visit to the community gardens, where I managed to capture a female Rufous dancing along some of the plots.
Man, I remember just over four years ago, being so jazzed at my first good photo of a Rufous. And now they seem… almost routine? I don’t want to get jaded, though. Every bird is a wonder and that’s the truth.