John Harvey Photo

February 2013

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images I swear, I am not a birder...


Boundary Bay

Harrier On Fence Post
I'll admit it, Boundary Bay is my new favorite place in Vancouver.  There are lots of birds I haven't seen before and lots of crazy photographers with big lenses that make me look downright "amateur" compared their gear.  The parking is good (and free) and Nara isn't bored of it. 

Harrier In Golf Course Rough

Short Eared Owl On Power Cable
Helen kindly joined me this time, bringing a stroller for the kids and letting me walk around a bit while Nara had her lunch.  I didn't go far, but not having a kid on your shoulders sure makes taking photos easier.

Short Eared SoaringShorted Eared With Feet Visible
 
 
 
  Song Sparrow CraningSong Sparrow In Tall Grasses
After walking along the dike, we went to visit the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.  We took the short tour (it was getting to be nap time) but it was a nice tour - the birds seem happy and not so sad (most of the  can't fly so a tall enclosure isn't really needed). 


Stanley Park Nature House

Nara Putting Crisco On Pine ConeNara Putting Seeds On Bird FeederNara With Packed Bird FeederNara Holding Her Bird Feeder

Mute Swans Looking For Seed
The real attraction for Nara is feeding the birds.  Helen thoughtfully remembered to bring our left over bird seed from previous outings so we stood on the shore and fed the birds.  Both Helen and I were impressed with the number of different species of birds in Lost Lagoon.

Nara And Helen Feeding The Birds


 Common Goldeneye MaleFemale Common MerganserMale Common Merganser

Greater ScaupsMale Mallards Resolving DisputeTwo Mallards In Tight Skirmish
 

Crow And Hawk Side By Side Dive
While we were waiting for Nara to finish her snack, we noticed the crows mobbing a bird in the tree.  The bird turned out to be a Coopers Hawk and the Hawk was giving as good as it was getting - the Hawk would climb higher into the tree and then chase the crows out, only to be out numbered when they got to open space.

Three Crows Chasing Juvenile Coopers Hawk
 

  I was surprised how fast a crow could move when it wanted to evade a Hawk. 

Juvenile Coopers Hawk And Crow In BranchesHawking Chasing Crow Out Of TreeJuvenile Coopers Hawk Wings Down
 

Granville Island (Chinese New Years)

Nara Watching From Dads ShouldersLions Head Eating Lettuce
Last year we went to the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden for Chinese New Years.  It's a nice garden and they put up lots of decorations, but it is rather sedate.  This year we thought it would be fun to catch the lion dancing at Granville Island.  We headed down for the 10:30 start and it was obvious pretty quickly that Nara wasn't having a good time.  The Lions came with loud drumming and it was too much for Nara.  We headed outside to the courtyard to calm down. 



Pigeon Flying AwayNara Throwing Grain
There is never a shortage of birds to feed on Granville Island and Nara seems to enjoy throwing seed.  One of the vendors sells seed by the small bag so quickly Nara was right as rain.

Nara Releasing Grain Onto Pigeons 

 Bundle Of Lettuce On Douglas Fir Post
We decided to try again and see the Lions when they got to rail spur alley.  Various merchants had put out lettuce and red packet offerings for the lions.  Helen describes the offering as "sounds like good fortune" so the lion eating the lettuce (and taking the red packet) is a means to get good luck at New Years. 

Lettuce Hanging In Rail Spur Alley

Lions In Rail Spur Alley
Soon enough the lions came again and "ate" the lettuce. 

Lion Lining Up For Lettuce Hg
 
It was still a little loud for Nara, but Claira had a good time!

Naras Ears Covered When Lion PassesClaira Bundled Up In The Stroller
 

Grandma Comes for a Visit


  Claira Sitting With Her ToysNara Soaring With Grandma
Grandma is making a point of trying to visit at least once a month.  This trip Nara and Grandma did a traditional trip down to Granville Island to feed the birds and swing on the swings. 

Chinese New Years at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden

Nara In Chinese New Years Outfit Helen With Nara And Claira At The Garden
Helen's Aunt kindly sent us Chinese New Years outfits for the Nara and Claira.  Chinatown did their parade a week later than some other locations and as part of that the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden has an "open house" day where admission is by donation.  If you arrive early, there is often good views and games for the kids.
 



Claira And Nara With Snake Behind
This is the year of the snake and the garden has an enormous snake built in water feature.  Water in my mind really makes a park special so it is nice when it gets into a photo.

Claira And Nara On The RocksNara Looking Out Over Reflecting Pond


Reifel Bird Sanctuary


Duck Looking For Fingers
We had a beautiful weekend day and I know Nara likes to feed the ducks.  We decided to see the Reifel Bird sanctuary.  I read online that there are terrific sightings (I'm always on the look out for owls), the most exotic thing I saw was a night heron and it was far away in a bunch of branches so difficult to photograph.  Nara had a good time feeding the birds though!

Two Eagles On A Lookout TreeTwo Pintails In Disagreement

Tylers Birthday Party

Nara Eating Cake
Nara really likes birthdays (there is usually cake!) so she was excited to be invited to Tylers birthday.  Tyler is the son of a friend of Helen's and he has had some really nice birthday parties.  This party was down on Granville Island in the kids zone play area.  The parents rented one of the eating areas (comes with long tables) and self catered a health (but yummy) lunch.  The rental includes a number of admissions into the play zone so Nara could go climbing and play in the ball pit.


Claira Portrait In The Window
The room turned out to have really nice light so I put Claira on a ledge and took some photos.  I'm really falling behind taking photos of Claira compared to Nara.   Claira is beautiful, but she doesn't have as much interaction as Nara.  I endeavor to have a month when I take more photos of Claira than Nara.
Claira Head TiltedClaira Smiling
 
 
The play zone was quite fun.  Nara at two and half really isn't big enough to take advantage of the features.  She just isn't tall/strong enough to climb up the stages to get to the big slide, but she did enjoy the time in the ball pit.  This is actually my first time in a ball pit - Nara did seem to have a good time.

Nara Knee Deep In BallsNara Sitting On The BallsNara Exiting Ball Pit
Running In The Ball RoomTwo Hands Three Balls

A big thank you to Tyler's parents Linda and Mike and the rest of their family for including us.  We had a great time.


Male Common Merganser
Species: Mergus merganser (Common Merganser)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Stanley Park
Juvenile Coopers Hawk And Crow In Branches
Duck Looking For Fingers
Person: Nara
Naras Ears Covered When Lion Passes
Harrier On Fence Post
Species: Circus cyaneus (Northern Harrier)
Tags: bird, Boundary Bay
Female Common Merganser
Species: Mergus merganser (Common Merganser)
Altitude: 2m (6 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Stanley Park
Claira Head Tilted
Person: Claira
Two Mallards In Tight Skirmish
Species: Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird, Stanley Park
Claira Smiling
Person: Claira
Juvenile Coopers Hawk Wings Down
Species: Accipiter cooperii (Cooper's Hawk)
Tags: bird in flight
Three Crows Chasing Juvenile Coopers Hawk
Tags: Stanley Park
Lions In Rail Spur Alley
Tags: alley, costume, lion dance
Nara Eating Cake
Person: Nara
Nara Releasing Grain Onto Pigeons
Nara In Chinese New Years Outfit
Person: Nara
Running In The Ball Room
Person: Nara
Male Mallards Resolving Dispute
Tags: Stanley Park
Pigeon Flying Away
Species: Columba livia (Common Pigeon, Rock Dove)
Nara Watching From Dads Shoulders
Nara Soaring With Grandma
Person: Nara
Tags: Granville Island, swing
Bundle Of Lettuce On Douglas Fir Post
Greater Scaups
Species: Aythya marila (Greater Scaup)
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Stanley Park
Nara Holding Her Bird Feeder
Person: Nara
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird feeder
Nara Exiting Ball Pit
Person: Nara
Common Goldeneye Male
Species: Bucephala clangula (Common Goldeneye)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Stanley Park
Song Sparrow In Tall Grasses
Species: Melospiza melodia (Song Sparrow)
Altitude: 14m (45 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird, Boundary Bay
Claira And Nara On The Rocks
Person: Nara, Claira
Tags: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Claira Bundled Up In The Stroller
Person: Claira
Nara Putting Seeds On Bird Feeder
Person: Nara
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Lion Lining Up For Lettuce Hg
Tags: costume, lion dance
Nara Knee Deep In Balls
Person: Nara
Claira Sitting With Her Toys
Person: Claira
Tags: toy
Nara Sitting On The Balls
Person: Nara
Song Sparrow Craning
Species: Melospiza melodia (Song Sparrow)
Altitude: 15m (49 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird, Boundary Bay
Mute Swans Looking For Seed
Species: Cygnus olor (Mute Swan)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Stanley Park
Crow And Hawk Side By Side Dive
Species: Accipiter cooperii (Cooper's Hawk), Corvus caurinus (Northwestern Crow)
Tags: bird, Stanley Park
Nara And Helen Feeding The Birds
Person: Nara, Helen
Location: Go To...
Tags: Stanley Park
Harrier In Golf Course Rough
Species: Circus cyaneus (Northern Harrier)
Tags: bird, Boundary Bay
Two Pintails In Disagreement
Species: Anas acuta (Northern Pintail)
Tags: bird, Reifel Bird Sanctuary
Lettuce Hanging In Rail Spur Alley
Claira And Nara With Snake Behind
Person: Nara, Claira
Tags: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Two Hands Three Balls
Person: Nara
Hawking Chasing Crow Out Of Tree
Nara Putting Crisco On Pine Cone
Person: Nara
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird feeder
Short Eared Owl On Power Cable
Species: Asio flammeus (Short-eared Owl)
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird, Boundary Bay
Lions Head Eating Lettuce
Tags: lion dance
Helen With Nara And Claira At The Garden
Person: Nara, Claira, Helen
Shorted Eared With Feet Visible
Species: Asio flammeus (Short-eared Owl)
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird, Boundary Bay
Nara Looking Out Over Reflecting Pond
Person: Nara
Tags: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Nara Throwing Grain
Person: Nara
Claira Portrait In The Window
Person: Claira
Two Eagles On A Lookout Tree
Species: Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle)
Tags: bird, Reifel Bird Sanctuary
Nara With Packed Bird Feeder
Person: Nara
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird feeder
Short Eared Soaring
Species: Asio flammeus (Short-eared Owl)
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird, bird in flight, Boundary Bay
Tags: bird(11), Stanley Park(10), Boundary Bay(7), bird feeder(3), lion dance(3), Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden(3)
People: Nara(19), Claira(8), Helen(2)
From: John Harvey Photo > Blogs for 2023 to 2005 > February 2013

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