John Harvey Photo

June 2021

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images And just like that, summer arrives!


 

Walking Around Iona

Cedar Waxwing At Top
Iona is really about the migrations but, it's a pretty good place for a walk almost any time of the year.   June is past the migration window so you mostly see birds that stay here over summer.

Cedar Waxwing On Evergreen
 
I was hoping to see a hawk or baby duck, but not so much luck today.  That said, just getting out for a walk makes for a nice day.

House Finch PairAmerican Robin Collecting Nest Materials


Maplewood Farm

Claira Has Made Sheep Friend

COVID restrictions have been loosening.  Earlier in the year they blocked the highways out of the city to anything but essential travel and asked people in Fraser health to not mix with Coastal health unless essential.  Those restrictions have been lifted so we arranged for the cousins (my kids and my sisters kids) to get together.   I picked Maplewood farms because they had solid COVID protocols (you have to book an hour to visit and it's outdoor).

Masks And CowsTrying To Feed Rabbit

James Gets His Sugar
The kids got bored of the animals surprisingly quickly so we decided to go to Deep Cove to walk around a park for a little bit.
 


The floating dock at Deep Cove has an amazing view - mountains, ocean, islands a lot of rich peoples houses.  The kids got bored within about a minute.
 
  The End Of The Dock In Deep Cove

I'm not sure who started the Piggy Back Rides first, but it ended when Claira tried to give Nara a piggy back ride. 

Older Sister Provides RideLittle Brother Provides Ride

We took a walk around, used the washrooms and then headed up for donuts.  I don't think my kids have had Honey Donuts before by they certainly enjoyed them.  I find a single donut overwhelming, but all four kids were able to finish theirs.

James Likes Maple BaconClaira Likes ChocoreoMarcus Likes Chocolate DippedNara Likes Maple
 
Thanks for coming out to visit Diana!

Claira's Birthday at the Stanley Park Train

  Line Up Before Getting On The Train
The Covid restrictions in April were harsh.  By June, restrictions were easing and we could do a party, as long as it was outside and kids were kept reasonably far apart.  We have had a good time with renting shelters from the City of Vancouver so this time we decided to try the shelter near the Stanley Park railway!  Claira has enjoyed the railway in the past and she was excited to go again.  Most of the parents seemed pretty excited to have a drop off birthday party again.


  Nara Through Glass
After the kids all arrived, the first thing wanted to do was go for a train ride!  With social distancing, every kid got their own bench and there were plastic partitions between each row.  The ride is about 10 minutes and has an animals and history theme with lots of the animal silhouettes scattered along the route.


One Row Per KidStanely Park Train Over PondWhite Foxglove At Start Of Ride

One Picnic Table Per Kid
We had pizza delivered (one personal pizza per kid stops common touch points).  Each kid gets their own cupcake and their own treats bag.   I was surprised how much difference there was in how much pizza each kid ate and how long it took for each kid to finish their lunch.


Nara With Blue LipsGiant BubblesClaira With Cupcake

Claira seems to really enjoy a Piñata!  Last year we made one, but this year she wanted a store bought one.  A few of the local dollar stores have them (for much more than a dollar), but Claira had a particular pinata in mind - it was in the window of a store we sometimes passed on the walk to school.  Problem solved.

Nara In Her Fighting StanceLined Up To Hit Pinata

Everyone had a great time!  Thanks everyone for coming out!

Short Hike to Yew Lake at Cypress Mountain

 
Still Snow In JuneClaira Sitting On Stump
Planning a party is a stressful thing so having a nice Sunday after the party with no obligations seemed like a gift.  Nara had some school project but Claira was free and was willing to go for a walk so we drove up to Cypress mountain for a short afternoon hike.  At the trail head is was above 20°C so Claira was quite surprised to see the trail covered in snow.  You could literally hear it melting as you stood there.



Stellars Jay Bending TreeClaira In Some Small Lake
It's not a long walk to the lake and I think that was Claira's goal - go for a swim.  I don't think she realized that an alpine lake is going to be terribly cold even though it's nice outside.

Claira Trying Another Pond
 
Being spring and just a few weeks after the snow cleared, there was abundant plant life everywhere.  I've seen most of the species before but there is something reassuring about seeing the sprouting up where you have seen them before.

Young HelleboreSwamp Laurel New FlowersDeer Cabbage Covering StreamHeather Flowers Are Buds

Young Plants Sprouting In Water
I like to say it's better to have a good short day than a bad long day.  It was a nice walk.


 

A Very Hot Weekend in Victoria

My parents are now vaccinated twice and considered pretty robust against COVID.  The travel restrictions for BC have been lifted and this weekend happens to be Claira's birthday!  For the first time in almost a year, it's time to see my parents!  A had a few last minute conspiracies again us - it was beach day at school on Friday and Claira got a sun burn on her shoulders and a "heat dome" had moved in made the weather unseasonably warm -  high 30s night and day which is unheard of in June in Victoria.

Outerbridge park is just down the road from my parents house so it's often worth the the walk over the morning.  I have a wish list - hummingbird feeding on the wing, painted turtle sunning itself, Pacific Swallowtail perched on a native flower, but I was happy with what I actually got.

Orange Crowned Warbler On Red Hot Poker HgBlue Eyed Darner MatingLorquins Admiral
 
Walking Down To Beach
It was just after the full moon so the low tides were really low - we had a -0.1 foot tide on Saturday morning.  We bundled Claira up and went for a walk on the rarely exposed sand down at Cordova Bay.


Claira Covered From Sun
The beach has million dollar homes looking over it, but there are plenty of beach accesses.  We took the closer access and were out on the wet sand in minutes.  The tide was still falling as we got out there so every minute there was more sand and shallower pools.  The kids have lots of experience picking up crabs during intertidal beach walks so they started giving crabs a look.

Nara In Shallow WaterMom Showing Off Crab

Purple Dungeness CrabClaira Picked Up PrawnRed Rock Crab In Shallows


Claira Blowing Out Candles
Did I mention it was Claira's birthday?

In Comes The Cake
 
The heat dome didn't let up - evening were almost as warm as the day time.  I went up to the top of Mount Doug with my dad (the kids didn't want to leave the basement) and we watched the butterflies circling the peak of the mountain.
 
Butterflies From Top Of Mount DougFlying Over RocksSwallowtail Flying After Other Butterflies


We spotted one Pale Swallowtail and roughly four Painted Ladies flying around, often chasing each other.  In the evening heat, they rarely stopped flying.

 Pale Swallowtail Finally PerchedWell Worn Painted Lady


Nara Likes Maple
Person: Nara
Tags: donut
Claira Trying Another Pond
Altitude: 926m (3038 feet)
Location: Go To...
In Comes The Cake
Person: Claira, Janet
Tags: birthday cake, candlelight
Claira Blowing Out Candles
Person: Claira
Tags: birthday cake
Swallowtail Flying After Other Butterflies
Altitude: 220m (721 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: butterfly, in flight, Mount Douglas
House Finch Pair
Species: Haemorhous mexicanus (House Finch)
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird, Iona Beach Regional Park
Walking Down To Beach
Person: Claira, Helen, Janet, Nara
Altitude: 2m (6 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Cordova Bay
Lined Up To Hit Pinata
Tags: piñata
One Picnic Table Per Kid
Tags: picnic table
Swamp Laurel New Flowers
Species: Kalmia polifolia (Swamp Laurel)
Altitude: 924m (3031 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Cypress Provincial Park, flower
James Likes Maple Bacon
Person: James
Tags: donut
The End Of The Dock In Deep Cove
Person: Nara, Marcus, James, Claira
Tags: Deep Cove, dock
Claira In Some Small Lake
Person: Claira
Altitude: 925m (3034 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: alpine, lake
Young Plants Sprouting In Water
Altitude: 917m (3008 feet)
Location: Go To...
Nara With Blue Lips
Person: Nara
Well Worn Painted Lady
Species: Vanessa cardui (painted lady)
Altitude: 220m (721 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: butterfly, dorsal, Mount Douglas
Purple Dungeness Crab
Species: Cancer magister (dungeness crab)
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: beach, Cordova Bay, crab
American Robin Collecting Nest Materials
Species: Turdus migratorius (American Robin)
Altitude: 9m (29 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird, Iona Beach Regional Park
Claira Likes Chocoreo
Person: Claira
Older Sister Provides Ride
Person: Nara, Claira
Tags: piggyback
Claira Picked Up Prawn
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Nara Through Glass
Person: Nara
Tags: Stanley Park Miniature Train
Claira Has Made Sheep Friend
Flying Over Rocks
Species: Papilio eurymedon (Pale Swallowtail)
Altitude: 220m (721 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: butterfly, in flight, Mount Douglas, rock
Trying To Feed Rabbit
Tags: petting zoo, rabbit
Claira Sitting On Stump
Person: Claira
Altitude: 919m (3015 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: stump
Young Hellebore
Altitude: 917m (3008 feet)
Location: Go To...
Orange Crowned Warbler On Red Hot Poker Hg
Species: Oreothlypis celata (orange-crowned warbler)
Altitude: 40m (131 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird, Outerbridge Park
One Row Per Kid
Tags: Stanley Park Miniature Train
Claira Covered From Sun
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Stanely Park Train Over Pond
Tags: Stanley Park, Stanley Park Miniature Train, train, twin
Nara In Her Fighting Stance
Tags: piñata
Lorquins Admiral
Species: Limenitis lorquini (Lorquin's Admiral)
Altitude: 44m (144 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: butterfly, Outerbridge Park
Claira With Cupcake
Person: Claira
Tags: cup cake
White Foxglove At Start Of Ride
Cedar Waxwing On Evergreen
Species: Bombycilla cedrorum (Cedar Waxwing)
Altitude: 10m (32 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird, Iona Beach Regional Park
James Gets His Sugar
Masks And Cows
Person: Nara, Marcus, James, Claira
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: farm, mask
Pale Swallowtail Finally Perched
Species: Papilio eurymedon (Pale Swallowtail)
Altitude: 220m (721 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: butterfly, dorsal, Mount Douglas
Giant Bubbles
Tags: bubble
Line Up Before Getting On The Train
Person: Claira
Marcus Likes Chocolate Dipped
Tags: donut
Blue Eyed Darner Mating
Species: Rhionaeschna multicolor (Blue-eyed Darner)
Altitude: 44m (144 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: dragonfly, Outerbridge Park
Nara In Shallow Water
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Red Rock Crab In Shallows
Species: Cancer productus (red rock crab)
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Cordova Bay, crab
Still Snow In June
Person: Claira
Altitude: 930m (3051 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: snow
Deer Cabbage Covering Stream
Species: Nephrophyllidium crista-galli (deer-cabbage)
Altitude: 897m (2942 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Cypress Provincial Park
Cedar Waxwing At Top
Altitude: 7m (22 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird, Iona Beach Regional Park
Stellars Jay Bending Tree
Species: Cyanocitta stelleri (Steller's Jay)
Tags: Cypress Provincial Park
Heather Flowers Are Buds
Species: Phyllodoce empetriformis (Pink Mountain-Heather)
Altitude: 924m (3031 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Cypress Provincial Park
Little Brother Provides Ride
Person: Marcus, James
Tags: piggyback
Butterflies From Top Of Mount Doug
Altitude: 220m (721 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: butterfly, in flight, Mount Douglas
Mom Showing Off Crab
Person: Claira, Helen, Nara
Location: Go To...
Tags: beach, Cordova Bay, crab
Tags: butterfly(6), bird(5), Mount Douglas(5), Cordova Bay(4), Iona Beach Regional Park(4), Cypress Provincial Park(4)
People: Claira(13), Nara(8), James(4), Marcus(3), Janet(2), Helen(2)
From: John Harvey Photo > Blogs for 2024 to 2005 > June 2021

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