| Well, the
excitement of my family's visit was over, and on Friday the 21st
I headed out after work to unwind and visit with the usual suspects
down at Piper Spit on Burnaby Lake. My welcoming committee at the
spit consisted of a few squirrels, led by this little Douglas' Squirrel. |
|
 |
| There wasn't
much going on; there were only one or two other people there besides
me, and the locals were taking some time to catch up on their daily
routines. Like this fella here, who was doing his yoga: he's got
a decent Tree Posture (Vrksasana) going. |
|
 |
| Nearby,
another one of the locals, a Song Sparrow, had found something to
eat. I couldn't really tell what it was. |
|
 |
| This guy,
an Eastern Grey Squirrel, had been part of the welcoming committee,
and he stuck around the path for most of the time I was there. |
|
 |
| |
|
 |
| It's hardly
a day at the spit without seeing a few Wood Ducks. Here's a nice
pair of them on the path. |
|
 |
| And once
I was out on the spit itself, this male swam by fairly close. |
|
 |
| Further
out, I watched some drake Mallards having a conversation about the
NHL playoffs. |
|
 |
| |
|
 |
|
They didn't seem that
passionate about it though, probably because the Canucks are out
of the picture. The Mighty Ducks made it in, but despite the name
I've yet to meet a Mallard who favored the Ducks over the hometown
boys.
As usual, there were
a few pair of Green-winged Teal around the spit. This one's a
male.
|
|
 |
| And this
is a female. Green-wingeds are little ducks, much smaller than Mallards. |
|
 |
| The only
mildly surprising bird of the day was this female Common Goldeneye,
who was floating over near the swallow boxes. (There are a good
number of nest boxes that have been erected near the spit for swallows
to nest in.) |
|
 |
| When I walked
back in along the boardwalk, I found this male Woody in the grass
by the path. They always cut a dashing figure, those Woodies. |
|
 |
| And a little
later I found one on the other side who held still for a portrait
or two. |
|
 |
| I had a
brief look for tree frogs in the bushes lining the path, but didn't
find any. When I exited, not all of the welcoming committee was
there to bid me adieu, but they did appoint a Grey to give me their
regards and see me off. It was a kind gesture. |
|
 |
|
It was a short visit
and there were no big surprises, but it was good to get out after
a long day of meetings.
Hanging with my homies,
Tom
|
|