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Bushtit

All summer I saw groups of tiny grey birds on the dikes near my work, but never had a camera with me to capture a photo so I could look up what they were.  A few days ago, while working on the computer at home, I heard loads of chirping through the open window, and when I went outside, there was a group of the tiny grey birds in the bushes alongside my building.  Luckily, I managed to grab my camera and capture a single decent photo, and figure out what I had been seeing were Bushtits.  I had never seen them at home before, and who knows if I will ever see them flying around my neighbourhood again, but I certainly am happy to have a few months of wondering “what do I call these?” finally over.

1/400sec, f5.6, ISO160
1/400sec, f5.6, ISO160

 

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Surveying murky water

I’m sure the purpose of the orange floating plastic is to prevent debris from entering the pumping station (which is to the left just out of the shot), but this time of year, the only purpose seems to be separating murky water from even murkier water.  The herons seem to find it a great place to spend the mornings, as it has been a rare walk the few months when I haven’t seen a heron in or around this location.

Great Blue Heron

 

I was lucky as I was able to get quite close to the heron to take the photo below.  Spencer stayed calm and quiet and I think we got within about 15 feet before the heron started looking a bit uncomfortable, so we backed off to allow it to get back to searching for some breakfast.

Great Blue Heron-2

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Belted Kingfisher

A couple of weekends ago, I was out for my usual morning walk with Spencer when I finally had the chance to get some photos of the kingfisher that I have been seeing intermittently for the last year.  The kingfisher was out along the river where I normally see the herons and ospreys, so I wasn’t able to get the crisp, clear shots I have been hoping for all this time.  But, I had a great sighting, which is all that really matters to me!

While we were on our return along the dikes, the kingfisher was flying from one wooden post to the next, in the same direction we were headed.  I tried a few shots each time she stopped at a different location, but the distance was the always just about the same, so there wasn’t much difference in the shots.  Right near the end of the dike, I stopped to take one more shot, and managed to catch a sequence of the kingfisher diving, catching a small fish, dropping it, and then flying away.

Belted Kingfisher Belted Kingfisher-2 Belted Kingfisher-3 Belted Kingfisher-4 Belted Kingfisher-5 Belted Kingfisher-6Belted Kingfisher-7Belted Kingfisher-8 Belted Kingfisher-9 Belted Kingfisher-10

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Pitt Meadows Fire

While heading out for my walk last Sunday morning, I saw a huge column of smoke the minute I left my building.  I snapped these photos from out of the passenger side window, as even when pulled well over on the road, I didn’t want to be out of my vehicle and get in the way of emergency services heading to the blaze.  It only seemed right to wait to go through the photos until I had heard the news report about what happened.  Thankfully, loss of property only.

 

Emergency vehicle lights and cedar trees ablaze.
Emergency vehicle lights and cedar trees ablaze.
For this shot I was about 3 kilometres away; the black smoke dominates the morning skyline.
For this shot I was about 3 kilometres away; the black smoke dominates the morning skyline.
Looking in the direction away from the smoke, it was a truly gorgeous morning.
Looking in the direction away from the smoke, it was a truly gorgeous morning.
By the end of our walk, the winds had changed, moving the smoke over the river.
By the end of our walk, the winds had changed, moving the smoke over the river.
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Deer at Pitt River

It was a wonderful weekend for photography while out walking with the dog.  I’ve got lots of photos to go through and edit 🙂

I spotted a deer along the river! It wasn't long before I realized there were two, resting in the grasses along the river. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO5600
I spotted a deer along the river! It wasn’t long before I realized there were two resting in the grasses along the river.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO5600

I’ve only seen deer along the Pitt River a few times, and each time it has been on the far side of the dike, away from the river.  Yesterday, I caught a pair of deer relaxing in the long grasses in the flats along the river.  Once they caught sight of me, they didn’t stick around long, but it was lovely to have the chance to watch them for a few minutes.

Deer

The deer was definitely watching me to see if I posed any danger to it. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO3600
The deer was definitely watching me to see if I posed any danger to it.
1/500sec, f5.6, ISO3600
Always alert for danger - it was time to get on the move. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO6400
Always alert for danger – it was time to get on the move.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO6400
The leader and the follower. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO5000
The leader and the follower.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO5000
Once they decided to head for cover, they did so with purpose. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO4000
Once they decided to head for cover, they did so with purpose.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO4000
Wandering along the edge of the river, right towards the heron sitting on the stump. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO2000
Wandering along the edge of the river, right towards the heron sitting on the stump.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO2000
After heading off along the bank of the river, both deer soon disappeared into a small clump of trees. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO2200
After heading off along the bank of the river, both deer soon disappeared into a small clump of trees.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO2200

 

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Cooper's Hawk

Today was a great day for bird watching out along the dikes while on my morning walk.  I arrived a bit later than usual and ended up heading in a different direction to avoid following another walker with dogs that had arrived just before me (Spencer would not have been pleased with that scenario).  The change in scenery worked out well though, as I saw heron, an eagle, a northern flicker and I was lucky enough to see a cooper’s hawk for the first time in many months.  I managed a few shots while it hunted along the grassy edge of the river.

 

A cooper's hawk flies along the Pitt River looking for prey. 1/500sec, f8.0, ISO200
A cooper’s hawk flies along the Pitt River looking for prey.
1/500sec, f8.0, ISO200

Coopers Hawk-3 Coopers Hawk-2

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Wild Dogs

I recently had a request for some more wild dog photos, so I spent some time this evening going through the photos I took back in April 2013 when I was lucky enough to see them in Botswana.  I had dismissed many of the photos when I originally took them, as the light was rather difficult, but what a difference a year makes.  I have more skills in editing now, and am able to correct things that I wasn’t able to just a short time ago.    I didn’t have time to go through all the photos I flagged this evening, so if you are a betting person, you can put money on the fact that you’ll see more of this group later in the week 🙂

Torn ears and a face full of flies. 1/400sec, f5.3, ISO1600
Torn ears and a face full of flies.
1/400sec, f5.3, ISO1600
A group of wild dogs rests in the shade from the mid afternoon heat, at Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana. 1/500sec, f5.3, ISO1600
A group of wild dogs rests in the shade, away from the mid afternoon heat, at Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana.
1/500sec, f5.3, ISO1600
I have no idea what they might have saw, heard, or smelled, but it certainly captivated the attention of the group. 1/640sec, f4.8, ISO800
I have no idea what they might have saw, heard, or smelled, but it certainly captivated the attention of the group.
1/640sec, f4.8, ISO800
A wild dog heads away from the group. 1/1000sec, f4.5, ISO800
A wild dog heads away from the pack.
1/1000sec, f4.5, ISO800
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