An Eclectic Collection for June 2014

The following are some pictures taken during June 2014.                              

A view from the road to Hemlock ski village looking east towards Hope, BC

There are a few places along the road to Hemlock where creeks form waterfalls.

This female Sooty Grouse was cruising the streets of Agassiz, BC.  It was slowing down traffic and peeping into stores.

• Female Purple Martin at Blackie's Spit, White Rock, BC

A stream on Chilliwack Road to Chilliwack Lake, BC

The same stream as above.

Western Scrub-jays have successfully raised a couple go young in Maple Ridge, BC.  This may be the first recorded event of Scrub-jays breeding in BC.

"I have got to cut those nails."

Female Brewers Blackbird.

Pacific Slope Flycatcher at Golden Ears Provincial Park, BC.

MacGillivary's Warbler was at a lookout on the road up Cypress Mountain.

Young Cottontail Rabbit on the trail at the Great Blue Heron Reserve in Chilliwack, BC.  It was wondering which was one was posing the greatest threat-me or the mosquito.

This red-eyed Vireo was in the open beside the trail at the Great Blue Heron Reserve.

A close-up of the eye.  Not sure if there were eggs in the nest or young ones.

Once again we have scoured the area looking for photo opportunities.  We also went up to Manning Park but that was a separate blog.

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Sooty Grouse June 9 2014 Hemlock, British Columbia

This is one photo opportunity I have been waiting for, for a long time.  A Sooty Grouse in full display.  Dian and I found this one at Hemlock ski resort.  I made a video of him which includes another male.   They had a good tussle and the intruder ran away with this fellow hot on his tail. The video on youtube and can be seen here;http://youtu.be/QnOfVQiIqIA

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Manning Park British Columbia June 6 2014

Friday June 6 was a perfect day to be up in the Cascade Mountains.  Dian and I met Brian Stech at the lookout and we hiked up a trail that became impassable because of snow so we turned around and retraced our steps.  The road was still closed beyond the lookout.  The landscape pictures below are taken using High Dynamic Range imaging (HDR).  There is a feature in my camera that allows me to take 3 images at different exposures.  Then the camera merges all 3 images into one picture.  I am still experimenting with it but I was happy with the results today.  Much more so than the previous blog on Cheam.

West entrance to Manning Park

Lightning Lakes Picnic Area

Stellar's Jay 

Snowshoe Hare.  Feel free to correct me on this one.

Townsend's Warbler

Clarks Nutcracker (named after one of the Lewis and Clark explorers.  Not sure which one).  Thanks to friend Carlo for providing the following explanation on the origin of the name.
" I believe the Clark’s Nutcracker was named actually for Charlie ‘Nutcracker’ Sullivan - one of the scouts for the expedition who was in tight with leader Clark"
Hey kids-this is a good example where you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet.

Cascade Mantled Ground Squirrel.

Columbian Ground Squirrel

Looking east towards Vancouver.  Highway below.

Yellow-bellied Marmot.

Dian and Brian Stech

Brown-headed Cowbird

Looking south

Black Bear on the trail.  It took him a while to realize we were there.  Then he ran into the bush.
Thump,thump,thump,thump......

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Cheam Wetlands Birding area June 4 2014

     Cheam Wetlands are about 20 kilometres east of Chilliwack, British Columbia.  It is interesting in that a great landslide once came down Mt. Cheam and formed a huge depression called Cheam Lake.  The slide also brought down large quantities of limestone.  This limestone, mixed with mud and called "marl", was mined for fertilizer.  The area is now a great place for wildlife such as bear, deer, bobcats and birds.  Following are some fauna I have seen here over the last 10 years or so.  Much appreciation to Carlo Giavanella for identifying the flowers and butterfly.

Mt. Cheam from Cheam Wetlands

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)

Bullock's Oriole

Dian didn't know Garter Snakes emit an odor similar to feces when she picked this one up.

Canada Goose was on a nest and the picture was taken from the bridge above.

Marsh Wren

Salmon Berry flower.

Western Cottontail

Marigold?

Willow Flycatcher

Geranium

Solitary Sandpiper

Yellow Flag.  A species of Iris introduced and considered a pest.

Ring-necked Duck

Oxeye Daisy

Gray Catbird

Beaver

Yellow Pond Lily

Downy Woodpecker

Western Tiger Swallowtail

Cheam Wetlands are a great place for a leisurely walk and you never know what might show up.

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