MAIACETUS: March 2014

Thursday, March 27, 2014

March 27, 2014: Wing Stretch!

365 Project, Day 162

Here is my day 162 submission to my 365Project:

It was a lovely spring day and I decided to head into the sun to one of my favourite spots in Victoria for photographing the Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias). At Beacon Hill Park the herons start nesting at this time of year and it's a great place to watch these pterodactyle-like birds hard at work on their nests. It's also great for photographing them carrying their nesting material and landing rather awkwardly in the nesting trees.

I love a good wander around the park snapping photos and I also like to get photos of the other residents active in the beautiful spring sunshine :)

Wing stretch! Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) looking rather elegant coming in for a landing!

Juvenile gull in flight

Gull in flight

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) with nesting material

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) landing on a tree top at Beacon Hill Park, Victoria

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Crocuses in bloom in the park

Yellow and purple crocuses

These two peahens colours were gorgeous in the bright afternoon sun :)

Views of the beautiful, sunny daffodils around Beacon Hill Park:

Here's a series of photos of a male Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) who was buzzing around and stopping occasionally to sit atop the trees:

Male Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

Daffodil with a small visitor

Sunday, March 23, 2014

March 23, 2014: Rock sausage time!

365 Project, Day 161

Here is my day 161 submission to my 365Project:

Today I went along for a ride on a Five Star Charters whale watching trip. I worked many seasons for Five Star as a naturalist and will occasionally work when I'm home between MMO jobs if they don't have any other crew available. Most of the time though I join trips for boat rides to catch up with my friends who work on the boat...and those in the water :)

I had a great time on the trip today as it was the first time I saw the famous wolf which has been hanging out on Discover Island (just offshore of the community of Oak Bay in Victoria!) since July 2012. Although it was rather distant I still managed to get some photos as 'proof of presence'. We also had the pleasure of seeing many harbour seals (Phoca vitulina), affectionately known as 'rock sausages' here, and Steller (Eumatopias jubatus) and California (Zalophus californianus) sea lions at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve.

Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) aka 'rock sausages' hauled out at Race Rocks ;)

Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala) in flight at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve

You can just see the wolf sitting in the grass to the left of the twisty arbutus tree :)

...and now time for a wander

Rhinocerous Auklets (Cerorhinca moncerata)

Race Rocks Ecological Reserve

Steller sea lions (Eumatopias jubatus) at Race Rocks

Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) aka 'Rock sausages' ;)

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

March 12, 2014: Hail The Surf Gods!

365 Project, Day 172

Here is my day 172 submission to my 365Project:

This morning was my second attempt ever trying to surf at a point break on Vancouver Island. I have been a few times to Tofino where us beginners typically ride in the wash of the beach break waves but this would be only my second time at a point break.

It was a gorgeous morning and I was excited to try to ride a wave here again. Unfortunately, shortly after my first attempt to catch a wave (and promptly bailing, but it was fun anyways cuz I love being in the water!) I wasn't feeling well (must've eaten something off, yikes!) so had to head back to shore. After drying off and putting all my gear away I took advantage of the time and beautiful morning light to take photos of the surf and surfers in action.

Just before we were heading to the truck I got this picture of Chris holding his surf board over his head as the shafts of light came cascading down through the forest around him...and I think it turned into a really cool shot. Looks a bit like he's hailing the surf gods :)