Ball of Fluff

A very young Killdeer, not much body, but a lot of leg. I didn't like to get too close, the parent

bird was already excited, so these are very much cropped photos, even using a longer lens.

A tiny, tiny little thing, but it sure knew how to use those long legs. It scurried down the beach at speed.

CCGS Cape Caution

Our local SAR boat, the Cape Caution. She was away for a couple of months, an extensive

refit at the Coast Guard facility at Pat Bay, and has only been back a week or so. She is a pretty sight on the water.

That's the low tide version of Rebecca Rock in the hazy background.

Blushing Beauty

Rhododendrons are my favourite blooms, so you'll see more of them in the weeks coming.

Eagle Dinner

At the north end of the North Harbour Sunday afternoon when I spotted an eagle leave its tree and head out

over the water. It came back with what looks to be a young otter, and perched on the sign at the entrance

to the harbour, where it proceeded to tear off fur and take a few mouthfuls.

It didn't perch long, and soon lifted off with its catch and headed to the trees further up-shore.

Technically, not the best photos I've ever taken, but interesting to see and document.

Beauty ...

... and the beast.

Statuary at Springtime Nursery.

Bad Hair Day

Mine looks the same some mornings.
One of the birds on the grounds of Springtime Nursery.

Sunshine ...

... brings out the kayakers. And a splash of colour on the water.

Toque

It is definitely spring - someone doesn't need his toque anymore.

Daffs At The Harbour

From the archives : this dates from April 2014. Unfortunately, later that summer the city tore up the

lawn for reasons known only to them, and we haven't seen this profusion of daffs since.

White And Green

A grouping of pure white Hyacinths. Sunday's light overcast was perfect light for floral

photos, so I took advantage.

In The Pink

Pink azalea - the azaleas and their cousins the rhododendrons are finally

starting to put on their show. 

Buffleheads

Buffleheads are migratory, and soon they'll leave our portion of the coast and head north and west to

northern forests. They nest in tree cavities near lakes. The male above I caught at the mill

logpond on Friday - he was accompanied by his mate, but she wouldn't pose. The

photo of the female, below, dates from last spring.
They belong to the same family as the Goldeneyes, and the males have that same lovely
iridescence in the feathers of the head.

Another Eagle

After yesterday's Coast Guard photos I noted this large Eagle just a few yards further down the

breakwater, and I never pass up the chance of an Eagle photo. I only managed a few shots

before it was on it's way. Very big, so probably a female.

Practicing

Out local Coast Guard held a rescue practice on the side of the South Harbour breakwater, yesterday,

where one member of the crew feigned injury, and the others practiced the drill.

Thankfully just a drill, and this "injured" party got up under his own steam.

Mountain Bluebird

From the archives : this little fellow is a male Mountain Bluebird, the only one I have ever laid

eyes on. He is a rare sighting In Powell River.

I got these shots fortuitously, 6 years ago this week -  one of the reasons I seldom leave home without
a camera. You just never know what Lady Luck will present any given day.

Chainsaw Grizzly

I've been lucky enough to have seen a handful of the real thing, but you can get a lot closer to this one!

This is the one on the topside of the BC Ferries lot, and quite well done. The signage says it was

carved for the PR Forestry Museum by chainsaw carver Mike Brown in 2002.

On A Clear Day ...

... you can see forever. On a damp, foggy day, not so much. From the archives, as the recent

weather hasn't cooperated.

Posing

Sometimes, if you're lucky, a bird will jump on a rock and pose for you. Just like this Hermit Thrush.

The Queen of Burnaby

I took these photos of the Queen of Burnaby last week in the expectation that the old girl would be gone this week,

and we'd be sailing on the new Salish Orca. But the Orca has been delayed, a great way to start our more reliable

ferry service. In any case, these will be my last photos of the Burnaby; rust and all, she'll be gone by month-end.

For those folks who don't live here, Powell River has limited access, the only way in and out is by

ferry or exorbitantly-priced air. So a new, reliable, ferry, which the Burnaby hasn't been the

last few years, is very important to our little community. It's a major event.

The Burnaby has been in service since 1966, and she is definitely past her best-before date. I'm not sorry to see her go.

Rustic

I visited a friend at the cemetery on Nassichuk Rd the other day, and found this very nice old

rustic bench, one of several resting places among the resting places. I hope they have

the good sense never to "fix" it up.