Burnaby Lake and the Still Creek Watershed

The temperatures are dropping. We survived summer's endless heatwave. Now leaves are hitching rides on the gusts of wind blowing winter ever closer.
This past Sunday we went on yet another little jaunt after our customary coffees.
Ended up down on the edge of Burnaby Lake specifically out on Piper Spit where dozens of water fowl floated around the wooden walkway that juts out into the lake.
Burnaby lake named for Colonel Richard Moody's personal secretary Robert Burnaby. It is a glacial lake that was formed about 12,000 yeas ago at the end of the Pleistocene Ice Age. Burnaby Lake Regional Park covers over 700 acres of land, and is home to a large variety of wildlife. At least 70 species of birds make the lake and surrounding areas their home, and about 214 species of birds visit the lake throughout the year. The park has been managed by the Metro Vancouver Parks Department since 1977. (wikipedia)

Hanging outside the Starbucks window.

I'm in trouble if anybody asks me the names some of these feathered friends!

 

 
After leaving Burnaby Lake we went on a hunt for among other things the head of the Still Creek Watershed.

 

One of the sections of the creek we found. In 2012 after an 80 year absence, Chum Salmon were seen spawning up the creek and have continued their return since.

Where to next week if we hit the road again?
Is it too late to find a pumpkin patch near by? We'll see.

Don Roberts Park and Mushrooms

Two posts in one. First; two or three weekends ago we headed off into parts unexplored. Basically in the opposite direction than we normally headed.
We stopped a moment to get a shot of Mt Cheam and her sisters (seamed images below) and continued on our adventure. New avenues, streets and cul-de-sacs to explore. Over there instead of over here. Exploring along the Barnett instead of the Fraser.
We found a very understated entrance to the Don Roberts Park in one particular cul-de-sac in an industrial park maze in Coquitlam, BC

Looking off at the mountains from the ridge (4 images seamed together).

Just last weekend we were not going out to 'explore'. A mysterious 'illness' at the time kept me from being more mobile than shuffling to the car, into the coffee shop and then home again. It was just getting out for a coffee in his case, a tea in mine. Didn't have to look too far though to find something interesting to try and get on film. Right outside the Starbucks window stood a number of mushrooms villages.

Oh, for the next debate I hear or read about the pointlessness of UV filters on a lens.......The filter is a write off. The lens lives on to take more pictures.
 

Note to self: replace your UV filter.

Now that I'm feeling much better, where to next...........?

Cat Grass Bliss

My indoor cat doesn't get the opportunity to graze through the neighbourhood yards and lawns and then hork up a green gooey hairball like outdoor cats. But he also doesn't have to contend with psychos that want to torture him for fun or get hit by a car or stalked by the local coyotes.
So it's always been a treat for him to get a container of (wheat) grass from time to time.
I thought I'd shoot him digging in while perched on the corner of my computer table. Not the greatest lighting or focus or composition but he sure looks like he's enjoying it.

I probably look like this biting into a juice burger!

Look at that fang of delight.

Love how his nose crinkles when he's chowing down.

One blade at a time.

Going into a wonderful food coma?

I'll have to keep an eye open for the green gooey mess....