Tag Archive | Spring

Weekend expedition 46: A few shots from Vancouver

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Catherine and I have been in Vancouver for a few days, catching up on some school-related business at SFU, and saying hello to our friends. We made a special trip on Sunday to say hello to Stanley Park with our friend Samantha Vibert, and here is what we saw!

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Samantha with a juvenile Araneus diadematus. Shortly after this shot was taken, the spider ballooned right off her finger!

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A Golden-crowned Sparrow.

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A bright eyed and eager-looking Towhee!

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This long-jawed orbweaver was tricky to capture with a non-black background, as I had forgotten to charge my second speedlight’s batteries.

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A red velvet mite looking red and velvety, which they like to do.

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Ensatina! ensatina! (That is how you spell it right?)

 

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This brown Green Lacewing (Nothochrysa californica) was freshly emerged, and looking rather wonderful. Thanks to v belov for the ID!

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A mystery egg sac. Any ideas what it could be?

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Amaurobiids are extremely abundant in the old firs and cedars of Stanley Park (and everywhere on the coast).

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This one has a cool-looking carapace.

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Catherine doing some knitting on a gorgeous spring day.

 

Some spring shots from Victoria

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It is a popular pastime among us West Coasters to point out our gorgeous spring weather to those of you who are freezing back East. I think that’s just cruel. Nonetheless, I can’t help but notice it is minus three in Toronto, snowing in Alberta and freezing in New Brunswick….Here in Victoria, the snakes are out, the flowers are blooming and we are expecting our first Rufous Hummingbirds any day now!

Here are a few shots from the past couple days in sunny Victoria!

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A springtime cove from high above on windy Mt. Douglas.

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This plump Gnaphosa didn’t mind the wind in a rocky retreat (thanks to Laura P. and Lynnette Schimming for the ID!)

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This elaterid is a bit of a cheat, as I had to flip a stone to find it.

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The first snakes are always how I have registered springtime…This one was just neonate sized.

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A cormorant fishing in Swan Lake.

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A Cooper’s Hawk from yesterday morning.

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Red-tailed Hawk about to bug out!

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