Balloons - Howell, Michigan

Cardinal

White Pelican

This was taken near Vancouver, British Columbia.  I used my Nikon D200, 80-400mm Lens combo.

Flying over Pitt Lake

Pitt Lake lies north of Maple Ridge, British Columbia.  A berm / dyke system has created a sanctuary for local birds of prey and other marshland critters.  Denise and I discovered several Osprey nests in the area and  spent some time taking photos of the baby Ospreys.  The first opportunity I got to take nature photos with my brand new 600mm lens was going to be at Grant Narrows where the ospreys were. This area is well away from traffic and about 900m out on the berm.  Denise and I set up the tripod and cameras.  She was taking pics of flowers and I, the birds when a helicopter flew by, banked, then came towards us.  I caught this photo on the second pass just as the pilot lowered the landing gear.  CRAP, I knew what that meant.  This bird was landing.  And with it,  tons of dust.   Too late.  First time out with the 600 and this guy sandblasted it with dust as it landed about 75m from our position, on the berm.  It was a medical emergency evacuation of some one injured either on the boat dock or on a boat.  I packed up the lens and took it home to blow off the dust.  No damage.

New Westminster Show and Shine

Once a year, New Westminster, British Columbia hosts the New West Show and Shine Car Show.  The downtown area is closed off to traffic, and anyone who wants to show off their labor-of-love can do so.  This is not limited to classics.  Modified cars, imports, antiques, racers, motor cycles and even Police and Fire vehicles are shown off.  The detail on these vehicles is mind boggling.  Brass and chrome shine.  Paint gleams.  In fact, some of the paint jobs, and chrome were so shiny it was impossible to take a decent photo while the sun was shining.  We enjoyed the view regardless.  If I had to guess I would say there were several hundred cars / trucks and motorcycles there.  As for the people, it was crowded.  This show draws a huge crowd, even though there was a second (and maybe a third) car show on, on the same day.  Thousands, showed up to ogle the displays.  The local businesses didn't suffer.  They were all open, and happy to see all the people.   Bands were there for entertainment, and kiosks were set up if you were so inclined to try a Macs Milk smoothie drink, or buy a commemorative T-shirt.

I discovered this show by accident when I lived three blocks from the down town area after moving to New West in 2007.  Since then, I have made it a regular pilgrimage (work permitting).  This year was no disappointment.  All in all I am not a fan of  photos of cars with 4000 people walking around them.  I prefer the solitary subject (a car with no people around).  Hence, the two photos I'm posting here.

Just a note.  The New West Police and the local Fire Departments showed just as much pride in their displays as everyone else who had a vehicle displayed.  GOOD JOB.

Backyard Birds

  
 

Today was the first day for my new woodpecker feeder.  Nothing more than an 18 inch x 3 inch diameter piece of cherry my neighbour, Brenda Lee, was gracious enough to give me.  I drilled 7/8 inch holes about 2 inches apart at the top end of the log and filled it (well, Denise, my wife filled it) with seed, mixed with peanut butter.  To keep my nemesis, the squirrel, at bay, I placed a 17 inch circular piece of aluminum plate on the top and screwed it into the log with an eyebolt.  Within an hour, I had 3 birds clinging to the log (2 woodpeckers, and one Northern Flicker).  By the time I got my camera out, the flicker was on the ground searching for food.  I found this odd, as I have never seen them as ground feeders.  The woodpecker photo was highlighted with a flash and Flash Extender from a distance of about 40 ft.

Dog Mountain

One great thing about living in British Columbia, is that there are spectacular views everywhere.  For those who know me, know I am not partial to snow, and cold weather.  However, since moving to BC, I have been introduced to snowshoeing.  Actually, to clarify, I would never have tried snowshoeing if I knew there wasn't something to photograph.  It can get darn cold here.  Once, my wife and I took a hike on snowshoes, in Manning Park (east of Vancouver), at -19C.  Believe it or not, we actually saw a mosquito.  I tried to photograph it but it was in a hurry.  I did manage to get several photos of a spider walking on the snow.  I suspect the sun caused the tree bark to heat up and the critters hibernating inside thought it was spring.

This photograph was taken after hiking from Mt. Seymour to Dog Mountain, north of Vancouver.   We were part of a local group from Wanderung.   The view was outstanding the whole way up.  The couple to the right, in the photo were having lunch and admiring the view.  Don't blame them.

Again I used my reliable Nikon D200, and 17-55mm lens with a Moose Peterson Circ/Pol filter.