Saturday, January 11, 2014

Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival, November 16/2014

I stayed in Mission and drove out to Harrison Mills and had another beautiful drive.  I don't think there is such a thing as a boring drive when you're in BC because of the mountains, rivers and trees. I arrived in Harrison Mills and saw more beautiful scenery...and eagles!

You can click on the photos to enlarge them.


























































































































































































































These are Trumpeter Swans.  You can see the white heads of adult bald eagles in the trees behind them. 




















Notice the big lump under the thoat where the white and brown feathers meet.  That's called a crop and it's a place for birds of prey to store food.  Sort of like a pantry!



















This handsome eagle is Sonsie and he is an educational bird at OWL, a rehab facility in Richmond, BC.  

That's the end of Day 1 at the festival.  If you love eagles as much as I do and are thinking of going to see them, here is the link to the festival:  http://fraservalleybaldeaglefestival.ca/ 

Saturday, January 4, 2014

November 13 & 14/2013, Vancouver and Squamish

I made it back out to Vancouver between November 13 & 19/2013.  The trip was centred around the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival in Harrison Mills, BC, but the first highlights began soon after I landed in Vancouver.  I went to Vanier Park and said hello to the male adult bald eagle who nests in the park.  His favourite hangout is the top of the totem pole.

























The following morning, I woke up while it was still dark and grabbed my camera and tripod to try my hand at night photography.  These are ships out in English Bay.














From there I went up to Squamish which is about an hour northwest of Vancouver and is one of the most beautiful drives anywhere.  I had to remind myself to watch the road and to breathe regularly.  No pictures of the drive, obviously, and I went there with no expectation of seeing eagles since I had heard there were none about three weeks ago.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.















There were approximately 20 eagles hanging around, some in trees, some on the sand feasting on fish carcasses. 














There were also some red-headed mergansers
















 And a seal!

 
















The above eagle decided to torment the gulls
























































































































All in all, one of the most amazing days of my life, the weather was perfect, the eagles were close and I didn't want to leave.  I told a friend that if it rained the rest of the time it wouldn't matter because I had this day.  Little did I know, it was just the start!