Vancouver 0 - Boston 4

Well, it would seem that everything has moved north, earlier than when we were here in 2007, so I am going to followed them in the hope of more variety. Another overnight Greyhound should see me in Prince George in the morning looking for Internet Access and BIRDS!

As we left Vancouver there were 4 helicopters and a 'fixed wing' in the are monitoring the crowd leaving the Canucks v Boston Ice Hockey Cup Final. Transpires the 'home team' got walloped and the Carnival atmosphere of the afternoon had turned into a full scale RIOT. Cars were set on fire, windows smashed etc and all in the name of WHAT???? My beautiful memories of Vancouver and the beautiful people there has been TARNISHED, probably beyond repair. To the perpetrators I simply say you shame your home town,and who would want to visit such a stupidly volatile place? Think On - the majority are not with you!

Red-eared Slider Turtle

American Crow cooling down.

Red Starfish - Glaucous-winged Gull's Groceries.

Bald Eagle

"Lookout Smithers, bandits at angels 12"!

Small Beam Trawler heads seaward.

Ken Kesey author of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' had a similar Magic Bus in the late 60's and 70's which along with his Band of Gypsies who went under the heading of 'The Merry Pranksters' were a headline feature of the Hippie / Drug culture in those days. It was good to see these youngsters getting out and about in a similar vehicle.

Kesey's Bus prior to the highly controversial 'Acid Test' Graduation.

Slightly better photographs of Wrentit.

I just liked the idea of that seed finding the ideal place to germinate and begin to grow.

After seeing just one Raccoon up until now,

today there were a further 7 scavenging and bathing.

Canada Goose gosling.

Mute Swan, newly arrived from Abbotsbury.

While this bird was extremely difficult to see, let alone photograph, it looked every bit like a Veery to me?

Did I take a shot of a Mallard Duckling?

Quiet liked the look of this Feral Pigeon, and I know Daragh will!

Eyed-hawk Moth

now showing its 'eyes'.

The best shot so far of a male Red-winged Blackbird, and

ditto for the female.

Water Lilies.

and much improvement on the last image of Rufous-sided Towhee.

With the addition today of Bald Eagle, Mute Swan, Violet-Green Swallow, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Veery the totals read:-

Trip Total - 94 World Lifers - 10

and finally, regular readers may remember my encounter with Lawyer, Leslie Ivan Conklin on the bus from San Felipe to Mexicali and his very welcome help. On that day Leslie told me of this extraordinary creature and as he promised he has now sent me (us) photographs of, unfortunately, a dead specimen. Leslie went on to tell me that to his knowledge this Dolphin has never been photographed or filmed 'alive', so these are most interesting images at the very least, but let the man himself explain:-

The Vaquita Marina (Phocoena sinus) is a species of cetacean odontoceto of the family Phocoenidae, one of six species of porpoise.


There exists the cetacean endemic one of Mexican waters in the region of the Sea of Cortes in the reservation of the Biosphere of the High Gulf of California. The Vaquita Marina is one of the cetacean smallest of the world. This way, in no other site of the this surprising animal world of 150 cm and weighing even 50 kg.

A characteristic in this species is the excellent appearance of the lips. The top part of the body is dark gray, the low part is of almost white or light gray. The fins are proportionally bigger than in other porpoises. This enigmatic species is very shy, and does not jump as the dolphins in the surface of the sea, but simply it emerges some seconds to take air. Added to it, the fishing with networks of "enmalle" have caused that the vaquita marinades be closely together of the extinction. To see a mythical species of the marine vaquita is almost impossible.

Leslie Ivan Conklin Duarte

Leslie examining the hapless creature.

REMARKABLE

Thanks again Leslie.

Return to Stanley Park

A peninsula jutting out from Vancouver city proper was assigned a 'wildlife reserve' in the late 1800's by Lord Stanley with a law that it should never be desecrated. It is still not known if it is the school holidays here, but there are a large number of people enjoying the area among them many cyclists, roller skaters etc but the place is immaculately clean. So, far I have met one couple from Basingstoke Geoff & Chris who are not 'birders' but are obviously enjoying all they see, and a 'twitcher' from Manchester.

There was a real sense of carnival as I walked through part of the city, as today is cup final day. Vancouver play Boston in the last of a 7 game series, this match deciding who wins the Stanley Cup and as this city could easily have been call Stanley (for obvious reasons) it is impossible for the Canucks to consider defeat. It's now in the 'lap of the Gods', so let battle commence!

A few traditional Totems are scattered around the park,

and everywhere you go there are signs backing the Canucks, the Vancouver Ice Hockey team who play Boston Massachusetts in a couple of days to decide the 'Cup Final'.

Harry Winston Jerome

Canadian Sporting Legend

A most obliging Northern Rough-winged Swallow

A difficult area the 'Flycatchers' hereabouts, but this is thought to be Western Wood-Peewee.

Pretty, Pleasing Blooms.

Look closely, can you see it yet? Brown Creeper high on the trunk of a Redwood.

Cooper's Hawk (have always had difficulty seeing the difference between this and Sharp-shined Hawk, but told by local 'birders' that Cooper's is much more likely I've settled for that).

Another one for the Lighthouse People.

Double-crested Cormorant

Something of the Pea Family me thinks.

"Big wheels keep on turning, Proud Mary keeps on burning, Rollin', Rollin' Rollin' on a river" - Creedance Clearwater Revival. No idea what the pyramids of 'yellow stuff' are but it sure as hell ain't Saffron!

It could be some sort of by-product of timber as this Lauritzen Bulker was loading a cargo of wood chips.

Loads of these Berries throughout the woodland but not tempted to try.

Whereas last time we were here there were 'many' Racoon's, this time over 2 days I have seen just this single.

Maybe these are the 'real McCoy', as they were easily spooked, looked good and at least we are in Canada (Goose).

Great Blue Heron

lands right in front of me!

Pelagic Cormorant

Thought this a neat idea, distance markers around the sea-wall.

Bridge over the inlet.

A real bonus as far as I'm concerned, 2 Japanese Warships

entering harbour.

Glaucous-winged Gulls in large numbers here

with a ready supply of

Starfish to keep them going.

It's likely I'll be moving on tonight, if I do it'll be Prince George next and probably down to the coast and open sea at Prince William thereafter. Talk then!

and finally, while it is great to get away from familiar surroundings for a while, meeting new people, enjoying another slant on wildlife, it is also excellent to receive the odd message from friends and family. This E-mail from 'avid reader' and my mate Johnny Read just had me wetting myself so felt it should be passed on to you, hopefully to enjoy:-

Cap'n Bagsy,

As an avid reader of the Blog, I must say you are getting up my nose a bit. Swanning all over the world, living the life of Riley, nearly always to be seen in the company of several young ladies with tiny T shirts and big knockers. Now I open my copy of the Dorset Magazine and there you are grinning at me like a Cheshire cat. Why can't you just get married and be bloody miserable like the rest of us ?

Have a great trip.

Johnny Read.