back to the basics

Since returning from last week's trip to Victoria, British Columbia, I took one day off to unwind then settled back into the basics of living life in Calgary.  Being only one hour ahead of the west coast, there's no jet lag to deal with so getting back on track happens right away.  I already got back to walking, birding, painting, lunching, crocusing and knitting.  My initial intention was to leave knitting by the wayside until the end of the year when autumn then winter arrives and I would be spending more time back inside.  I am managing to find a little time to keep knitting in the mix.

  

knitting

With bears now coming out of hibernation, it's time to be vigilant when "out & about" in their territory.  There is no need for keeping your eyes peeled with this bear!  It measures about ten inches tall, is soft and cuddly, has no claws nor a growl.  This is my latest knitting project.  I had planned to donate it, but I have become attached to it!  Instead of using the called for stuffing stuff to stuff it. I used left over yarn from other projects.  I just started knitting a playmate for it which I will share here once it is complete. 

painting

The number of times I have seen a Pileated Woodpecker this birding season, surprises me.  This is the latest, I saw it at The Sanctuary on Monday.  It was pecking away on the log when I spotted it not long after arriving.  It was still there two hours later when I walked by again.  I have been eyeing my Pileated Woodpecker photos over the past while thinking I would like to paint one but it was this most recent photo that called out to me.  

Since returning from Victoria, I also painted this Anna's Hummingbird!  The number of this species that I saw while away surprised me!  I looked at all the Hummingbird photos I took, but there were none that were clear enough where the wings were open and the sun was casting the bright colours.  I found a tutorial and used the photo from it as a reference.  I will paint another but will use one of my photos as the reference.  

birding

Oh my gosh, spring is here and love is in the air, not only between the ducks and birds but between me and birding!  I am seeing lots of recent arrivals and that brings sheer joy.   On this visit to The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, I captured so many photos, for the sake of not overloading this blog post, I picked out my three favourites.  

male Common Goldeneye

Savannah Sparrow

Tree Swallow

crocusing

I thought it best to get out there crocus hunting before their season passes. The last time I went was just over a week ago.  What a difference a week makes.  I was surprised to see how many there were at Hanson Ranch.  They were there by the thousands!  It appears to be a crocus boom this year.  I did not take thousands of photos but I did take hundreds.  I picked out my favourites, then picked favourites from the favourites then I picked my three favourites from that group of favourites!  

birding

Heavens to Betsy!  What a walk at Creekside!  Between the creeks, the ponds, the swamps, the birding was fulfilling to the brim!  There is more ground to cover there, I will have to go back another time.  The many distractions on this visit kept my distance covered very short.  I had a challenge staying focused on one sight or one sound.  I did my best and enjoyed the experience.  I am sharing three photos even though there are lots of others that pop out at me.

Merlin 

female & male Horned Grebe

male Red-winged Blackbird

It's been busy times being back to the basics!

  

Victoria, British Columbia April 12, 2025

After waking each morning, I stepped out onto the balcony off my bedroom to breathe in the fresh air and to admire the moon as it progressed towards being full. I was lucky enough to catch seeing it before it slipped lower to then be hidden by the trees. This morning, a day before being full, it beamed brightly! This was the time to capture photos of it. I was not able to get as clear a photo as I otherwise can. My photos also showed a very thin reddish line around the bottom, not sure if that is a thing, or if it's my camera.   

With a bit of time to pass before saying good-bye to Victoria, I went for a five klick walk in the sunshine to see some sights.  The view as I walked from my home away from home to the Inner Harbour always brought a smile and a sigh, and it did this morning but the smile was not as wide yet the sigh was deeper.  If only I had a couple more days here!  

the Harbour beginning to wake up

a few final views

This get-away afforded me everything I was in search of! I got my fill of fresh fish, I saw the ocean and breathed in the salt air but most of all I got to see, smell and touch the cherry blossoms.  It is still on my mind that I would like an extended stay in Victoria.  I will look into this at a later date.  


 

Victoria, British Columbia April 11, 2025,

I left the city today for a trek through a rainforest in East Sooke with a beach front location as the final destination.  While the beach location was what I was truly looking forward to being at, the hike through the rainforest to get there was quite amazing. 

The damp cold reminded me of the east coast where it can chill you to the bone. The little gloves and light hat brought added comfort for the very slow saunter.  There was much to get up close to for better examination of what Mother Nature created.  

It was at this point where I wanted to quicken my pace!  

Down a short, steep, rooty trail lead to this small beach.

my lunch time view

With a good zoom and lots of patience, I came away with numerous crashing wave photos.  

Also with a good zoom and lots of patience, I captured these two Bald Eagles overhead.

 oh the sights & sounds 

Patio dining was a must do on this beautiful day in Victoria!  After arriving back in the city and freshening up, I then found the perfect location outside to enjoy a beer and fish tacos. I like seeing the view in my beer!

The Harbour was hoping while I dined. 

It was one boat after another arriving that provided me entertainment.  

Not quite ready to head back to my home away from home, I settled in to savour more sights and sounds.  I could see across to where I just had dinner, centre building with the yellow umbrellas.

 

Victoria, British Columbia April 10, 2025

I am only on page 40 of my new 220 page book called “Birding for Boomers”.  I can resonate already with lots of what is written.  I like the illustrations just as much as the stories. Today was Beacon Hill Park day, time to focus on birding and that’s it.  The Park is mainly woods.  I do most of all my birding in woods so I cannot say it is the worst, I enjoy being in the woods to begin with. 

After a hop, skip and a jump from my home away from home, I arrived at the entrance!

The first thing I heard baffled me, then I saw what the racket was coming from!  A Pacific Great Blue Heron, in fact there were dozens of them, all making a racket, fighting, collecting branches, building nests.  I came upon a sign stating this is their nesting habitat. I chatted with a local birder, he told me there are 70 to 80 of them. 

The songs of the little birds still filled the air and distracted me from the Herons’ racket.  Some songs I could identify, yet some birds I could identify by what I saw.  There were a few species in the same area all at once doing their thing.  It was sensory overload!  Focus, I told myself, focus on one at a time.  

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Spotted Towhee

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anna’s Hummingbird 

Dark-eyed Junco

Peacock 

Brown Creeper

Bushtit 

Chestnut-backed Chickadee 

Pacific Great Blue Heron

Even though I was focused on the birds, I did take a minute here and there to admire other sights which of course cherry blossoms was one.

the turtles and two ducks basking in the sunshine

a squirrel taking a sip of water 

I can only imagine how busy Beacon Hill Park will get over the next month or so as more and more species arrive for the summer and then the babies begin to be born. Today it was busy with birders, all looking to be just as enthralled as I was.