10/25/2026
Weekly Bird Post!
My season of whale watching is over! So now as I’m settling into the next chapter, I’ve had some more opportunities to go birding. And the weather in Vancouver has been unnaturally sunny for October, so naturally I’ve wanted to use that lighting. Seeing the sun set at Lost Lagoon as all the swarms of bugs gather and the dabbling ducks begin to look up. Suddenly their food is above them. The glow of backlit bugs over a pond, bustling with ducks was so beautiful.Â
After my last shift of whale watching for the season, we went out for dinner. Then as I walked home along the sea wall, I saw a heron standing in the water, seemingly hunting. Impressive to be able to do so in the dark; or what dark was permeated by the bright city lights and moonlight. I quietly snuck down to the water’s edge. And pulled out my Sony | Alpha 100-400mm lens. Nighttime wildlife photography is not easy. But luckily herons love to stand still. So the second photo in the carousel is a 10 second exposure. Few waking animals would be so cooperative for that kind of photography. I’m pretty stoked how this shot turned out but I think I’m going to keep trying nighttime bird photography. Especially with so much city light and so many herons around. It’s a nice change of pace from the normal wildlife photography I do; trying to quickly capture the moment.Â
I got another lifer this week! I had gone looking for the canvasback at lost lagoon the other day, having seen it reported there. But the day I tried seemed to be the first day it was gone. Then it popped up in Ambleside, taunting me from across the bridge. A distance that is manageable, but a hassle. Until Wednesday when I was accepting an award on behalf of my brother. A perfect excuse to cross the bridge. Before the event I walked down to the park and there it was, swimming around with the other ducks. Just off the beach were also some harlequin ducks which I’ve seen often on our tours, but never in Vancouver, so that was good for my Vancouver list.
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