3 unrelated photos I’ve published recently that I wanted to share:

Clouds, Snow, and Mount Cheam

I made this photograph in the fall of 2024 when I was in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia looking for fall foliage. While I was in the Popkum area of Chilliwack I was treated to a lot of cloud clearing from the mountains. This would occasionally expose interesting tree covered ridges on the side of Mount Cheam (Lhílheqey). At one point this gap in the cloud cover opened up and I made a few photographs before the clouds changed dramatically once again. I like how there is just a hint of snow in the higher elevation trees rather than one of those very straight snow lines often seen on our mountains. I don’t really come up with titles for most of my photographs, but I did nickname this one “The Thorn” in a few other locations where I shared it.

Clouds Clearing from Mount Cheam in the Fraser Valley (Purchase)

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)

Anyone into even a little bit of bird photography will tell you that photographing a Kingfisher is not an easy task. The species I see around here, the Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) has seemed to enjoy taunting me with its cry as it patrols river banks and lake shores. Spotting one isn’t all that difficult, but they tend to be fairly shy. I’ve seen them land near me a few times, but seldom sitting still they are long gone before I could raise a camera in their direction. So it was with great luck I was able to watch one fishing at Fulford Harbour earlier this year. I’d been photographing seaweeds floating in the water while waiting for a ferry, and this Kingfisher kept picking out small fish from the water, heading up in to surrounding trees to digest for a bit, and then repeating the process. Then the Kingfisher sat in this much closer tree for a bit, and I was able to photograph it, still from a distance, but with a long enough lens to get my best photo of a Kingfisher yet (and the only one worth sharing). This photo is cropped in a bit, but I’m still glad of the result. The Kingfisher here is a male, distinct from the female as the male is not as brightly coloured and without a reddish stripe on its chest. A rare bird species where the male has less colourful plumage.

Sea Pea (Lathyrus japonicus)

During my trip to Salt Spring Island earlier this year I was pulled over on the side of the road photographing a very nice Garry Oak tree in a field. While doing so I noticed this small purple flower, a Sea Pea (Lathyrus japonicus), blooming in the taller grasses surrounding it. The species is native to the area (with a widespread distribution on coastal North America), but I didn’t notice any other Sea Pea flowers while I was there. Sea Pea is also known as Beach Pea, Circumpolar Pea, or Sea Vetchling.

Sea Pea (Lathyrus japonicus) Amid Grasses (Purchase)

Wooden sailboat off the coast of Salt Spring Island

A wooden sailboat in Captain Passage off the coast of Salt Spring Island (Purchase)

While visiting Ruckle Provincial Park this wooden sailboat sailed by in Captain Passage. The island with homes in the background is Secret Island, next to Prevost Island. I usually try to ID everything I can in a photograph. Mountain names, species of plans and animals, and often what kind of boat I’ve photographed. I have found a number of similar boats with similar sails, but not the name of this one. If you have any idea, let me know!