Tag Archives: Wildlife

The Sapsuckers Swamp

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What a lovely looking swamp, lets go down and see it up close.

Swamps get unfairly judged, it is often assumed that they are undesirable places. The truth is that they hold as much beauty and life as any natural spot and far more than any created by people. It was very good medicine to spend time in this place and I am forever grateful to my Elder who brought me here.

A sudden flash of red catches my eye before it flits closer and lands.

A little sap sucker has arrived to feast on his favourite tree, adding more scars to the tender young bark that it will carry for these rest of its days. As we can see the sap from this swamp tree is sweet and nourishing which is why the sap suckers make it their home. They are very wise to do so as it has everything they need as well as being incredibly beautiful. It is wiser to refrain from drawing conclusions about something without first experiencing what it is for yourself, but only to do so with an open mind and spirit.

© TS Ni hUiginn

The Beaches

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"The beaches are covered with sea-shells white
When the tide runs out sea-grasses wave and beckon you in.
The shadow people live there, it is said -
Shadow people one cannot see until the sun is up
To cast their shadows on the sands of sea-shells white."
George Clutesi
Starfish taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
Waves on the beach of Pacific West Coast Mainland with Vancouver Island in the Background taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
Crab in a tidal pool taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
Waves on the beach of Pacific West Coast Mainland with Vancouver Island in the Background taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
Starfishes taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
Oystercatcher taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
Muscles taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn

© TS Ni hUiginn

Ground Feeding Songbirds in the Snow

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"Resourceful, powerful and tougher than me, 
 Tiny birds foraging is an incredible sight to see."

It was the dishevelled state of the ground and needles on the walkway during a recent snowfall alerted me to this being an excellent area to monitor for ground feeding birds.

  • Two Varied Trush Birds perched in alder trees taken by TS Ni hUiginn
  • Black eyed junco foraging taken by Coastal Salish Artist TS Ni hUiginn
  • A varied trush taken by coastal salish photographer TS Ni hUiggin
  • Spotted Towhee on fence taken by Salish photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Black eyed junco perched on a branch taken by Coastal Salish Artist TS Ni hUiginn
  • Song sparrow on snowy branch taken by Coastal Salish Artist TS Ni hUiginn
  • Black eyed junco perched on a branch taken by Coastal Salish Artist TS Ni hUiginn
  • A Varied Trush perched in alder tree taken by TS Ni hUiginn

The birds who visited this site to forage were the varied thrush, black eyed juncos, sparrows and spotted towhees. You will see that these ground foragers are very aggressive with each other, preferring not to share even with their own kind. We are pretty pleased to be able to share this for those who love birds and nature to be able to enjoy. Moments like this are medicine, they help strengthen our spirits and our souls which we all need a steady supply of.

Be good to each other!

Wandering on a Snowy Day

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'Wandering on a snowy day,
Wondering which way,
To go and play!'
  • Snowy Path by the Sea Shore taken by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Snowy Path by the Sea Shore taken by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Snowy Trees taken by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Icicles hanging off of an old fence by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Snow by the Sea Shore taken by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn

Snow is incredibly delightful but fairly rare so when it falls it is like magic. The only trouble is deciding which way to go exploring before it melts.

Down at the sea shore it began to snow heavily and was very cold but the seagulls and geese didn’t mind. It is at this time that rational people go indoors and wait for the weather to break, I however opted to pull out my sweet little wildlife camera and tripod and record a bit of the storm for everyone to enjoy.

  • Snow by the Sea Shore taken by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Snow by the Sea Shore taken by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Snow by the Sea Shore taken by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Frozen Inlet by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Snow by the Sea Shore taken by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn

It is always amazing to me how incredible and different the snow makes everything look, it is like taking a holiday without going anywhere. The hush and silence that the snow brings with it is just as brilliant and also a welcome change. It was a wonderful day tromping around in the snow and photographing lovely sites and getting soaked and cold. On my way back I took another short video of the same location, albeit shot from different vantage point of the same region that the snow had been falling on shortly before, what an incredibly difference and a perfect ending to a wonderful day.

Tiny Anna’s Hummingbird on Snowy Branch

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Sitting on a snowy branch,
Waiting for the spring,
Dreaming of the bright flowers,
And the happiness they bring.
  • Anna's Hummingbird on a snowy branch taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Anna's Hummingbird on a snowy branch taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Anna's Hummingbird and a Sunflower taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn

While I was out taking these snowy shots a man approached me to inquire about what I was taking pictures of. I responded that I was shooting a hummingbird and he looked at me like I was insane and informed me that hummingbirds do not arrive until the spring. He was not right and he was not wrong, the Rufus hummingbirds arrive in the spring, however the lovely Anna’s live here year round. They are very tiny, and people don’t expect to see them in the snow but they are incredibly tough little birds, and I am very fond of them.

Raccoon Fight

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“We don’t have to go to wild places to find wildlife. A surprisingly wide range of species can be found in our cities and towns, from familiar animals like the raccoon to more exotic ones like the mountain lion.“

Roger Tory Peterson
  • Raccoon in Tree taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Raccoon in Tree taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Raccoons fighting in a Tree taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Raccoons fighting in a Tree taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Raccoons fighting in a Tree taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Raccoons fighting in a Tree taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Raccoons fighting in a Tree taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Raccoons fighting in a Tree taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Raccoons fighting in a Tree taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn

It was the crows that drew my attention to a little Raccoon in a tree that sits between a drug store and a parking lot. The crows were squawking loudly so it couldn’t get to sleep and I stood beneath the tree and just as rudely started taking pictures. I had only taken a couple shots when another Raccoon unexpectedly arrived upon the scene. This intrusion was too much for the now cranky original Raccoon to tolerate and the fur began to fly. Unfortunately I was not present at the end of this event as they ran off in a flash with the violated in pursuit of the offender. Friends of mine witnessed the pair on the next block running fast but they also are not aware of the conclusion. Who knows perhaps they are running still but it I do know it is highly unlikely that I will stumble across a raccoon fight again especially with my camera ready to shoot.

Salish Seagull Life

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Down by the bay,
the Seagull's play,
dressed in their fine feathers,
of black, white and grey.
  • Seagull splashing in the Salish Sea taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagull splashing in the Salish Sea taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagull splashing in the Salish Sea taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagull splashing in the Salish Sea taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagull splashing in the Salish Sea taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagull swallowing a Starfish taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagull with a Starfish taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagull with a Starfish taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn

Seagulls are not always the most admired birds at the beach, one tends to overlook them for Eagles or Heron. The reason for this is unlike the others they are far more numerous and so common that they fail to turn many heads.

“As I watched the seagulls, I thought, that’s the road to take; find the absolute rhythm and follow it with absolute trust.”

Nikos Kazantzakis
  • Seagulls diving for starfish in the Salish Sea taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagulls diving for starfish in the Salish Sea taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagulls diving for starfish in the Salish Sea taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagull with a Starfish taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • A Seagull taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagull with a clam taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagull with a Starfish taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagulls in the Surf taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn

The Seagull is not only considered common by some it is also often scorned by others but that is only because they tend to let loose unpleasant showers of their faeces that no one wants to wear. The trouble with being disgruntled with this is that it is usually human beings that instigate this behaviour in the first place by feeding them.

“Do you remember you shot a seagull? A man came by chance, saw it and destroyed it, just to pass the time.”

Anton Chekhov
  • Flying Seagull taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Flying Seagull taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Flying Seagull taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Flying Seagull taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagulls bathing in the Salish Sea taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagulls bathing in the Salish Sea taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • Seagulls bathing in the Salish Sea taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • A flying Seagull taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn

Seagulls can also be delightful, clever and amusing and bring many people comfort and joy. Their voices wake us every morning, they clean up our beaches and are our faithful companions on and off of the sea. They are familiar, comforting and have served as the muse and inspiration for artists and poets throughout history and with the many cultures that co-exist with the incredible seagulls.

“You do not ask a tame seagull why it needs to disappear from time to time toward the open sea. It goes, that’s all.”

Bernard Moitessier

Lovely Anna’s Hummingbird

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  • Hummingbird clutching scarlet runner leaf while feeding on nectar, taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • A female Anna's Hummingbird feeding on nectar, taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • A female Anna's Hummingbird feeding on nectar, taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn
  • A female Anna's Hummingbird feeding on nectar, taken with Olympus Evolt E-300 by Coastal Salish Photographer TS Ni hUiginn

One delightful little bird is the subject for many of my photographs, the tiny Anna’s hummingbird. I come across them frequently which is likely for two reasons: the first being they are native to this region and do not migrate and the second is that I grow climbing beans and they cannot resist. Growing these is easy, just a few seeds in a pot of soil will ensure you get hummingbirds for the full blooming season. Some people favour the male with his impressive red crown and would turn their nose up at this lady. However i think that the little female is beautiful and never miss an opportunity to capture that with my camera and share her beauty with the world.