Gallery for October 10, 2026 birding is up

The gallery is below.

Highlights:

  • Geese, ducks, a towhee and a shoveller all staring directly at you
  • A deceased dragonfly
  • Harrier close-ups!
  • A billion birds, all in the same spot
  • A very pretty Dark-eyed Junco
  • Assorted bugs that aren’t dragonflies

You can also view the gallery in the original post here:

Birding, October 10, 2026: The Harrier the better

Run 1,079: All the people

View from Cariboo Dam, pre-run: Sunny, calm, and cool.

I missed Wednesday’s run due to assorted shenanigans, but did a full loop around the lake today. By coincidence, conditions were nearly identical to Monday, with cool temperatures, plenty of sun and no wind.

After finishing the first km at a pace of exactly 6:00/km, my Performance Condition (PC) rating came up and was +6, which is quite high. I think my watch was happy I was running slower, because I always run faster than it wants. I also discovered that the PC gets tracked throughout the run, so you can check it out after:

From +6 to -1 in 30 minutes (-1 is still considered baseline).

Unsurprisingly, as you run, the PC declines. The last bit shown above is -1, which is still considered baseline. At that point I was also running faster (5th km pace was 5:47), so it makes sense. I dug into the stats a little more and found my best pace during the run was 4:46/km, which is a speed I probably last hit consistently over a decade ago. I suspect this happened when going down the hill after the Cottonwood Trail. I get going fast enough to usually apply the brakes a little. But it’s nice I can still hit those speeds, even if only for a few moments.

This run, the right foot behaved, but the left foot felt a bit off to start. It eventually sorted itself out and I’m pretty sure the issue was caused by poor posture when sitting in the chair I’m typing at right now! I will monitor my posture (and feet) moving forward.

As for the people: I headed out an hour late, which may have been why the number of people was higher, but the sheer volume took me by surprise. The trail, at multiple points, was fairly clogged, with at least one school group and several other large groups strolling about, appreciating the sunny fall weather. No incidents, but there was some dexterous moves involved in navigating around. And at the end there was also a horse. But it was a very nice horse. And it was hung like itself. I couldn’t help but look. It was hard not to look (no pun intended).

Anyway, it was a fine end to the week.

The lake, post-run, looking more lake-like with the lily pads in retreat.

Stats:

Run 1,079
Average pace: 5:54/km
Training status: Maintaining
Performance Condition: +6 (!)
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 10:57 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 29:41
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 11–12°C
Humidity: 74–72%
Wind: low
BPM: 147
Weight: 172.7 pounds
Total distance to date: 7,195 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy S26, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (175/353/528)

Music: Autoamerican, Blondie

Run 1,078: A creak runs through it

Brunette River, pre-run: Feels like early morning light, but it’s 10 a.m.

I was originally planning to run at the lake but headed out a bit later than normal, so changed to a river run to start the week.

Now, let me show you on the doll where the run touched me:

My left knee has been stiff for a while now, but it’s generally not be an issue and has been a non-factor on runs. Today I could actually feel it for the first few minutes. It didn’t hurt, it just felt stiff. Once I’d warmed up, it went back to being a non-factor again. But something to monitor.

The other thing was my right ankle. A few times it started to feel sore-ish. It’s hard to explain. It seemed sensitive? Whatever it is, I don’t think it’s related to running at all, it’s just occasionally noticeable when running. The end result is I step lighter on my right foot until it goes away. Again, this didn’t affect the run, and it’s more annoying than anything. It’s like the ankle didn’t wake up right.

As for the run itself, I started out decent then slipped all the way to 6:10/km for the second lap. Whoopsie. I managed to improve after that and finished with an overall pace of 5:56/km, the same as Friday’s run at the lake. My BPM was a mere 146, reflecting the easier course on the river trail.

Conditions were also fine. It was cooler to start at 11°C, but I still felt just a smidgen overdressed wearing the Echo hoodie. I saw a few people walking, and one other runner, but it was pretty quiet overall.

Not a bad start to the week, but with a few things to monitor.

The river, post-run. Watch for spawning salmon!

Stats:

Run 1,078
Average pace: 5:56/km
Training status: Maintaining
Performance Condition: 0
Location: Brunette River Trail
Start: 10:17 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 29:51
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 11–12°C
Humidity: 76–70%
Wind: low
BPM: 146
Weight: 173.7 pounds
Total distance to date: 7,190 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy S26, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (170/340/510)

Music: Eat to the Beat, Blondie

Birding, October 17, 2026: A scurry of scampering squirrels

Where: Terra Nova Rural Park, Richmond Nature House (Richmond), Piper Spit, Burnaby Lake (Burnaby)
Weather: Sunny, 15–17°C

We’re in the second half of October and still wearing shorts! Also: So many squirrels, a group of which can be known as a scurry. :themoreyouknow:

Terra Nova

View looking toward the North Shore mountains.

We started at Terra Nova and I quickly made my airplane shot quota, then took a few more. Some distant clouds, mountains, and good light actually made a few of the shots pretty decent.

But onto birbs: We saw birbs. There were towhees, but they were coy enough that the best I could manage was one blurry shot that can’t even pass off as artsy, it’s just out of focus. We also saw some fleeting bushtits, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden Crowns, but the area was dominated by Song Sparrows, who were all over the place, singing, posing, and hiding behind berries.

We watched as a woman with bird seed gathered together a crow army that followed her as she passed by.

There was a heron in the pond (which sounds like the name of a 19th century romance novel), but the lighting here was a bit weird, so despite being close, the shots were not great. Likewise for a pair of grebes, who love to hang out in the exact middle of the pond. I don’t blame them, I like to stay away from people, too.

Even though I wore my hoodie, it was warm enough, even on the dyke trail, that a t-shirt alone would have been fine. A bit wacky for October 17th.

Richmond Nature House

The new feeder setup, with attendant squirrels.

This was my first chance to see the new design of the bird feeders, which are once again stocked and thus, attracting birds. It took a few minutes before any arrived, but eventually we got chickadees, juncos, a House Finch and the highlight, a Downy Woodpecker going all-in on the suet.

The new design puts five “squirrel-proof” feeders over a large rectangular area box filled with dirt. Birds get a bit messy at feeders, which results in a lot of seed falling into this area. This suited the juncos, who prefer to peck along the ground, but also worked out well for the Douglas Squirrels that showed up–and they were legion. At one point I counted six eating/gorging on seed, and there were probably more lurking just out of view in the trees. It was impossible not to get good “cute squirrel eating” shots.

Eventually, bird dinner hour passed and we were left with just squirrels trying to become chonky boys, so we moved on.

Piper Spit, Burnaby Lake

Part of the growing landmass next to the pier, plus Dowitchers and plenty of them!

Our final stop was Piper Spit and surprise: No one was feeding the birds!

The landmass continues to expand, though, curiously, as it gets bigger, it seems to get fewer birds on it, so it was largely empty.

This meant that we once again had plenty of Dowitchers hanging out near to the pier (on both sides, even). Several people with VBLs1Very Big Lenses were appreciative.

Once again we did not see any other new arrivals (Scaups, Ring-necked Ducks, etc.) but the coots and mallard were both weird and shiny, helping to compensate. A quartet of Canada geese stood near the edge of the landmass, then flew off, ceding the territory to the likes of a couple of seagulls.

It was here that the wind started to pick up and began to feel a bit cool, but overall, this could have passed for a late summer day, which is both nice and somewhat unsettling.

But it made for a fine day of birding.

The Shots

All photos shot with a Canon EOS R7 with 18–150 mm kit lens and 100–400 mm telephoto. Some landscape shots captured with a Samsung Galaxy S26.

The Birds (and other critters)

Sparrows and sparrow-adjacent:

  • American Bushtit
  • American Robin
  • Anna’s Hummingbird
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Golden-crowned Sparrow
  • House Finch
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet
  • Song Sparrow
  • Spotted Towhee

Waterfowl and shorebirds:

  • American Coot
  • American Wigeon
  • Canada Goose
  • Double-crested Cormorant
  • Gadwall
  • Great Blue Heron
  • Green-winged Teal
  • Long-billed Dowitcher
  • Mallard
  • Pied-billed Grebe

Common:

  • American Crow
  • European Starling
  • A few seagulls

Raptors:

  • None!

Non-birds:

  • Assorted pollinators
  • A living dragonfly
  • A black beetle
  • A scurry of hungry, twitchy Douglas Squirrels

Run 1,077: A nice kind of end to the week

View from Cariboo Dam, pre-run: Clear and dead calm.

I wasn’t sure what I would do for today’s run, but with it in single digits before I headed out, I wore my Echo hoodie again. The temperature began rising fairly rapidly and by the end of the run–before 11 a.m.–it was already up to 14°C, but I didn’t feel as overdressed as I did on Wednesday. My Performance Condition was rated at a fairly mediocre -2 starting out, but I felt good, more relaxed and not pushing, just moving along at an agreeable pace. By the second km, that pace was 6:02/km, so I did put a little more effort in, but especially on the final km, I focused more on extending my stride than raw speed.

I ended with an overall pace of 5:56/km and BPM of 148. Both are fine.

Conditions were decent–it was sunny, but cool, with almost no wind at all. Humidity was lower than Wednesday, so sweating was minimal. I didn’t have any issues.

The trail was relatively lightly populated, given conditions. I saw a semi-regular runner I am calling Hopper, because he runs with a distinct limp on one leg. I’m not sure if it’s an old injury, a difference in length or something else, but it doesn’t seem to slow him down at all.

Along the river trail before the run I watched a few salmon heading upstream to spawn. One was trying mightily to transfer from the Brunette River to Stoney Creek, but couldn’t quite make it. I had to keep moving, but I’m sure the salmon emerged victorious. I mean, until it actually spawns, then dies. What a life.

Phone photo zoomed in, so the salmon looks a bit smoothed-out.

Anyway, a good run to end the week.

Classic view of Still Creek, post-run.

Stats:

Run 1,077
Average pace: 5:56/km
Training status: Maintaining
Performance Condition: -2
Location: Burnaby Lake (CW)
Start: 10:26 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 29:53
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 13–14°C
Humidity: 73–69%
Wind: low
BPM: 148
Weight: 173.0 pounds
Total distance to date: 7,185 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy S26, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (165/335/500)

Music: Beauty and the Beat, The Go-Go's

Run 1,076: Better than expected

View from Cariboo Dam, pre-run: Calm, cloudy and humid as all get-out.

It showered earlier in the morning, so I dressed for it just in case, but even though it was only 14°C I still ended up feeling slightly overdressed. I paused the run briefly between the 1 and 2K mark to roll up my sleeves to avoid the unsightly problem of forearm sweat. The trail was also pretty much dry by the time I got to the lake and I only had to dodge a few puddles, mostly early on. It was and stayed very humid for the run.

I saw another runner who I think I’ve seen before and may be a new regular. I don’t have a name for him yet, but tentatively shall call him White Cap. In general I didn’t see many runners or walkers, and the ones out seemed to fall into two groups: taking the dog out or walking as part of a group. Some people that were part of the latter were surprisingly oblivious, not really seeing me even though I was running directly at them. One was lost in their phone (of course), but another was lost in his feet, somehow.

Generally, though, people were not a problem. My left knee was also not a problem, but for the first time in a long while I could feel it, a little. But only near the beginning, so I think it was working out kinks. No one likes kinky knees. Well, some probably do. I do not.

I started the run feeling a bit sluggish and came in at 6:02/km. OTOH, my Performance Condition was a zesty +3, so I picked up the pace a little and came in with an overall pace of 5:53/km and a nice BPM of 148. These stats are in line with my recent runs, so I feel like I’ve hit a plateau. I must ponder what to do next. Try another 7.5K? Do a 10K? Invest in a Jacuzzi and screw all this running? So many options!

In all, a perfectly decent midweek effort.

The river, post-run, showing more signs of fall.

Stats:

Run 1,076
Average pace: 5:53/km
Training status: Maintaining
Performance Condition: +3
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW, short loop)
Start: 11:03 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 29:36
Weather: Cloudy
Temp: 14°C
Humidity: 90–87%
Wind: low
BPM: 148
Weight: 172.3 pounds
Total distance to date: 7,180 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy S26, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (160/322/482)

Music: Shuffle play