HIghrock Park

Before I took yesterday's photo I walked up to the top of Highrock Park to check around the base of this Garry Oak tree. I was looking for some Satinflowers that bloom there every year, usually the earliest of the small ground wild flowers that bloom here. No sign of the Satinflowers yet but the view never disappoints.

Sunrise from Highrock Park

I haven't quite got around to preparing a current photo for today so here is one from almost exactly two years ago today - sunrise looking out over the city from Highrock Park. What was I doing up there at sunrise? You may remember that there was an eclipse of the moon around that time and Fern and I went up to the park to photograph it. When it was all over it was nearly sunrise and I stopped to take this photo.

Winter Morning

Taken just as the sun was rising over Highrock (Cairn) Park here in Victoria West.

Garry Oak Ecosystem

Highrock Cairn Park in Victoria West - our small local example of the Garry Oak Ecosystem - My favorite park at my favorite time of year.

Spring Green

I love spring green. (Now I have to get out my field guides and find the name of this lovely wild flower.)(Later: I can't find it in the field guide which suggests it may be an introduced species. Anybody know what this is?)Visitor Shawn suggested that this is a species of Solomon's Seal and, judging by the photo in Wikipedia and others in Google, he is correct. Thanks Shawn!

Another Perspective

This is the view from atop Cairn Park (or Highrock Park) facing towards the city just as the sun was coming up. Benjamin's shot yesterday eclipses any that I took. Ha ha - Fern

One More From Cairn Park

As 'Paul from Powell River' commented yesterday, Cairn Park is one of Victoria's tiny jewels, so for you Paul, here is one of the many fabulous views from near the top. The colors this fall have been phenomenal haven't they? - Fern

Blustery Days

I began to express my love of this season, and declare it "my favorite" but I believe I did the same thing in the summer and before that in the spring etc. This was taken on a late afternoon walk in Cairn Park. - Fern

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Here's another bird we often see here. It's the European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). There are a half dozen sub-species and this is probably Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris, the Common Starling. They are not native to North America and are considered an "invasive" species. Despite that I find them attractive and they always seem to be making nice noises whenever I see them.

Although there are approximately 200 million starlings in North America, they are all descendants of approximately 60 birds (or 100) released in 1890 in Central Park, New York, by Eugene Schieffelin, who was a member of the Acclimation Society of North America reputedly trying to introduce to North America every bird species mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare.

As an introduced species, European Starlings are not protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Starlings are considered a nuisance species in North America. The birds, which travel in enormous flocks, often pose dangers to air travel, disrupt cattle operations, chase off native birds, and roost on city blocks. They leave behind corrosive droppings and hundreds of millions of dollars of damage every year. In 2008, U.S. government agents poisoned, shot and trapped 1.7 million starlings, more than any other nuisance species.(From Wikipedia)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

When I was very young on the Canadian Prairies, I remember having an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) pointed out to me as a sure sign of spring. I always remember that when I see one, even though those that live here on the West Coast remain all year round. It was certainly the first bird I learned to identify and is familiar even to non-birdwatchers. I photographed this one on a visit to Highrock Cairn Park in Victoria West. The woods of the park are also home to Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Red Breasted Nuthatches and Oregon Juncos, all of which I saw today. But only the robin was bold enough to perch peacefully in an appropriate location, an example from which other less cooperative wildfowl might well learn. No wonder this courageous and well-mannered creature has been immortalized in verse and popular song.

Little Robin Red Breast

Little Robin Red breast sat upon a tree,
Up went pussy cat and down went he;
Down came pussy, and away Robin ran;
Says little Robin Red breast, "Catch me if you can".
Little Robin Red breast jumped upon a wall,
Pussy cat jumped after him and almost got a fall;
Little Robin chirped and sang, and what did pussy say?
Pussy cat said, "Meeow!" and Robin jumped away.

When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along

Reaching for the Light

Here we are at the turn of the year once again. The days are getting longer now and here in Victoria spring's first green shoots are peeking out of the ground. I take this opportunity to wish all my visitors a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

King of the Castle

Yes, that's my shadow. I'm standing on top of the "cairn" that gave this park its original name. It's now called "Highrock Park." Photographers are a bit like goats in liking to get up on top of whatever will provide a view overlooking everything else. As for "King of the Castle," who else remembers the rhyme, "I'm the king of the castle and you're the dirty rascal"? It sounds like one of those folk rhymes that linger in our childhoods from medieval roots. There are some autumn tints in this photo. Fall is here. That's the city of Victoria in the distance.

Almost

This view of Victoria from the top of Cairn Park is our most city-like skyline. From here, Victoria almost looks like a real city, though its skyline is still quite modest. I think there's actually a city bylaw that is supposed to prevent buildings taller than about 20 stories...perhaps one of my more knowledgeable visitors will correct me....

Impossibly Beautiful

After several days of featureless gray skies the clouds finally parted last evening and a river of sunlight poured through the rain-washed air. I went up to nearby Cairn Park and was stunned by the brilliant blue carpets of Camas Lilies spread luxuriantly in hollows between the mossy rock outcrops.There are times when this landscape is more beautiful than seems possible and photos such as these are but poor approximations of reality.

Cairn Park II

Yesterday's photo was taken looking towards the summit of the small hill that is Cairn Park. After taking that photo I turned around and took this one of the view looking north, towards Saanich. The lovely green area on the left is a golf course.

Cairn Park

I complain a lot about the weather here but it's not causing any problems lately that can't be mitigated by an umbrella, and for that I am thankful. It actually cleared up here yesterday and the sun shone, though somewhat fitfully. So I took myself up to the summit of nearby Cairn Park. On top it was so windy I nearly was blown over the edge. The wind was so strong you could lay back in it and it would support you. It was much too windy to take any photos - the tripod kept blowing over too - so I crept down into a more sheltered location and snapped the above photo.

My best wishes go out to all those that the weather is treating badly right now. I hope you all stay safe and are not inconvenienced too much.

Evening Sunlight - Cairn Park

Cairn Park is a small park, really just a rocky hill, in the midst of a dense residential neighborhood near where I live. This photo was taken just before sunset. I like the way the slanting sunlight catches the dry grass.