Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub

Along the West Song Walkway there is this lovely little bay called Lime Bay and overlooking it is a great place to eat - Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub. I've eaten there several times myself and recommend the food highly.

Hands of Time 1 - Carving a Canoe Paddle

Last week I posted a photo of a small sculpture that recently appeared on the Inner Harbour Causeway wall. It is only one of a series of twelve sculptures of hands engaged in various activities that have been installed here and there in the downtown area and nearby. This one is located in Lime Bay Park southwest of the Songhees (Westsong) Walkway. It depicts hands carving a canoe paddle to recall the local First Nations Lekwungen culture. The canoe paddle was designed by First Nations Artist Clarence Dick. All of the sculptures are by Crystal Przybille and over the next few weeks we'll take a look at all of them.

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)

To complete this week's roundup of recent bird sightings, here is a Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) perched overlooking Lime Bay near Spinnakers Brewpub on the Westsong Walkway.

Bonaparte's Gull

Every time I think I've seen or photographed everything, something new and interesting pops up. This morning it was this lovely little gull, Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia). It was swimming near another gull. I suddenly realized that it was much smaller than the other gull and I took another look through the telephoto lens. That distinctive spot behind its eye told me I was looking at something I had not seen before. Then, as though it was aware of my intense scrutiny, it spread its wings and took flight. According to Wikipedia, this gull was named after Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte, a zoologist and nephew of Napoleon.