The Month Marches On ~ Skywatch Friday

It's rare for me to spot a great variety of  birds around where I live. The ones I tend to see most often are seagulls and crows.  In summer there are a lot of little brown jobs, sparrows and wrens among them and the odd robin. If I go to the parks I will see more geese and ducks. I know there are a lot more bird varieties but you have to go to where they congregate and I don't do that but I do like to see some when I'm walking about. Having said that, every now and then I get a real treat and spot an eagle or two. Usually it's when I'm out at the University of British Columbia which is situated very near the ocean but sometimes I see them in the city as well.

The other day, I saw quite a number of crows in the bare branches as I walked to the library.  As I mentioned, I often see crows but it's rare for me to see a lot of them in any one place.

I passed by this small park located near the library in my neighbourhood. A friend used to live very close to the park but she moved to Alberta some years ago to be closer to her siblings.  I thought I'd send her some photos of her old neighbourhood.

This next photo was taken on East Broadway. I was coming from a dental appointment. This shot is facing westward on Broadway Avenue.  In the background of the photo you can see some construction cranes. This is where the final stages of work is happening to get the new Main Street Subway Train station ready.  This work has been going on since 2020.  Completion was delayed due to a strike and completion and opening is expected in 2027.  This very long timeline has been most difficult on the businesses that are located along the street.  Construction has interfered with the flow of traffic to their businesses and impacted their livelihoods.   Many businesses have moved elsewhere or closed altogether.  Even more are struggling to stay afloat.  The government has not given any compensation to the businesses despite numerous appeals over the years.

I was on my way to the doctor's office when I spotted what looked like an eagle flying overhead.  Soon I saw 5 eagles flying in my direction from the southwest.  Then coming from the northeast, there were two more eagles. They congregated almost right above me but were high overhead. I couldn't stop to watch them for long because I had an appointment but I hurriedly snapped a few photos and hoped they turned out.  It's rare for me to see eagles so far from the waterfront and it really made my day!

Thanks so much for stopping by my Skywatch Friday post. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Skywatch in the Middle of the Month

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

I hope this day finds you well and looking forward to the weekend. I am definitely looking forward to the break from 'things I have to do' and to spend a little time outdoors.

Our weather here has been erratic but quite warm for this time of year and I can't wait until spring when all the greenery comes out in full force.  I also have 2 small gardens I must plant. Though gardening really isn't my favourite thing, I absolutely love when things are in full bloom.

Today I'm sharing a few photos taken on a spectacular day this week. You might be able to see that some fresh snow has fallen on some of the mountains. I don't mind snow high on the mountains. I can look at it from down below.

Thank you for stopping by my Skywatch Friday post today. Have a wonderful weekend.

It's Early February ~ Skywatch Friday

Happy new month of February.

The following photos were taken rather hurriedly as I tried to capture the birds in flight. The fog and mist add an ethereal feel to the photos.

Just the other day I made another trip to a nearby municipality to return something I'd purchased on line and to try another size.   You can see it was raining rather heavily for our journey.

The shopping trip was unsuccessful in terms of finding what I wanted.  But we did find a wonderful place to have a delicious dinner.

I think we're back to drier weather for a few days and the temperatures are very warm for this time of year.  I think they are warm all over the province. I've been feeling spring in the air.

Thank you for visiting my Skywatch Friday post.

The Last Skywatch of the Month ~ Skywatch Friday

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

This was the scene as I stepped out to run errands late Thursday. It was raining earlier in the day but when it stopped I dashed out. The weather forecast includes a lot of rain which is usual at this time of year.  We recently ended a week of fog and sun, usually both on the same day.

I'll take the rain over the ice and snowstorms that are affecting much of Canada and the USA right now.  I hope the weather is fine in your part of the world. Thank you for stopping by on Skywatch Friday this week.  Stay warm and stay safe.

The Fog Has Rolled In ~ Skywatch Friday

Hi friends and fellow bloggers,

It has stopped raining for almost a week.  Instead we've been experiencing heavy fog.  During the day it can be sunny and clear but the fog will start rolling in during the mid to late afternoon and into the evening.

Earlier in the day when there was no fog.

After the fog started rolling in.

The fog adds to the atmosphere.

When I went out in the early evening to run errands it was damp and foggy.  I read later that many flights were being delayed due to the fog so probably the fog was much denser at the waterfront which is where the airport is located.  Fortunately I'm not flying any time soon so this doesn't affect me. I tend not to fly in winter because flight delays can be pretty much guaranteed no matter where one lives.

I'm enjoying the fog while it's here. I expect that by next week the rain will be back.  Thank you for stopping by my Skywatch Friday post.

Skywatch Friday in Early January

We took a drive out to Langley City and Chilliwack at the weekend. I had to return an item I'd ordered on line and I wanted to try another item on at a brick & mortar store.  It's a good thing I did that because the fit wasn't quite right. I saved myself some money from ordering and the time it takes for delivery and mail in return for the improper fit.

As you can see it rained that evening but the pretty lights of Christmas were still up in an area of town known as District 1881. I don't think I've ever been to this area before. We didn't really explore. We just drove around and stopped at a wonderful Vietnamese restaurant for dinner before heading back to Vancouver.

Here is a film I found on You Tube about District 1881. It has become something of a tourist attraction which seems to have caught the locals by surprise.

While most of the rest of Canada is dealing with heavy snowfall at the moment, here at home, the next few days are expected to be dry and sunny.  Hopefully I'll have an opportunity to get some day time photos to share on Skywatch Friday.

Thank you for stopping by!

End of 2025 and a Few Last Minute Images

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

Tuesday was a super busy day for me.  The day included running errands in the late afternoon and early evening. I thought it would be fun to share some snippets of what I saw while I was out. I made my usual trip to the library to return a book and pick up another. 

There was a chill in the winter air and fresh snow had fallen on the mountain tops. Today was a treat in that it was so nice to see the mountain peaks in all their glory today.  Not only was there freshly fallen snow on the mountains but the sky was clear enough and bright enough to enjoy the view.

I was out in the neighbourhood running a number of errands when I took the following "night time" images.  It was only about 5:30 p.m.   Apparently we'll be experiencing a wolf moon or super moon which will reach it's full peak on January 3rd just after 5 a.m. I doubt I'll be up that early to take a photo. You can read more about the moon here in case you're interested.

A popular outdoor seating spot in warmer months.

I enjoy all the Christmas lights at the time of year.

I'm reading my last book, number 59 of the year which will bring me to 20,100 pages read. I didn't think I'd meet the 20,000 pages because I slacked off a bit from reading to focus on a few other time consuming things. However, reading is an easy, pleasurable activity when you have a few minutes to spare so I always have a book on hand. 

My first book of 2026

If I don't read from you or post again before the end of the year I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year. May God smile on you and your loved ones in 2026.  

Joining in with Skywatch Friday for the first time in 2026!