Hellebore

Here's a plant that was blooming before the crocuses around here, some variety of Hellebore, I think. This one's in a neighbor's garden and has been blooming for about a month. Sometimes Hellebores are called Christmas Roses because of their hardiness and willingness to bloom in very cold weather. I posted a photo of another variety last year in February.

Crocuses

Around this time of year Beacon Hill Park starts to erupt with flowers, a cascade that will carry on until autumn comes again. These crocuses in their brilliant purple, yellow and white always remind me of Easter. They are a sure sign that winter is coming to an end.

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)

A few days ago I saw a Harlequin Duck very close to shore on my morning walk along the West Bay Walkway and cursed myself for not carrying my camera that day. Yesterday I took my camera with me in case he was still hanging around. No luck so I took some photos of what I thought was a Common Merganser swimming and diving some distance offshore. Once at home though and scrutinizing these photos carefully I realized that this bird was not a Common Merganser but something else. That white collar and rufous breast identify him as a male Red Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator), a bird I've not identified (or seen) before. This serves as a good reminder to me that we often "see" what we expect to see, even when what we are looking at is something quite different.

The Red Breasted Merganser "...has been claimed to be the fastest bird in level flight, reaching speeds of 129 km/h (80 mph)..." according to Wikipedia. No wonder he's got that wind-blown hairstyle.

House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)

Here's a pair of House Finches (Carpodacus mexicanus), birds that are quite commonly seen here all year round.

Canada Goose

I've pictured this bird before, the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), but since it's named for the country and is resident here in Victoria all year round and is so photogenic and big and tame I thought I'd take another look at it. Many Canada Geese do migrate between winter grounds in the southern USA and Mexico and summer breeding areas in Northern Canada and most of us have nostalgic memories of the Vs of wild geese heading southwards in the autumn with their plaintive honking high overhead. Many years ago I lived near a high south-facing cliff and always enjoyed watching the geese when they reached the updraft from this cliff. Then they would float in spiraling circles in the updraft while they gained altitude in this natural elevator. When they had risen up a few thousand feet they would re-form their V and continue their journey.

Like many birds, Canada Geese are monogamous. They choose a mate when they are young and remain mated for a life that may last over 20 years. Considering that these birds are often migratory, flying thousands of miles yearly, and often travel and graze in fairly large flocks, it seems quite remarkable to me that in the absence of moral strictures or social pressures they maintain such stable relationships.

Dragon Alley

While Victoria's Chinatown is small it has some interesting features. The above looks very austere and modern but it is deep in the interior of an old Chinatown block accessible only through Dragon Alley, the entrance to which was featured in an earlier post. There are some condo flats here, offices and shops such as High End Dog (marked by the dog at the door in the above photo).

On the Water

Not ever having been a boat person I am amazed at how many different waterborne conveyances there are in use in the Inner Harbour. Some such as tugboats, barges and fishing boats, etc. are obviously functionally designed. Others such as large sailboats and motor yachts are designed for comfort and pleasure. Some are for specific purposes such as the dragon boats that race here yearly. Others seem to be only for the purposes of group exercise, such as those pictured above. This group of recreational paddlers were photographed offshore of the Westsong Walkway last fall.