Wednesday 20 February 2013

It's open



The park at Jericho Beach has been behind construction fences for many months, but it finally opened just a few days ago. The bunny above seems to be inspecting the new area.

For months this has been the view:


The park was closed while the old pier was removed then opened temporarily only to be closed again after a storm washed out the new beach.




Here are some views of the newly opened area of the park:


The established trees have been surrounded by native plantings and the beach has been restored.


These "perches" have been installed for the birds to view the park and the beach.
I saw an eagle in one of the trees too but I did not have my camera with me.


The wood sculpture looks good in its new surroundings. This is a sculpture dating from the Habitat Forum on this site in 1976:






Some of the blackberry bushes, which the rabbits retreat to for safety, have been removed but the rabbits still seem to be thriving.


and on the beach life goes on.


At the pond a short walk away, the redwing blackbirds are back and staking out their territories.




The ducks seem to be enjoying the milder weather and a bit of sunshine.


It was bath time as I walked past


even the crows were getting in on the act.


  Signs of fall and winter still dominate



But the geese and ducks are pairing up 



 and there are buds on many trees


the snowdrops are up too and crocuses not far behind


and with the viburnum flowers adding their delicate scent  


can spring be far away?

I am finally finishing a project that was started a long time ago too. I have finally framed a series of paintings featuring teddies (stuffed animals) and tigers (also stuffed).

Here are the first two in the series, first "Something in the Air":


A watercolour of teddies and tiger, imagine that the small stuffed toy in the centre has just farted and the other stuffed animals are reacting.

The second is "The Games' Afoot":

Here Sherlock Holmes and Watson (in the waistcoat at the back) are investigating ...............

All these paintings are watercolours,

the other two in this series next week ............

Thank you for dropping by, happy whimsy Wednesday, until next week ....................................

12 comments:

  1. The Games Afoot....is a wonderful image.
    It's good to see things warming up.

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  2. you made me laugh with your description of your first painting. :)

    i really like the perches the park put in and all those big rocks to 'shore up the shore', too.

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  3. One of my favorite beaches...they did a great job.

    Love seeing pics of the spring that isn't here yet....it's now -8 at 8 am.

    Jen

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  4. I bet your glad they finally opened up that park. What a wonderful place to get photos.

    Your paintings are so amazing. I just love the detail in your work.

    Hugs~

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  5. Sorry to see the pier gone. Nice series of bird shots and love your new paintings.

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  6. How nice that a beautiful beach and park like that have been restored. I hope it lasts for a long time and is a good refuge for lots of birds and other wildlife.

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  7. What a lovely park! Love your watercolours too!

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  8. Looks like a beautiful beach. Love seeing all the wildlife.

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  9. Thanks for this news, Gillian. I'm really looking forward to seeing the "new" view. It looks to me like the change is a positive one. Bird perches are a great idea and hopefully, the rabbits will still have places to hide when necessary. I enjoyed your "bathing birds" shots. They always look so happy. I caught some yesterday of a cormorant and some Barrow's Goldeneyes.. maybe a sort of Spring Cleaning enthusiasm :) Good for you for finishing your painting projects. I love the facial expressions. Amazing how so much can be conveyed with quite simple lines. Especially that little fellow in the middle of the first one :)

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  10. You have taken me back to the beach I wandered along when i lived in Vancouver so many years ago. Thanks fore the memories. I always am amazed at how you capture such great photos of birds and ducks. Enjoy your spring photo safaris!

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  11. So glad to hear that the park at Jericho Beach is open again. It's always frustrating when a favorite park or beach is closed. It looks like the wildlife is thriving. Lovely photographs! Your watercolor talent abounds, Gillian!

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  12. It's back and fully operational the beach, and beautiful. The last two are precious, I love teddy bears too.

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