Abu Anka
@abuanka.bsky.social
Not from around here, but a real square little fellow
Evenings at the Nanaimo River Estuary. Perfect.
November 7, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Evenings at the Nanaimo River Estuary. Perfect.
Hello? Hello?
Is this thing on?
Is this thing on?
October 27, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Hello? Hello?
Is this thing on?
Is this thing on?
The Snowbirds put on a great show over Nanaimo Harbour last night.
#Snowbirds
#Nanaimo
#CanadairCT-114Tutor
#Snowbirds
#Nanaimo
#CanadairCT-114Tutor
August 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The Snowbirds put on a great show over Nanaimo Harbour last night.
#Snowbirds
#Nanaimo
#CanadairCT-114Tutor
#Snowbirds
#Nanaimo
#CanadairCT-114Tutor
Snowbirds and Merlin
Cassidy Airport
August 15, 2025
Cassidy Airport
August 15, 2025
August 15, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Snowbirds and Merlin
Cassidy Airport
August 15, 2025
Cassidy Airport
August 15, 2025
It has been a great week for dragonfly study on Vancouver Island. The Ocellated Emerald I found in Strathcona Park is one of very few records from our region.
August 14, 2025 at 5:37 PM
It has been a great week for dragonfly study on Vancouver Island. The Ocellated Emerald I found in Strathcona Park is one of very few records from our region.
Yet another reason why Nanaimo can't have nice things........
August 5, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Yet another reason why Nanaimo can't have nice things........
The Regional District of Nananaimo's naming of this place as the "Stormwater Community Park", shows either a total lack of imagination, or a great sense of humor. :-)
Whatever it is called; For an abandoned gravel pit, it sure is a great place for observing birds and insects.
#dragonflies
#RDN
Whatever it is called; For an abandoned gravel pit, it sure is a great place for observing birds and insects.
#dragonflies
#RDN
August 4, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The Regional District of Nananaimo's naming of this place as the "Stormwater Community Park", shows either a total lack of imagination, or a great sense of humor. :-)
Whatever it is called; For an abandoned gravel pit, it sure is a great place for observing birds and insects.
#dragonflies
#RDN
Whatever it is called; For an abandoned gravel pit, it sure is a great place for observing birds and insects.
#dragonflies
#RDN
It is August, which means the Spotted Spreadwings are flying around Nanaimo. I saw these two out near Yellow Point yesterday.
#dragonfly
#damselfly
#odonata
#Zygoptera
#Lestidae
#dragonfly
#damselfly
#odonata
#Zygoptera
#Lestidae
August 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
It is August, which means the Spotted Spreadwings are flying around Nanaimo. I saw these two out near Yellow Point yesterday.
#dragonfly
#damselfly
#odonata
#Zygoptera
#Lestidae
#dragonfly
#damselfly
#odonata
#Zygoptera
#Lestidae
I enjoyed a rather warm walk around Cottle Lake today, in the Linley Valley Park.
I was searching for Pacific Spiketail dragonflies. I did see a few, but I was not able to obtain photos.
The Northern Spreadwings, Striped Meadowhawks, and Wood Ducks were far more cooperative.
I was searching for Pacific Spiketail dragonflies. I did see a few, but I was not able to obtain photos.
The Northern Spreadwings, Striped Meadowhawks, and Wood Ducks were far more cooperative.
July 31, 2025 at 3:50 AM
I enjoyed a rather warm walk around Cottle Lake today, in the Linley Valley Park.
I was searching for Pacific Spiketail dragonflies. I did see a few, but I was not able to obtain photos.
The Northern Spreadwings, Striped Meadowhawks, and Wood Ducks were far more cooperative.
I was searching for Pacific Spiketail dragonflies. I did see a few, but I was not able to obtain photos.
The Northern Spreadwings, Striped Meadowhawks, and Wood Ducks were far more cooperative.
This heat is really bringing out the dragons around Nanaimo!
July 25, 2025 at 4:05 AM
This heat is really bringing out the dragons around Nanaimo!
The Sylvan Hairstreak is rarely reported anywhere on Vancouver Island. However, about 90% of all reports for the island, come from the Nanaimo Regional District.
I found this one in the hydro corridor north of Westwood Lake today. It was nectaring on Pearly Everlasting.
I found this one in the hydro corridor north of Westwood Lake today. It was nectaring on Pearly Everlasting.
July 23, 2025 at 12:09 AM
The Sylvan Hairstreak is rarely reported anywhere on Vancouver Island. However, about 90% of all reports for the island, come from the Nanaimo Regional District.
I found this one in the hydro corridor north of Westwood Lake today. It was nectaring on Pearly Everlasting.
I found this one in the hydro corridor north of Westwood Lake today. It was nectaring on Pearly Everlasting.
Have you ever seen a Mouse Bot Fly?
Do you want to? :-)
This time of year they are quite common along the Nanaimo River.
Do you want to? :-)
This time of year they are quite common along the Nanaimo River.
July 21, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Have you ever seen a Mouse Bot Fly?
Do you want to? :-)
This time of year they are quite common along the Nanaimo River.
Do you want to? :-)
This time of year they are quite common along the Nanaimo River.
Back in town after two months in the bush, some random woman asks, "It must get lonely out there in those hills, all alone?".
I smile and nod, but the truth is, that it is far lonelier back here among all of these people.
I smile and nod, but the truth is, that it is far lonelier back here among all of these people.
July 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Back in town after two months in the bush, some random woman asks, "It must get lonely out there in those hills, all alone?".
I smile and nod, but the truth is, that it is far lonelier back here among all of these people.
I smile and nod, but the truth is, that it is far lonelier back here among all of these people.
"First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain....."
July 14, 2025 at 9:43 PM
"First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain....."
A Common Emerald found near the porch light around 2 AM in Sayward this morning.
July 13, 2025 at 1:43 AM
A Common Emerald found near the porch light around 2 AM in Sayward this morning.
Our Marbled Murrelet survey route up the BC Coast, from Port McNeil to Haida Gwaii.
July 10, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Our Marbled Murrelet survey route up the BC Coast, from Port McNeil to Haida Gwaii.
40 days at sea, went by quickly. A couple of days at home, and then back out in the field.
July 9, 2025 at 7:06 PM
40 days at sea, went by quickly. A couple of days at home, and then back out in the field.
Overnighter in Port McNeil and then up the coast until mid July.
BC Marbled Murrelet surveys 2025!
BC Marbled Murrelet surveys 2025!
May 30, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Overnighter in Port McNeil and then up the coast until mid July.
BC Marbled Murrelet surveys 2025!
BC Marbled Murrelet surveys 2025!
So many Spiny Baskettails!
This dragonfly is not terribly common on Vancouver Island. For some reason, this year they seem to shockingly common from Cinnabar down to the Sunny Side Cliffs along the river. Yesterday I saw over 100 of them west of the old gravel pits south of Beck Lake.
This dragonfly is not terribly common on Vancouver Island. For some reason, this year they seem to shockingly common from Cinnabar down to the Sunny Side Cliffs along the river. Yesterday I saw over 100 of them west of the old gravel pits south of Beck Lake.
May 25, 2025 at 6:57 PM
So many Spiny Baskettails!
This dragonfly is not terribly common on Vancouver Island. For some reason, this year they seem to shockingly common from Cinnabar down to the Sunny Side Cliffs along the river. Yesterday I saw over 100 of them west of the old gravel pits south of Beck Lake.
This dragonfly is not terribly common on Vancouver Island. For some reason, this year they seem to shockingly common from Cinnabar down to the Sunny Side Cliffs along the river. Yesterday I saw over 100 of them west of the old gravel pits south of Beck Lake.
It is great to see the Roosevelt Elk populations rebounding in the Regional District of Nanaimo. How private landholders respond to their presence, will be the key to whether or not this species persists here.
May 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
It is great to see the Roosevelt Elk populations rebounding in the Regional District of Nanaimo. How private landholders respond to their presence, will be the key to whether or not this species persists here.
I finally managed to find a Death Camas Miner Bee. I have been looking for one of these for several years. Purported to be the only pollinator of this plant (I suspect this is not true).
Finding them is simple. Find a patch of Meadow Death Camas, and sit there for hours waiting. Exciting stuff! 😂
Finding them is simple. Find a patch of Meadow Death Camas, and sit there for hours waiting. Exciting stuff! 😂
May 22, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I finally managed to find a Death Camas Miner Bee. I have been looking for one of these for several years. Purported to be the only pollinator of this plant (I suspect this is not true).
Finding them is simple. Find a patch of Meadow Death Camas, and sit there for hours waiting. Exciting stuff! 😂
Finding them is simple. Find a patch of Meadow Death Camas, and sit there for hours waiting. Exciting stuff! 😂
Barred Owl (Strix varia) at Spider Lake this afternoon.
May 21, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Barred Owl (Strix varia) at Spider Lake this afternoon.
Looking at the local weather forecast, I think yesterday was the last day for chasing insects around Nanaimo for awhile? 😒
May 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Looking at the local weather forecast, I think yesterday was the last day for chasing insects around Nanaimo for awhile? 😒
One more survey in the bucket.
May 16, 2025 at 2:47 AM
One more survey in the bucket.
If you are going to do nocturnal bird surveys in the mountains of Northern Vancouver Island in May, you best bundle up! It was 0' with a strong NW blowing last night.
Sure was beautiful under the stars, though!
Sure was beautiful under the stars, though!
May 14, 2025 at 10:53 PM
If you are going to do nocturnal bird surveys in the mountains of Northern Vancouver Island in May, you best bundle up! It was 0' with a strong NW blowing last night.
Sure was beautiful under the stars, though!
Sure was beautiful under the stars, though!