Simon Corston-Oliver
@simonhco.bsky.social
Linguist / computational linguist. Keen hiker and nature photographer in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I mostly photograph amphibians, fungus and birds, or whatever comes across my path.
Pinned
More coping with a Vancouver winter by looking at old Hawai'i photos that I never got around to editing.
27 Dec 2019. Driving across Maui at dusk when I spotted this golf course(?) surrounded by mountains, all bathed in the last rays.
#travelphotography #landscape #landscapephotography
27 Dec 2019. Driving across Maui at dusk when I spotted this golf course(?) surrounded by mountains, all bathed in the last rays.
#travelphotography #landscape #landscapephotography
December 31, 2025 at 12:04 AM
More coping with a Vancouver winter by looking at old Hawai'i photos that I never got around to editing.
27 Dec 2019. Driving across Maui at dusk when I spotted this golf course(?) surrounded by mountains, all bathed in the last rays.
#travelphotography #landscape #landscapephotography
27 Dec 2019. Driving across Maui at dusk when I spotted this golf course(?) surrounded by mountains, all bathed in the last rays.
#travelphotography #landscape #landscapephotography
Fungus growing on a sawed log. Not sure of ID -- perhaps Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)?
Yesterday at Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, Maple Ridge, BC.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
Yesterday at Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, Maple Ridge, BC.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
December 30, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Fungus growing on a sawed log. Not sure of ID -- perhaps Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)?
Yesterday at Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, Maple Ridge, BC.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
Yesterday at Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, Maple Ridge, BC.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
Jellied bird's nest fungus. The four things that look like eggs are peridioles that will get dispersed by rain drops splashing into the nest.
Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, Maple Ridge, BC today.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, Maple Ridge, BC today.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
December 30, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Jellied bird's nest fungus. The four things that look like eggs are peridioles that will get dispersed by rain drops splashing into the nest.
Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, Maple Ridge, BC today.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, Maple Ridge, BC today.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
Waimea Canyon State Park, Kaua'i, Hawai'i. The "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". Jan 2024.
The weather and the light was constantly changing.
#landscape #landscapephotography #canyon
The weather and the light was constantly changing.
#landscape #landscapephotography #canyon
December 29, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Waimea Canyon State Park, Kaua'i, Hawai'i. The "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". Jan 2024.
The weather and the light was constantly changing.
#landscape #landscapephotography #canyon
The weather and the light was constantly changing.
#landscape #landscapephotography #canyon
It's a cold dreary day outside, so I'm taking a trip down memory lane, looking at pictures I never got around to editing from our trip to Kauai, Hawai'i in Jan 2024.
A truck in the town of Hanapēpē, painted to blend with the surrounding foliage.
#travelphotography #abandoned #truck
A truck in the town of Hanapēpē, painted to blend with the surrounding foliage.
#travelphotography #abandoned #truck
December 29, 2025 at 1:49 AM
It's a cold dreary day outside, so I'm taking a trip down memory lane, looking at pictures I never got around to editing from our trip to Kauai, Hawai'i in Jan 2024.
A truck in the town of Hanapēpē, painted to blend with the surrounding foliage.
#travelphotography #abandoned #truck
A truck in the town of Hanapēpē, painted to blend with the surrounding foliage.
#travelphotography #abandoned #truck
A patch of witches' butter fungus on a log. It was a dark day in the forest but the fungus looked like it was glowing. ~2cm across.
Sasamat Lake to Diez Vista hike, BC, Canada.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
Sasamat Lake to Diez Vista hike, BC, Canada.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
December 23, 2025 at 2:56 AM
A patch of witches' butter fungus on a log. It was a dark day in the forest but the fungus looked like it was glowing. ~2cm across.
Sasamat Lake to Diez Vista hike, BC, Canada.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
Sasamat Lake to Diez Vista hike, BC, Canada.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
December 21, 2025 at 11:54 PM
A Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). It was mindful of me only 2m away, but more focused on fishing.
Anping, Tainan, Taiwan.
#birds 🌿 #birdphotography
Anping, Tainan, Taiwan.
#birds 🌿 #birdphotography
December 21, 2025 at 11:36 PM
A Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). It was mindful of me only 2m away, but more focused on fishing.
Anping, Tainan, Taiwan.
#birds 🌿 #birdphotography
Anping, Tainan, Taiwan.
#birds 🌿 #birdphotography
On a side street in Tainan, Taiwan I saw these chairs. I couldn't figure out why they were there. I guess you don't need a reason to sit and wait.
#photography #art #liminalspace
#photography #art #liminalspace
December 20, 2025 at 10:16 PM
On a side street in Tainan, Taiwan I saw these chairs. I couldn't figure out why they were there. I guess you don't need a reason to sit and wait.
#photography #art #liminalspace
#photography #art #liminalspace
December 20, 2025 at 9:49 PM
December 20, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Taiwan common toads, this time sitting still and posing for the camera.
Sister Ponds, Alishan National Forest, Taiwan.
#herps 🌿 #amphibians
Sister Ponds, Alishan National Forest, Taiwan.
#herps 🌿 #amphibians
December 19, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Taiwan common toads, this time sitting still and posing for the camera.
Sister Ponds, Alishan National Forest, Taiwan.
#herps 🌿 #amphibians
Sister Ponds, Alishan National Forest, Taiwan.
#herps 🌿 #amphibians
This toad decided it had places to be.
We saw lots of tadpoles during the day, which I was not expecting in late Oct. I went back after dark and saw lots of what I think are Taiwan Common Toad (Bufo bankorensis).
Sister Ponds in Alishan National Forest, Taiwan.
#herps 🌿 #toad #amphibians
We saw lots of tadpoles during the day, which I was not expecting in late Oct. I went back after dark and saw lots of what I think are Taiwan Common Toad (Bufo bankorensis).
Sister Ponds in Alishan National Forest, Taiwan.
#herps 🌿 #toad #amphibians
December 19, 2025 at 1:41 AM
This toad decided it had places to be.
We saw lots of tadpoles during the day, which I was not expecting in late Oct. I went back after dark and saw lots of what I think are Taiwan Common Toad (Bufo bankorensis).
Sister Ponds in Alishan National Forest, Taiwan.
#herps 🌿 #toad #amphibians
We saw lots of tadpoles during the day, which I was not expecting in late Oct. I went back after dark and saw lots of what I think are Taiwan Common Toad (Bufo bankorensis).
Sister Ponds in Alishan National Forest, Taiwan.
#herps 🌿 #toad #amphibians
One last bird from Alishan, Taiwan: a White-whiskered Laughingthrush.
This bird appeared several times at the Datashan Lookout on the Tashan Trail. It seemed to come when it heard people opening their snacks.
#birds 🌿 #birdphotography
This bird appeared several times at the Datashan Lookout on the Tashan Trail. It seemed to come when it heard people opening their snacks.
#birds 🌿 #birdphotography
December 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
One last bird from Alishan, Taiwan: a White-whiskered Laughingthrush.
This bird appeared several times at the Datashan Lookout on the Tashan Trail. It seemed to come when it heard people opening their snacks.
#birds 🌿 #birdphotography
This bird appeared several times at the Datashan Lookout on the Tashan Trail. It seemed to come when it heard people opening their snacks.
#birds 🌿 #birdphotography
December 16, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I love it when the sidewalk puts your eye level at the middle or top of a tall tree. You get to see things like this Taiwan Barwing as they search for food.
Alishan National Forest, Taiwan.
#birds 🌿
Alishan National Forest, Taiwan.
#birds 🌿
December 16, 2025 at 11:13 PM
I love it when the sidewalk puts your eye level at the middle or top of a tall tree. You get to see things like this Taiwan Barwing as they search for food.
Alishan National Forest, Taiwan.
#birds 🌿
Alishan National Forest, Taiwan.
#birds 🌿
Two macaque monkeys in an enormous fig tree.
Dakeng Scenic Area, Taichung, Taiwan
#mammals 🌿 #monkey #wildlifephotography
Dakeng Scenic Area, Taichung, Taiwan
#mammals 🌿 #monkey #wildlifephotography
December 16, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Two macaque monkeys in an enormous fig tree.
Dakeng Scenic Area, Taichung, Taiwan
#mammals 🌿 #monkey #wildlifephotography
Dakeng Scenic Area, Taichung, Taiwan
#mammals 🌿 #monkey #wildlifephotography
December 16, 2025 at 1:56 AM
At the #4 trail head I saw this young macaque monkey. It had a wound on one hind leg and was calling to a parent, who came to console it. Despite its injury, it was moving quickly through the bamboo and trees.
Dakeng Scenic Area, Taichung, Taiwan
#mammals 🌿 #naturephotography #wildlifephotography
Dakeng Scenic Area, Taichung, Taiwan
#mammals 🌿 #naturephotography #wildlifephotography
December 16, 2025 at 12:32 AM
At the #4 trail head I saw this young macaque monkey. It had a wound on one hind leg and was calling to a parent, who came to console it. Despite its injury, it was moving quickly through the bamboo and trees.
Dakeng Scenic Area, Taichung, Taiwan
#mammals 🌿 #naturephotography #wildlifephotography
Dakeng Scenic Area, Taichung, Taiwan
#mammals 🌿 #naturephotography #wildlifephotography
At first I thought I was looking at blue splotches of acrylic paint but iNaturalist IDs this as Byssocorticium atrovirens, a type of fungus.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
December 14, 2025 at 11:31 PM
At first I thought I was looking at blue splotches of acrylic paint but iNaturalist IDs this as Byssocorticium atrovirens, a type of fungus.
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
#fungifriends #fungus 🌿
Currently reading "Gathering Moss" by Robin Wall Kimmerer. She explains how there's very little air movement in the thin layer where mosses live so they have to send their sporophytes a few milllimeters higher to catch the breeze.
Buntzen Lake, BC.
#moss #bryophyte #fungifriends 🌿
Buntzen Lake, BC.
#moss #bryophyte #fungifriends 🌿
December 14, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Currently reading "Gathering Moss" by Robin Wall Kimmerer. She explains how there's very little air movement in the thin layer where mosses live so they have to send their sporophytes a few milllimeters higher to catch the breeze.
Buntzen Lake, BC.
#moss #bryophyte #fungifriends 🌿
Buntzen Lake, BC.
#moss #bryophyte #fungifriends 🌿
A side view of the ensatina that I posted yesterday.
It looks mighty, moving across the forest floor. It's actually about 10cm long.
Buntzen Lake, British Columbia, Canada.
#herps #salamander 🌿
It looks mighty, moving across the forest floor. It's actually about 10cm long.
Buntzen Lake, British Columbia, Canada.
#herps #salamander 🌿
December 14, 2025 at 10:24 PM
A side view of the ensatina that I posted yesterday.
It looks mighty, moving across the forest floor. It's actually about 10cm long.
Buntzen Lake, British Columbia, Canada.
#herps #salamander 🌿
It looks mighty, moving across the forest floor. It's actually about 10cm long.
Buntzen Lake, British Columbia, Canada.
#herps #salamander 🌿