(F)unschool at Clipper Beach

We had a lovely time at Clipper Beach today!

We saw some geese fighting (those are presumably the wives looking on)...

And we saw a terrestrial garter snake with freshly-swallowed prey! (click to zoom in; the snake is in the foreground)

The snake looked very uncomfortable for a long time, with the prey lodged in its throat.

Then suddenly it regurgitated a still-wriggling sculpin!

...and swallowed it again - this time head-first.

Then it slithered away, stretched...

...and relocated its jaw.

Ah. Good meal.

Wild Whales Presentation and Bowen Nature Club Membership Renewal Time

Nature Club (F)unschool participant exploring seaweed beds at low tide.

It's time once again for our annual AGM, and a presentation we hope will inspire our coming year of outings and events!

It's also the Bowen Nature Club's membership time. Register now or at the AGM to keep informed of all our events and outings.

Membership

Print and fill in both sides of the membership form (available in the column on the right) and write a cheque for
$18(individual) or
$22(family)
to Bowen Nature Club.

Bring your form and cheque (or cash) to the AGM or email us at bowennatureclub@gmail.com for the mailing address.

AGM and Potluck

Saturday, Feb. 22, 5:30 - 9PM

Email us at bowennatureclub@gmail.com for location.

Carpooling is a great idea, if you can!

5:30PM: potluck dinner

7:00PM: Wild Whales Presentation

Wild Whales Presentation
If you’ve seen the misty blow of a whale or the fin of a dolphin recently, find out why the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network wants to know! Discover the whales, dolphins, porpoises, and sea turtles that inhabit B.C. waters during a presentation by Tessa Danelesko sponsored by the Vancouver Aquarium Cetacean Research Program. Find out which species are commonly seen around Howe Sound and the Strait of Georgia, their unique histories, the threats they face and how to help. Learn how coastal citizens become citizen scientists by participating in marine conservancy and research through the Sightings Network. Get ready to be informed and inspired!

This event, sponsored by the Vancouver Aquarium and Cetacean Sightings Network, will be presented by Tessa Danelesko, Coordinator of the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network, a project that collects opportunistic sightings of whales, dolphins, porpoises and sea turtles from the coast of British Columbia.

(F)unschool in the Fall

Looking for gold in Terminal Creek.

spider

lovely twisted wood

Freezing hands (?!) in Quarry Park.

Tree-climbing above Belterra.

purple

more purple

Bugs on Bowen: A Thanksgiving Outing

Come and see what is happening in the world of Mini-Beasts on Bowen!

Join naturalist Will Husby at the meadow in Crippen Park (near the horse paddock) and hunt for insects and spiders in the old field and forest. Will will supply basic capture and release tools. Bring your own if you have insect nets and collecting gear.

Feel free to share any of your own bug photos — bring them on your smart phone or tablet.

Meet beside the horse paddock in the meadow at Crippen Park
Saturday October 12: 1:00–3:00 PM

Dress for the weather.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Camping at Gwyneth Lake

This past weekend a few Nature Club members went on our annual camping trip; this time to Gwyneth Lake, near Goldbridge. The drive up the Hurley was long and bumpy, but the wonderful company, the warm swimmable lake and gorgeous assortment of wildflowers was absolutely worth it.
(Photos: Emily van Lidth de Jeude)

Gwyneth Lake from the campsite

tiger lily

twin berry

one-sided wintergreen surrounded by twin flowers

camping face-paint

lupine

arnica

paintbrush

fireweed

northern checkerspot butterfly

bunchberry

pyrola

Adrian accidentally suggested a communal dinner... so we all put our dinners on the same table and shared a veritable feast!

...including giant marshmallows...

(F)unschool Bluffs and Low Tide Beach Outings

Last week we hiked up the bluffs on Mt. Collins and explored the forest behind them, too. There were various wildflowers in bloom, many different types of lichen and moss, and also patches of brilliantly green mosses from the recent rainfall. Photos follow...

meadow death camas on the bluff

looking up the bluff at arbutus trees

the view out over our island (that is deep bay, near the bottom)

the kids found this joyfully sunlit rock in the darkness of the forest

sea blush near the top of the bluffs

blue eyed marys delicately lining our path up

Then we had an extra (F)unschool outing the following Monday, in order to take advantage of the very low tide. While we didn't find some of the things we expected, like many many various seastars, and green anemones, we did find many different sizes and types of blenny, including red, green, grey, black, and various patterns, and one that was about 10 or 11 inches long! We also found urchins, many tiny seastars, various shore crabs and a dungeoness crab, many entertaining hermit crabs, stubby isopods, some sponges, various shellfish, small sea lemons (nudibranchs), and a northern clingfish, whose portrait I have included, here, for your entertainment! It's the only photo I took, that day! We also had some fun with some seemingly very personable rockweed isopods.

...and from the low-tide beach exploration: a northern clingfish!

Sundew eating a mosquito...

So many people ask how a sundew consumes its food, and I didn't really know, exactly. So I found this short video on Youtube -- enjoy!!