SPRING in British Columbia

Spring is here! Again, this is first time for me and my family to experience this exciting season of the year. It is now March 24, 2013 as of this writing. The spring season is from March to May. We notice how the temperature changes from very cold to just cold. From 0 to 2 degrees Centigrade in the morning, we notice the temperature rising up to 5 degrees. Even winter clothes and shoes are gradually disappearing. My daughter used to wear UGG winter boots but now she has to put them away. It's now time to bring out those summer shoes.

They're back!

Waking up to a cold morning filled with chirping of the birds is a welcome treat. I don't know what bird this is but they were there at Panorama Deep Cove Park in North Vancouver yesterday, March 23. They were all over the place, hopping and flying.

These brown-orange chested birds were all over the neatly trimmed grounds of Panorama Deep Cove Park.

This solitary bird appears camou- flaged among the brown branches of this tree at Panorama Deep Cove 
Park.

 I was aiming my camera to a group of wild ducks at the shore of Panorama Deep Cove Park when they suddenly swam away from me.



This is a series of shots. This seagull was wading on the still lake when suddenly it stretched its wings.....took off.... and flew away.

Seagulls have quite a long wingspan, more than 2 feet. They appear like ducks on the waters, wading, wiggling, bathing, or just plain sunbathing. They just fly in and out making the vista more enjoyable and inviting for aqua lovers.

This seagull seems to be saying,"Winter is gone! Hello Spring!"

Signs of SPRING. A cherry tree stands like a guard over the Panorama Deep Cove. From afar, you will say that it is still bald but gazing to it closely, you will see these buds SPRINGing from its twigs and branches, a sure sign of life, of a new beginning. Maybe this is one reason why this season of the year is called SPRING. Everything seems to be springing back to life.

 The RAAGAS Family is shown here literally springing for joy and excitement. On their fourth day here in Canada on March 2, I accompanied them to Bear Creek Park in Surrey, BC. Who says that playgrounds are the KIDS' KINGDOM? Well, parents too.

Here in Canada, and particularly British Columbia, the presence of kids in the playgrounds signify the beginning of SPRING.

Here is a father and daughter enjoying the 2nd day of spring. The father would push her daughter on a swing to the delight of the little girl. From the time we arrived at the park and until we left, father and daughter were still there, enjoying the onset of a new 
season.

A Fil-Canadian girl on a slide at the Panorama Deep Cove in North Vancouver.

Bright sunny and deep blue skies are back at Amble Side Park in West Vancouver. Kabayans stroll by the beach still with jackets and sweaters on as the temperature that day was between 5 to 10 degrees Celsius.

Canadians are in glee as Spring ushers in at the Amble Side Park. A totem pole welcomes ships entering the Canadian waters of the Burrard Inlet in Vancouver.

A boy chases a flock of crows. Behind him is the famous Lions Gate Bridge of Vancouver.

Beach habitues welcome spring at the Amble Side Park. Those logs lying on the beach were washed ashore originating from lumber yards along the rivers. I just wonder why they are not cleaned up by the park keepers. Kung sa Pinas yan pinanggatong na yan (That's good for firewood in the Philippines.) But cooking or burning are not allowed in the beach area as what a sign warns. I was told that during summer, this beach is filled with people with some lying on the sands while sunbathing.

Tourists began coming back to public parks eagerly anticipating the inevitable entry of Summer in a couple of months. In the meantime, strolling by the beach in Springtime is what they could do as water at this time of the year is still freezing cold with water coming from melting snow in the Rocky Mountains.

Trees infront of the century-old Pacific Central Station (train and bus) on Main Street in Downtown Vancouver still appear barren and bald.