Doug Koke
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douglaskoke.bsky.social
Doug Koke
@douglaskoke.bsky.social
190 followers 160 following 190 posts
Photographer, Cinematographer, Editor, Comedy Enthusiast, Hopeless Dork.

Obsessed with music and movies. Currently residing on Canada’s soggiest island. 🇨🇦
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douglaskoke.bsky.social
Last group of photos for now— more images from The Raptors on #VancouverIsland.

#wildlifephotography #birdphotography #photography #birds #animals #nature
I apologize, but I don’t know exactly what kind of falcon this is. It’s very small and puffy, and very cute. Another tiny little falcon that I don’t know the species of, unfortunately. This little guy is white, with dark grey speckles on its wings. I love this little puffball. A tiny American Kestrel, fluffing his feathers to stay warm. This is Charlie, who belonged to the woman running the admissions counter at the centre. When we first arrived, Charlie was just casually strolling around with a MASSIVE stork. Sadly, I didn’t have my camera out. It was bananas.
January 4, 2026 at 7:54 PM
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More shots from the Owl Encounter program at The Raptors in Duncan, BC.

#wildlifephotography #birdphotography #photography #birds #animals #nature #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #owls #spectacledowl #screechowl
An extreme closeup of the face of a Spectacled Owl named Elton. Elton is a female owl from South America and is 20 years old, which is getting up there for an owl, even in captivity, Another image of Elton, a beautiful Spectacled Owl at The Raptors in Duncan, British Columbia. Stika, a tiny Screech Owl snacks on a small piece of meat while she perches on her handler’s glove. Sitka, an unduly adorable Screech Owl. It was incredibly hard to resist the temptation to pet her.
January 4, 2026 at 7:42 PM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
More pics from a flight demonstration at The Raptors birds-of-prey centre.

#wildlifephotography #birdphotography #photography #birds #animals #nature #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #baldeagle #turkeyvulture #eagle #vulture
One of the handlers at The Raptors teaches a small audience about the beautiful bald eagle perched on her arm. An adult bald eagle perched on a tree branch, as low morning sunlight filters through the forest behind him. A turkey vulture. With a massive 6’ wingspan and one of the most sensitive olfactory systems on earth— they can detect just a few particles of carrion flesh from miles away — these things are fascinating, and quite common on Van Isle. An absolute unit of a Turkey Vulture.
January 4, 2026 at 7:33 PM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
More #birbs from The Raptors centre in Duncan, #BritishColumbia.

#wildlifephotography #birdphotography #photography #birds #animals #nature #kestrel #owl #greathornedowl #americankestrel
A teeny little American Kestrel whose cuteness is just completely unreasonable. He’s perched on a tree branch, puffing his feathers to stay warm on a sunny, but brisk December morning. Another insanely adorable American Kestrel. These may have been the cutest birds I’ve ever seen. Spock, a Great Horned Owl, looking super-impressive as he takes flight from his perch. Two more shots of Spock, a beautiful Great Horned Owl. In the top panel, he’s captured in mid-flight, and in the second, he’s perching on his handler’s gloved hand.
January 4, 2026 at 7:22 PM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
🧵 Second batch of photos from a trip to The Raptors birds-of-prey centre on #VancouverIsland.

#wildlifephotography #birdphotography #photography #birds #animals #nature #owls #screechowl #greathornedowl
Arktos, an Eastern Great Horned Owl, perches on a tree branch. Arktos the Great Horned Owl in flight, his intense yellow eyes fixed on his target. Stika is a tiny Screech Owl. Sitka is ludicrously cute, and makes the best noises ever. A close up of Sitka the Screech Owl, and a shot with Sitka and the biologist who takes care of her.
January 4, 2026 at 7:12 PM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
Shots from a flight demonstration at The Raptors birds-of-prey centre.

#wildlifephotography #birdphotohraphy #photography #raptors #owl #falcon #gyrfalcon #greathornedowl #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia
Arktos, perched on a tree branch covered in oyster mushrooms, calls to his handler during a flight demonstration. He is an Eastern Great Horned Owl, with very light cream / white feathers, speckled with grey to spots to resemble light tree bark. Arktos, a great horned owl, calls out from his perch and then launches into flight, making absolutely no sound with his wings. A Gyrfalcon flies to its handler during an avian flight demonstration at The Raptors in Duncan, BC. The Gyrfalcon is grey, and sleek, and is incredibly fast. Closeup of a Gyrfalcon. It’s about 13” tall, with a wingspan of maybe 3’.
January 4, 2026 at 12:56 AM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
A few more beautiful #birbs at The Raptors in Duncan, #BritishColumbia.

#photography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #baldeagle #greathornedowl #turkeyvulture #animals #nature
A large Bald Eagle takes a perch on a twisted stump and enjoys a piece of meat during a flight demonstration at The Raptors bird centre. A split image with a medium shot of an adult bald eagle sitting on a perch, and a close up of the bird’s head, looking a lot like the USPS logo. Arktos, an Eastern Great Horned Owl rests on a perch between flights during a demonstration at The Raptors. His feathers are nearly white, dotted with dark charcoal speckles. A massive Turkey Vulture gets comfortable on a perch during a flight demonstration. Its wingspan is about 7 feet.
January 4, 2026 at 12:08 AM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
More of the #birds at The Raptors sanctuary on #VancouverIsland.

#photography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #vulture #kestrel #greyowl #harrishawk #animals #nature
A black vulture, one of the residents of the The Raptors birds-of-prey centre in Duncan, BC. A RIDICULOUSLY cute American Kestrel— one the smallest falcons in N. America. It’s adorable, and I want to squish it. A grey owl turns his massive, parabolic face towards the camera. It’s crazy how the bird’s entire physiology is so well adapted to gathering sound and light to find food A Harris Hawk sits on a handler’s gloved hand, waiting to give a flight demonstration.
January 3, 2026 at 11:55 PM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
More #birb photos from The Raptors on #VancouverIsland.

Here’s a few more shots of Elton, the spectacled owl, and Sitka, a teeny tiny Screech Owl.

#photography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #owls #animals #nature
Elton, an adorable elderly (20 yrs old) spectacled owl rests gently on my mom’s gloved hand. My mom smiles in delight. A closeup shot of Elton, lifting her wings a bit, as she prepares for a short flight. Sitka, a itty-bitty Screech Owl around the size of a can of Coke, stretches their wings and flies in their enclosure. Sitka comes in for a nimble landing on my sister’s gloved hand.
January 3, 2026 at 11:36 PM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
🧵First batch of photos from a recent visit to The Raptors birds-of-prey centre in Duncan, BC.

Here’s Spock, and Elton, a great horned owl and a spectacled owl, respectively.

#wildlifephotography #birdphotography #owls #nature #animals #photography
#vancouverisland #britishcolumbia
Spock, a great horned owl at The Raptors bird sanctuary in Duncan, BC. Two more shots of Spock, a great horned owl— a close up of his head as he calls out to his handler, and a shot of him taking flight, stretching his deceptively wide wings in total silence. An extreme close up of Elton— a spectacled owl, usually native to Mexico and South America. Elton— who’s a girl — poses with my sister at The Raptors bird sanctuary in Duncan, BC, on Vancouver Island.
January 3, 2026 at 11:23 PM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
Spent Christmas visiting my sister’s zoo. The big, sweet cuddly St. Bernard / Bernese Mountain Dog has something wrong with her paw. (boo!) She’s going to the vet tomorrow. Hope she’s okay!
❤️🤞

#pets #animals #kitty #pupper #vancouverisland
Ruprecht. An adorable male ragdoll cat, named after one of Steve Martin’s characters in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. “May I take your trident, sir?” Rudy— an equally adorable, but much more reclusive ragdoll kitty. She’s a lady. Named, I think, after a song by The Specials. Scout— my sister’s gigantic half St. Bernard, half Bernese Mountain Dog. I love her. Here, she’s laying down in some snow. Scout, my sister’s gigantic dog, cooling off in some snow. She hurt her paw somewhere along the way today and will be visiting the vet tomorrow. :( She’s a big, lovable sweetie.
December 26, 2025 at 6:21 AM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
Last batch of images from the Chinook Salmon migration at Skutz Falls on Vancouver Island.

#photography #wildlifephotography #nature #marinelife #pnw #raincoast #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #outdoors #cowichanvalley #cowichanriver #chinook #salmon #fish #heron #bird #landscape
A chinook salmon jumps into the air, barely clearing the white-water as it crashes down Skutz Falls on the Cowichan River. A chinook salmon jumps over the first step of the fish ladder at Skutz Falls on Vancouver Island. A chinook salmon extends it's body as it goes airborne, leaping into the oncoming rush of whitewater at Skutz Falls in the Cowichan River. A little girl and her dog stand out against a backdrop of fall-colored trees as they watch the salmon swim upstream to spawn in the Cowichan River.
November 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
A few more shots of Skutz Falls and the annual Chinook salmon migration happening in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.

#photography #wildlifephotography #nature #pnw #raincoast #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #outdoors #cowichanvalley #cowichanriver #chinook #salmon #fish #heron #landscape
Closeup of a leaping Chinook salmon as it attempts to clear the first step of a fish ladder at Skutz Falls in the Cowichan Valley of Vancouver Island. Two Chinook salmon forgo the fish ladder and try to go airborn to clear the main falls at Skutz Falls on the Cowichan River. A photographer finds a perch above the salmon ladder at Skutz Falls. A great blue heron stands fully upright on a moss-covered rock, searching the Cowichan River for treats.
November 4, 2025 at 6:26 PM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
Extra innings? Sure, why n…
November 2, 2025 at 3:44 AM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
Just enjoying some baseball.
November 2, 2025 at 3:39 AM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
Ahahahahahahaha!
November 2, 2025 at 3:37 AM
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More pics from the Chinook salmon run at Skutz Falls on the Cowichan River.

#photography #wildlifephotography #outdoors #nature #fish #animals #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia
A Chinook salmon appears to jump at the camera as it struggles to clear the first step of a salmon ladder in Skutz Falls Provincial Park. A Chinook salmon jumps over the fish ladder. Skutz Falls, and a chinook salmon as it makes its way up the fish ladder. Two chinook salmon.
October 31, 2025 at 10:53 PM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
Shots from the Chinook salmon run happening at Skutz Falls, in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.

#photography #wildlifephotography #landscape #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #cowichan #fish #animals
A chinook salmon leaping up a fish ladder at Skutz Falls Provincial Park Split image with two Chinook salmon jumping at Skutz Falls on the Cowichan River Sunlight filters over the Cowichan River. A big Chinook Salmon
October 31, 2025 at 10:49 PM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
I went to Skutz Falls today to photograph the salmon spawn in the Cowichan River.

Took a gazillion photos. Will be thrilled if 9 of them are in focus.
These dudes DO NOT cooperate.
A photo of the rear LED screen on a camera, showing a picture of a leaping salmon that by some utter miracle is semi-well-composed and mostly on focus.
October 31, 2025 at 1:31 AM
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Last batch of photos from a photo walk I took along the Sidney Pier last week. All the little animal buddies were out, enjoying the sun.

#photography #wildlifephotography #landscape #animals #riverotter #otter #cormorant #bird #harborseal #seal #sidneyBC #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia
A mischievous river otter pokes his head out of a freshwater drainpipe to see if the coast is clear. A river otter gives himself a shake to dry off a bit. A common cormorant flies just inches about the water. Below is a long-exposure shot of the Sidney Fish Market, about 30 minutes before sunset. One of Sidney's regular harbor seal visitors-- a big chubmarine that locals call "Princess".
October 24, 2025 at 4:01 PM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
A few more images I took at the Sidney Pier earlier this week.
One of the seals who habitually hangs out near the fish market had a pup. Locals have named him Turbo.

#photography #wildlifephotography #marinelife #sidneyBC #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #harborseal #seal #baldeagle #eagle #bird
A pair of bald eagles, perched on an old telephone during golden hour. A bald eagle tilts its head as it looks out over the Sidney Pier, looking for fish. The Sidney Pier has two or three resident harbor seals, who show up every day like clockwork. One of them-- a female who locals call "Princess" -- had a pup, who people have named "Turbo". A closeup of a harbor seal pup at the Sidney Pier. Locals have named this little dude "Turbo". It fits.
October 24, 2025 at 3:56 PM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
Two last sunset details— just because sunsets get kinda rare here in the largely overcast fall and winter in the #PNW.

#photography #landscape #sunset #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia
October 22, 2025 at 7:00 AM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
More images from a photo stroll last night in Sidney.
A little juvenile seal cruises around the Sidney Pier, near the Fish Market. A river otter gets ready to dive from the rocks into the ocean. A bald eagle prepares for takeoff atop a derelict telephone pole. A pale, misty sunset at the Sidney Airport.
October 22, 2025 at 6:58 AM
douglaskoke.bsky.social
Took a little photo stroll at the Sidney Pier after work today, and got some nice images of seals, eagles, a rock crab, and my favorite: river otters.

#photography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #vancouverisland #sidneybc #britishcolumbia #otter #eagle #harborseal #rockcrab
A bald eagle roosts on a telephone pole, backlit by the setting sun. A curious harbor seal surfaces by the Sidney Fish Market, looking for scraps. A rock crab tries to escape a fisherman who was crabbing at the Sidney Pier. A cagey river otter sticks his head out from his hiding place to see if the coast is clear. I love these guys— everything they let do is like a bank heist comedy.
October 22, 2025 at 6:54 AM
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More photos from a trip to Stamp River Provincial Park on Vancouver Island.

#wildlifephotography #photography #nature #animals #wildlife #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #blackbear #heron #salmon
Black bears and coho salmon, during the tail end of the annual coho salmon spawn. A heron stretches its neck before taking flight above the Stamp River. Autumn textures found in Stamp River Provincial Park: green ferns, giant gold maple leaves, foaming river water, and thick green moss, sprouting mushrooms. Black bears, looking for coho salmon in the Stamp River.
October 22, 2025 at 1:54 AM