Darren Kirby
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dragonbyte.ca
Darren Kirby
@dragonbyte.ca
4.5K followers 3.3K following 2.4K posts
Rural Canadian. Formerly urban Canadian. Stuck in a pothole at the intersection of writing, photography, birds, bees, computer programming, and data science.
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And there it is. Just a couple cm, but it's warmed up a bit and has already started melting.
A look at our yard, covered in the first snow of the year. The sky is overcast, and there is a layer of fresh snow on the trees and ground.
November 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
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I'm not going to shame the person who posted this meme (without alt text), but rather, offer a counterpoint:

They don't extort money, they ask politely for it. Maybe if some of you cheap bastards who've been using Wikipedia for 15+ years sent them some, they wouldn't have to....
A low-effort, unfunny meme that tries to frame the Wikipedia fund drive as mob extortion, poorly done, using Simpsons characters. Seriously, though, send them some damn money every couple of years, maybe? You know damn well that you regularly spend 20 bucks on dumber shit.
November 17, 2025 at 2:58 AM
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Guess where we are...
The steel frame of a railroad trestle against a blue sky.
September 19, 2025 at 7:40 PM
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We stopped in at Prince of Wales for lunch. Lori said it was very 'Wes Anderson', and I can't disagree.
A selfie of Lori and me in front of the Prince of Wales hotel. Three plates. Pork belly, stuffed yorkie, and a kale-cabbage ceasar salad with grilled trout.
September 17, 2025 at 10:32 PM
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Guess where we are?
A mountain vista. There is a lake with a rocky shore framed by mountains. The sky is mostly blue, but for the peaks shrouded in clous.
September 17, 2025 at 12:12 AM
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Your 55 seconds of the opposite of Zen. DOA at the Prospector Pub, Rock Creek BC, September 14, 2025.
September 15, 2025 at 6:16 AM
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For some reason, DOA has decided to play the pub at the one-horse town I live in, and as an old-school punk, yeah, I'm going. This will be the first show I've seen in years. The last was Reverend Horton Heat in Edmonton, in spring of 2018? 2019?
A gig poster advertising a show by 'Vancouver punk rock legends' DOA in Rock Creek BC at the Prospector Pub on Saturday, September 14. The picture shows a tattooed prospector pulling gold nuggets in a gold pan.
September 11, 2025 at 10:21 PM
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Early September? This is fine.
A screenshot from the Environment Canada weather app shows a heat warning for Rock Creek BC. The forecast high for the next four days shows Tue 37 Wed 37 Thu 35 and Fri 32. The overnight lors show 18, 18, 16, and 15 respectively.
September 2, 2025 at 8:37 PM
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Some shots from our event at Lac du Bois Grasslands, Kamloops, BC.

While our BC Parks Foundation-sponsored events are done for this year, due to popular demand (no, really!) Lori will be giving her Bees, Butterflies, and Botany talk at the Merritt BC branch of the TNRL on Saturday, September 6...
A crowd of people looking for bees in the grasslands. A crowd of people looking for bees in the grasslands. A crowd of people looking for bees in the grasslands. A crowd of people looking for bees in the grasslands. There is also an information kiosk in the frame.
August 25, 2025 at 11:41 PM
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Immature goldeneyes on a log. This is at Isobel Lake, in the hills high above Kamloops, BC #birds #birding
A log, running diagonally through the frame, is covered in perched goldeneye ducks. The water is almost pure white from the reflection of the sky.
August 25, 2025 at 11:28 PM
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The bee walk went well. Now, a well-deserved pint at the Lion's head.
An English-style pub set at the foot of a mountain. The mountain has a sheer rock face with trees above. There is a blue sky with fluffy clouds. Pub interior. Maroon table with two drinks on it. Lori is facing me.
August 9, 2025 at 10:14 PM
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The Kootenay River and the two Brilliant bridges in the distance at Castlegar, from earlier today.

Come join us at the Butterfly Garden at Syringa PP for a bee walk tomorrow at 1pm!
An expanse of water, with mountains and a partly clouded sky in the distance.
August 9, 2025 at 12:59 AM
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Your 49 seconds of Zen for today: Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bee slumber party on goldenrod up in the Grandby Valley north of Grand Forks, BC. 🐝
August 3, 2025 at 12:51 AM
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Black-capped chickadee found on the Terrace Loop trail at North Thompson River PP in Clearwater, BC. 🪶

#birds #birding
A slightly dishevelled chickadee perches on a branch. The background is an out of focus wash of greens and blues.
July 19, 2025 at 9:36 PM
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Unidentified bee in foxglove. Syringa PP, Castlegar, BC 🐝
A bee with a mostly black abdomen enters the blossom of a foxglove flower to collect pollen. The background is an out of focus wash of green.
July 19, 2025 at 1:19 AM
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The Bees, Butterfies, and Botany walk at Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area was very well attended, including 4 BC Parks staff who wanted to learn more about the bees in the park they manage. #bees #BcParks
A group of people stand and listen to a woman talk at the parking area at the trailhead. The sky is blue, and the ground is covered in native bunchgrass and sagebrush. Conifers can be seen furthur up the hillside.
July 17, 2025 at 8:23 PM
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Bit of excitement at our campsite at Shuswap Lake PP tonight. A decent storm blew through. We are safe and fine, but some falling branches wrecked our tent, and around the corner, a tree came down.

We're through the worst of it, and warm and safe in the van, but we'll have to buy a new tent...
A roadway that connects campsites in a provincial park. There is a large tree down across the road, and some orange cones marking the hazard.
July 17, 2025 at 4:46 AM
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The first two events at Clearwater Library and Wells Gray PP were a big success! Some very curious attendees with some great questions. Weather was good, and Lori caught bees to show them.

This next one is tomorrow. Kamloops, I hope to see you there.
A handbill advertising Lori's bee talk at the Kamloops Library, tomorrow, July 14 at 2pm.
July 13, 2025 at 11:23 PM
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45 seconds of Zen, Helmcken Falls edition.
July 13, 2025 at 11:08 PM
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Lilys blooming on Dutch Lake in Clearwater.

Lori's talk is in 40 minutes. If you're in town, head on down. 209 Dutch Lake Road.
A lake mirroring both blue sky and cloud. The near shore is covered in waterlilys. There are treed mountains in the background.
July 12, 2025 at 5:23 PM
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The confluence of the transluscent, blue Clearwater River, and the silty, opaque brownish-green North Thompson River at Clearwater, BC.
Two rivers meet. One is clear and blue, and the other is muddy green. A treed hillside and blue sky with wispy white clouds completes the scene.
July 11, 2025 at 11:59 PM
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I very rarely see mountain goats. I honestly cannot remember the last time I have. On our way back from Alberta we spotted some right on the side of Highway 93, so I slammed on the brakes and took some unremarkable photos. Then, I spotted another mom and baby well up the cliff...
An adult mountain goat standing,and a baby mountain goat laying down against a wall of rocks and dirt. An adult and baby mountain goat against a wall of rocks, sandstone, and dirt.
July 11, 2025 at 12:17 AM
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We're hitting the road bright and early tomorrow, heading to Clearwater and Wells Gray PP for our first two in-person events on Saturday and Sunday. Hope to see you there! 🐝
A poster promoting an event. It features a picture of a bee, and a bee on a flower, as well as the logos for the Thompson-Nicola regional library, the Native Bee Society of BC, and the BC Parks Foundation The text reads: You're Invited! Bees, Butterflies, and Botany How you can help native bees. A talk by Madame Beespeaker where: Clearwater Library. 209 Dutch Lake Road when: July 12th, 11am Join award-winning author and educator Lori Weidenhammer as she gives you the tools to be a citizen science hero that makes BC a healthy place for bees, butterflies, and birds. By studying flowers that bees visit for food and nesting we an learn more about the seasonal life cycles of the plants that supply nectar and pollen to our precious pollinators. A poster promoting an event. It features a picture of a bee, and a bee on a flower, as well as the logos for the Native Bee Society of BC, and the BC Parks Foundation The text reads: You're Invited to a free bee and plant walk! where: Wells Gray Provincial Park meeting place: Ray Farm/Alice Lake trailhead. when: July 13th, 1-3pm Bees, Butterflies, and Botany A walk in the park led by native bee enthusiast Lori Weidenhammer Join author and educator Lori Weidenhammer as she leads a guided walk and shows you how to make observations on the life cycles of bees and plants and gives you the tools to be a citizen science hero. Please dress for the weather, rain or shine,bring your camera and/or cellphone, family friendly, so bring your kids but no pets please.
July 10, 2025 at 10:24 PM
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🪶 The Wilson's Phalarope /Phalaropus tricolor/ is a long-distance migration champion, flying from 20,000-30,000 kilometres per year, round trip from breeding grounds in Canada to Wintering grounds in Argentina. I chanced upon this one in Hanna, AB. #birds #birding
A small shorebird searching for food at a shallow lakeside. The bird is mostly ruddy up top, with a white breast and neck. It has a medium-length black bill. The background of the photograph is just wavy blue water.
July 10, 2025 at 9:27 PM
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🐝 This is coming up on Saturday! Tell your friends, share on your social media, and we hope to see you there! FYI: address of the library is 209 Dutch Lake Road. #bees #BeesInBC #Nature #BritishColumbia #Clearwater
A poster promoting an event. It features a picture of a bee, and a bee on a flower, as well as the logos for the Thompson-Nicola regional library, the Native Bee Society of BC, and the BC Parks Foundation The text reads: You're Invited! Bees, Butterflies, and Botany How you can help native bees. A talk by Madame Beespeaker where: Clearwater Library when: July 12th, 11am Join award-winning author and educator Lori Weidenhammer as she gives you the tools to be a citizen science hero that makes BC a healthy place for bees, butterflies, and birds. By studying flowers that bees visit for food and nesting we an learn more about the seasonal life cycles of the plants that supply nectar and pollen to our precious pollinators.
July 7, 2025 at 11:53 PM