Exploring Kootenay Lake

I have been watching hummingbirds in an attempt to get pictures of the female Black-chinned and the female Calliope. It has been unsuccessful so far. However, I did spot an unusual feature on a Black-chinned male: evidence of a battle.

I had long been aware that the Rufous Hummingbird was combative during the breeding season when it would challenge other rufous males. But, nothing was ever said about the black-chinned. Well, here is evidence, a black-chinned with a few other hummingbird’s feathers in its claws.

This Black-chinned Hummingbird has some feathers of another hummingbird in its claws.

I mentioned earlier (blog.kootenay-lake.ca/?p=34474) that we get three hummingbirds: rufous, black-chinned and calliope. In the last few days I have seen males of each of these birds. They migrate here before the females do.

The gorget (throat) of many hummingbirds is iridescent: sometimes it is black, sometimes it displays colours.

The rufous, with its sometime orange gorget, was first to arrive.

The black-chinned with its sometime purple gorget has been here for about three days.

North America’s smallest bird, the calliope has been here a couple of days.

The Bufflehead is our smallest diving duck and the two sexes look different. It is primarily a somewhat uncommon winter bird here for it breeds farther north.

I got some pictures of the male flying. This is with wings down.

And with wings up.
 

Now after a few days of having a male Rufous Hummingbird, the female has arrived.

On a good year, we also may expect to see male and female Black-chinned Hummingbirds and Calliope Hummingbirds. So, more may be coming.

A female Rufous Hummingbird.

In past few days, I have seen a Great Blue Heron a couple of times. I had not seen one here since last August for it is migratory and only appears here in spring and summer to breed. Alas, this particular heron is too young to breed, it being perhaps a year old.

A juvenile Great Blue Heron flies by.

This is a smattering of April pictures that were not previously posted.

This is a Say’s Phoebe. It winters far to the south, but migrates north to the Okanagan in the summer to breed. It generally avoids the Kootenays. The problem is that this bird prefers dry, sparsely vegetated areas, including, sagebrush flats, badlands, dry barren foothills, but our region is heavily forested. 

Now three birds with something to eat in their bills: This is a dipper by Dorothy Fraser.

And a Black-billed Magpie alighting on a fence and then eating.

Then a Song Sparrow with a beak full of grubs.

I have seen this Merlin in the distance for a month, but this is the first close picture.

I have been watching Violet-green Swallows. I had wanted a picture that showed both colours in its name, but they are not seen when the bird is sitting, and when it is flying it is hard to get because it of its great speed. Finally a shot.