Category Archives: bugs

August goulash

  This is a small collection of August 2024 images that did not have a posting of their own. A killdeer spreads its wings and tail when landing. This loon is back on Kootenay Lake and is ready to migrate … Continue reading

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Bear ate wasps

  This posting started just as yesterday’s did: watching black bears hunt and sometimes catching Kokanee in a stream. At the end, it took an unexpected and speculative turn. At first the lone black bear was really high in a … Continue reading

Posted in bugs, commentary, fish, mammals | 3 Comments

Wildlife mating

  For many years I presented wildlife talks for the summer speaker’s series in the Nature Centre of Kokanee Creek Park. Then, for several years we had a pandemic, so I did not present. This year I am again presenting, … Continue reading

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July goulash

  This is a collection of pictures, mainly from this July, that didn’t have their own postings. The first shot is from late June and shows a Common Startling trying to feed its chick an earth worm. Photo by Cynthia … Continue reading

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Pulp collection

  Thursday, the wildfire smoke cleared enough that I sat outside and watched the lake. But, soon my attention was distracted by some wasps that began to pay attention to my aged deck furniture. What were they doing? I had … Continue reading

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Crab spider

  The season of daisies is upon us, so it is time to watch for crab spiders. These cunning predators habit wildflowers (apparently daisies preferred) and attack and eat those who come to seek nectar. If you start looking for … Continue reading

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Spring arrives

  The temperature now rises above freezing day and night at the bottom of the valleys. The trees begin to bloom, and skunk cabbage sprouts in moist areas. Birds mate and build nests. Migrants arrive and some pass northward. This … Continue reading

Posted in birds, bugs, mammals, wildflowers | 4 Comments

Nesting on wooden pilings

  Wooden pilings are used by a few species for breeding. Now that these pilings are on their way out, how will this change? Metal pilings are the new standard. This is the second of a two part series on … Continue reading

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Eye to eye

  Within a few hours, I stood eyeball to eyeball with two predators. Well, neither was after me; I am just too big for them. One was a raccoon kit. Like the bobcat before it, it was checking out the … Continue reading

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Striped coralroot

  The striped coralroot orchid is widespread across southern Canada and western U.S. However, it is sparse throughout its range for it does not use leaves to synthesize food but obtains it nutrients from fungi in the ground.   This orchid … Continue reading

Posted in bugs, wildflowers | 1 Comment