Category Archives: bugs

June goulash

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Alistair

  June ends with a stew made from images that did not manage to get their own postings. While walking in Kokanee Creek Park early in the month, I saw a Common Yellowthroat, and an American Redstart. Our local Garter … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, herptiles | 1 Comment

White butt lives still

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Alistair

  Much has appeared in the press in the last few years about the plight of bees. Usually the press makes no distinction between the Honey Bee (an invasive species) and the many native pollinators, such as bumble bees.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in bugs | 2 Comments

Butterflying

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Alistair

  If a butterfly takes to the air, would it not be butterflying? Well, that is my semantic position and I am sticking to it. Especially, as I am seeking to do a better job of taking pictures of small flyers in the … Continue reading →

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Summer arrives

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Alistair

  You know summer has arrived when you see both a Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly and a Spotted Sandpiper.  Don’t be mislead by media automatons that parrot a claim about an official start of any season. That claim is nonsense. … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, commentary | 2 Comments

Not camera dross

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Alistair

  I don’t always look at the contents of my camera’s memory card immediately. Having taken pictures of things around me, I quickly move on. Yet, now and then, things I thought were dross, turn out well. Here are a … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, mammals | 3 Comments

Bountiful watching

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Alistair

  Nature watching has been bountiful in the last few days. In addition to the just posted toads in amplexus and the dipper chicks, some things seen were: A Cliff Swallow peeking out of its nest; A marmot contemplating (“You disparaged … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, herptiles, mammals | 3 Comments

Hoverers

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Alistair

  This is the season during which my camera asks if it might be allowed to stake out a hummingbird feeder. While earlier a Calliope had visited, today there was nothing but Rufous Hummingbirds, each fighting for control of the bounteous supply of nectar. … Continue reading →

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Halteres

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Alistair

  Rockets have them; drones have them; cruise ships have them; space telescopes have them; smart phones have them; and some insects have them. They are gyroscopes, rapidly spinning or vibrating devices that, by maintaining orientation in space, can assist navigation by … Continue reading →

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Bombylius major

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Alistair

  Mid April prompts a number of annual events: ospreys return (saw another one today), taxes, and the proliferation of Bombylius major. For some years, this blog has devoted a posting to this fuzzy little bee-mimic fly—all in mid April. … Continue reading →

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Bugs of winter

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Alistair

  Winter drives some of the herbivorous shield bugs to seek the warmth of homes. Most often seen is the Western Conifer Seed Bug. It is merely an aesthetic nuisance as it lethargically crawls across the floor. It can be picked up … Continue reading →

Posted in bugs | 4 Comments