Category Archives: commentary

Representation afar 1

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Alistair

  There are a number of organizations whose purpose is to promote the fortunes of local businesses, particularly businesses that cater to tourists, one being Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism. An interesting variant is the job of Nelson’s Cultural Ambassador, a … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary | 7 Comments

Snowberry eaters

Posted on October 24, 2015 by Alistair

  What eats snowberries? Most types of berries are colourful, sweet and juicy, a persuasive combination that prompts birds to eat them and consequently to spread the seeds. In stark contrast, snowberries (waxberries) are white, tasteless and dry. As snowberries are both … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary, mammals, wildflowers | 2 Comments

Incidental crossbill

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Alistair

  Each of my handful of sightings of the Red Crossbill has, unexpectedly, been incidental to watching grizzly bears. While the most recent shots of crossbills are not as detailed as those of an earlier occasion, the pattern of seeing them … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary | 3 Comments

KICS RIP

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Alistair

  This blog does not usually concern itself with the activities of people. That is the domain of news organizations and social media. This posting is an exception: I laud KICS.  The web is so much a part of our lives … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary | 1 Comment

Plume from afar

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Alistair

  The picture, posted on Saturday of a (controlled) burn around the Sitkum Creek fire, was dramatic. Doug Thorburn has sent me a picture that was taken about the same time and puts the matter in perspective. His view is … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary, weather | 1 Comment

Wesakachak

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Alistair

  I encountered the Whisky Jack fifty years ago when camping in the high country. At the time, I had no idea what this jaunty bird had to do with whisky (or whiskey, as Americans style their beverage). Nothing, as … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary | 5 Comments

Useful resources

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Alistair

  As I attempt to use images from my camera to help me make sense of my surroundings, I have relied upon many books (ranging over topics such as birds, meteorological optics and dragonflies) and upon many websites (examples being Wikipedia and All about … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, commentary, fish, herptiles, mammals | 1 Comment

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

Squirrel stripes

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Alistair

  The squirrel family (Sciuridae) is represented by quite a few species around the Lake: two of marmots, one tree squirrel, two ground squirrels, one flying squirrel, and one (maybe two) chipmunks. Only the chipmunks and the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel sport stripes. … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary, mammals | 2 Comments

Anniversary bluebirds

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Alistair

  Today marks the tenth anniversary of this website. It was launched on March 15th, 2005.   The original, and abiding, objective of the site was neither commercial nor promotional. It was merely a notebook of things learned about my surroundings. Had someone else built … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary | 10 Comments