Category Archives: fish

Grebe & fish

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Alistair

  Our four regular grebes all dive underwater to forage. The smallest of these is the Pied-billed Grebe. It mostly eats small fish and crustaceans, such as crayfish, which it captures and crushes with its stout bill and strong jaws … Continue reading →

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Osprey migration preparation

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Alistair

  Around mid-September adult ospreys migrate. They have nested, raised chicks, and sent them off on their own. Now is the time to head south for the winter. However, that requires building up fat reserves by feasting on fish. (Juvenile … Continue reading →

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Heron plunge

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Alistair

  Yesterday, with the Kokanee moving up local creeks to spawn, I posted a picture of a heron hunting by the creek. Today, it plunged after a Kokanee.  A Great Blue Heron strikes at a Kokanee. Alas, it failed to … Continue reading →

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Spawning watch

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Alistair

  Kokanee are filling local creeks in preparation for spawning, after which their carcasses will become available to many other creatures. Those creatures are already standing by in anticipation. A Kokanee salmon enters the creek to spawn. Standing by to … Continue reading →

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A serving of fish

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Alistair

  Mommy Osprey brings a serving of fish to her rather large chicks still in the nest.  

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A fish flew by

Posted on August 1, 2019 by Alistair

  A headless fish flew by. It was being packed by an osprey. For an earlier discussion of this strange phenomenon, see headless fish flying.  

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Mayfly mating

Posted on July 23, 2019 by Alistair

  Mayfly adults live brief and perilous lives. Mayflies emerge from the water as short-lived adults with one objective: to mate. The mayfly is immediately beset by other creatures that would feast upon it. Fish frequently jump from the water … Continue reading →

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Canada’s diversity

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Alistair

  Today, July 1st, marks Canada Day and the country’s 152nd birthday. Canadians value and celebrate diversity — by which they mean cultural diversity. However, some feel that the preservation of our species diversity merits a similar attention. This selection … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, commentary, fish, herptiles, mammals, weather | 7 Comments

1,500th posting

Posted on April 10, 2019 by Alistair

  This is the fifteen-hundredth posting to the blog, Exploring Kootenay Lake. The oldest was a decade ago in December, 2009. The blog is merely a notebook to which I regularly record delight with my surroundings. Yet, as these notes … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary, fish, mammals, weather | 23 Comments

Osprey fattening

Posted on September 16, 2018 by Alistair

  Ospreys are now eating as many fish as possible in preparation for their long migration. Ospreys have been present since April. They built nests, mated, laid eggs, brooded chicks, and their chicks fledged. Now, mid-September, all are getting ready … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, fish | 2 Comments