Category Archives: birds

Harrier

  I don’t see a Northern Harrier very often; the last time was five years ago. So when one visited today, I wondered what it was. This one appears to be a female, or perhaps a juvenile. The harrier was … Continue reading

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Wing-flap preening

  Swans are now heading south to escape the ice, but last February they were heading north to breed. Consequently, twice a year they are feeding in our area as they pass through.  Last February, I posted about spread-winged trumpeters: … Continue reading

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In the bill

  When not migrating or sleeping, a bird spends most of its time looking for food. Yet, of all the pictures taken of birds, it is relatively uncommon to see a bird with something eatable in its bill. There are … Continue reading

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Barred Owl

  Only rarely do I see a Barred Owl, and often someone else spots one for me. And yet, this owl does not migrate with the seasons, but confines itself to a space of about 10 km on a side. … Continue reading

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Cygnet

  Nearly two weeks ago, Joanne Siderius, Kokanee Creek Park’s senior naturalist, published some pictures of a cygnet. Yesterday three of us saw what was apparently the same cygnet at close quarters, again at the park. I have seen a … Continue reading

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Swan migration

  Swans head south in the fall and north in the spring. Already there have been reports of the first swans coming through this region. Yesterday, when I went past a place of shallow water there was nothing to be … Continue reading

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Apostrophe’s abrasion

  Six years ago, I wondered if “if birds named after people will be the apostrophe’s last bastion.” <blog.kootenay-lake.ca/?p=20350> I noted that we had lost the apostrophe in geographic names: “Around Kootenay Lake, Johnson’s Landing is officially Johnsons Landing and … Continue reading

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Buntings and finches

  I went for the Snow Buntings, but stayed for the Gray-crowned Rosy Finches. Often we go for a delightful walk along the shore or in the woods, but see little that prompts a blog posting. Now and then, we … Continue reading

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Weasel

  Thud. A robin collided with a window and fell to the deck. What followed was unexpected. Soon a Short-tailed Weasel found the robin. Now it wasn’t clear whether the robin was dead or just stunned, but the weasel quickly … Continue reading

Posted in birds, mammals | 7 Comments

Golden-Plover

  On October 1st, it was a gorgeously sunny day for strolling under blue skies along the sandy shores of Kokanee Creek Park. The bees were buzzing, corvids cawing, and gulls were feistily feeding on fish. But it was a … Continue reading

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