Kokanee keep coming

 

The Kootenay Lake naturalist’s year is marked by many events: irruptive finches in the winter, migrating swans in the spring, the return of humming birds and ospreys, the freshet, pollinating insects, the arrival of black bears in the valleys in the late summer, the first steam fog of the fall, the arrival of snow.

One event stands out: in late summer, the Kokanee salmon spawn. Locals and tourists flock to marvel at waters that flow red with fish.

A bit over a week ago, I posted a single picture of the early stages of the Kokanee salmon spawning run. Today, I post a few more.

A happy osprey holds a large partially eaten Kokanee.

A male Kokanee bares its teeth as it jostles for postion among the many.

Underwater pictures show a perspective rarely seen by people.

Sometimes the play of light and colour produces an almost incomprehensible jumble.

At other times, the world seems awash in red.

Here’s looking at you.

The two above water pictures were taken by Cynthia Fraser and are used with permission.

 

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6 Responses to Kokanee keep coming

  1. Gail says:

    Wow ! These are amazing will have to go out and see if we can find some around here. I love your under water shots.

  2. Carl says:

    fantastic..thanks Alistair

  3. Bibbi Dozzi says:

    You are a fantastic photographer.
    Thank you for sharing the wonders and beauty we are surrounded by. No one can see it as well as a good photographer.
    Bibbi

  4. A. Ireland says:

    Wouldn’t that be fun to paint in water colours??

  5. pamella says:

    Yes, A., I think I see them as water colours; it’s almost too much wonder to stuff them in as not transmuted by art. I guess they themselves don’t know what stunning art mundane necessity makes of their watery little lives.

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