Exploring Kootenay Lake

It is May and the shore along the Lake is filled with birds. Some are wading, some floating, some flying. It is the flying ones that are the most difficult to photograph—they are usually fast and distant. Yesterday, I had three modest successes in taking detailed pictures of flying birds.

A male Hooded Merganser and his son flew low enough over the water to have a good reflection.

Although this Cliff Swallow was in the sunlight, it was against a very dark background.

As I was trying to take pictures of Cliff Swallows, a female Osprey landed behind me. Shooting quickly, I did not realize that it was banded until I examined the pictures later.

Doug Thorburn, that indefatigable wanderer of local mountains, sent me these two pictures of a grouse he saw this last week when he tracked down the sound of drumming. The trouble is, I cannot tell what it is. The head looks like a Dusky, while the breast and wings look more like a Spruce. 

Can anyone settle the question? 

It was the frenetic display of a feigned broken wing that signalled the unexpected nearness of a Killdeer’s nest. 

Indeed, a quick look around revealed four camouflaged eggs lying on the open ground.

I promptly retreated, the Killdeer relaxed and returned to its nest. Part of one egg is visible.

A month and a half ago, Miss Mallard put on a show for her intended. Her pole dance had the desired result.

From a distance, the specks were tiny, dark and moving. From closer, the specks became seven mallard chicks.

Mommy waited and the chicks caught up.

And they feasted together.

Two weeks ago, I showed pictures of a dipper nest under a bridge. One shot showed the male feeding the female in the nest. The chicks have now hatched, which makes this a busy Mother’s Day.

Three hungry maws beg at the nest’s opening.

The brightly coloured gapes and mandibles of the chicks are believed to be a signal to and a target for the parents: Insert food here. The adult lacks this colouration (see the earlier posting). 

The adult obliges. Here it is carrying a grub in its bill and is about to insert it in the chick’s mouth. This goes on all day as both parents ferry food to their voracious progeny.