Exploring Kootenay Lake

The Horned Lark is not seen often around Kootenay Lake, but when it is seen it is most likely to be now, during migration. Two local subspecies can be seen: one with a markedly yellow face found at low elevations; one with a more whitish face found high. Two pictures, taken in an open field at about 1370 metres, show the more whitish-faced bird.

The Horned Lark is a ground feeder. This may well be a juvenile.

At these elevations, the throat of the Horned Lark is more whitish than yellowish.

Each year at this time, Michael McMann monitors the movement of raptors along the west side of the Selkirk Mountains. These are the raptors from northern B.C. that move south along the valleys of the Slocan and Arrow Lakes and then follow the ridges along the east side of the Columbia River. He monitors them from a bench of land high above the Columbia. The location offers an expansive view of the ridge and although the distance to the crest of the ridge is over two kilometers, the vantage provides the opportunity to spot many species and identify most of them.

Distinguishing among the maybe a dozen different possible species at this distance depends upon subtleties of the birds’ flight, shape, and shading. These are skills not quickly mastered (and they remain elusive for me).

Yet, while this observing location is good for monitoring the passage of a large number of birds, it is not good for bird photography. This contrast is illustrated below. First is a pair of pictures taken on Saturday from the monitoring location. Second is a picture taken Sunday when Michael and I climbed about 900 meters higher onto the crest of the ridge. The image difference is striking.

Each of this pair of pictures from the monitoring location has been greatly magnified so as to hint at the scant details that reveal the species. The left image shows a Golden Eagle distinguished both by its silhouette and the faint whitish underwing patches. The right image shows three birds: an easily identifiable Bald Eagle in the lower right, a raven to its left, a Sharp-shinned Hawk above.

Photographically more satisfying is the view of a raptor from high on the ridge. This appears to be a juvenile, dark-morph, Red-tailed Hawk.

The Marsh Wren is a secretive bird that hides in the tall grass and brush of marshes, so it is not easy to see. While it has been spotted at different times throughout the year, the most frequently local observations of it are made in late September and early October. And that is when I saw it, today.

True to its name, the Marsh Wren was seen on the edge of a marsh perched inconspicuously in a Red Osier Dogwood, a plant that similarly favours a marshy setting.

Here is more evidence (in addition to the Red-tailed Hawk seen two days ago) that the raptors are on the move. I am accustomed to seeing a few Merlins in the spring, but saw none this year, so this is my first of 2012.

This is the time of year that raptors leave northern BC and flow across our area as they head south for the winter. The Red-tailed Hawk, seen perched on a snag this morning, was probably just passing through.

In about a half hour midday yesterday, Derek Kite and I saw three species of grebes and one of loons. Superficially, each of these birds looks like a duck, but none is. At this time of the year, each is in its eclipse plumage and so looks somewhat different than the striking breeding plumage of summer.

This Horned Grebe was seen in the distance and against the light.

The Red-necked Grebe made for a much easier shot.

Western Grebes have returned to the Lake and will be with us during the fall.

We saw five different Common Loons. Here are a couple of them.

Finally, a lagniappe for those of us who remember the drinking-duck toy (albeit this is a grebe).

Often when taking a picture of mammals or birds, one does have a moment or two to compose. This can even be true with a bird in flight if one has been able to anticipate the action.

It is not always possible to have such a luxury. Sometimes a burst of action seen out of the corner of one’s eye prompts a grab shot—one that requires an instant push of the button with only the chance to point the camera approximately. Usually such shots are worthy of being deleted, but now and then, the results are interesting. Occasionally, they are acceptable.

Two of yesterday’s grab shots fit the latter categories: interesting, acceptable.

An aerial scrap between a raven and (what I think is) a Red-tailed Hawk is seen in silhouette.

More satisfying is this grab shot of a Great Blue Heron that had appeared suddenly from behind trees.