Category Archives: bugs

Hunting styles

  Predators have various hunting styles: some wait in ambush, others search. I watched each style yesterday. In these cases, the prey were insects. One predator was a bird; the other, a spider. The Western Tanager (this is a female) … Continue reading

Posted in birds, bugs | 1 Comment

Spring Odonata

  The Odonata season has begun. This order of carnivorous insects includes dragonflies and damselflies. These three early-season members were seen in wetlands around the Lake. Previously, I have seen a Four-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly in mid-May, but early June works. … Continue reading

Posted in bugs | Comments Off on Spring Odonata

Bombus vagans

  The Half-black Bumble Bee (Bombus vagans) is a common bumble bee of North America. Its local scarcity this spring has prompted me to wonder about it. However, I am finding it now — not in great numbers, but it … Continue reading

Posted in bugs, wildflowers | 1 Comment

Dinner and dance

  The Spotted Sandpiper is usually solitary, so when two forage together, it can prove interesting.  Two sandpipers spent their initial time together stalking and eating sandflies off the beach. Each fly was grabbed and swallowed in well under a second. “Now … Continue reading

Posted in birds, bugs | 1 Comment

Tigers mating

  When was the last time anyone watched tigers mating in the wilds of British Columbia? OK, truth in advertising. The tigers in question are beetles: Western Tiger Beetles. These beach dwellers use their great speed to chase smaller insects … Continue reading

Posted in bugs | Comments Off on Tigers mating

Pollen covered

  This spring has been a strange. Insects, usually plentiful, have been sparse — but not absent. In a field of dandelions, both hover flies and solitary bees (but, not social bees) flew from flower to flower seeking nectar. It was fairly … Continue reading

Posted in bugs, wildflowers | 1 Comment

July goulash

  This is an end-of-the-month collection of images, none of which has had a posting of its own. An adult Great Blue Heron flies by. A Bank Swallow parent flies in to feed a demanding chick. In July this has … Continue reading

Posted in birds, bugs, mammals | 3 Comments

Frustrated damselflies

  It has been a frustrating season for damselfly couples: It seems that there is a shortage of suitable housing in which to raise a new family. Usually by the end of July, damselflies have found partners, mated, flown off together, … Continue reading

Posted in bugs | 1 Comment

June goulash

  This is an end-of-the-month collection of images, none of which has had a posting of its own. A cinnamon-coloured Black Bear eyes an intruder in its territory. For a female Osprey to be lifting her tail this late in … Continue reading

Posted in birds, bugs, herptiles, mammals, wildflowers | 2 Comments

Spider and fly

  “Will you walk into my parlour?” said the Spider to the Fly. And set his her table ready, to dine upon the Fly.

Posted in bugs | 2 Comments