Category Archives: herptiles

Tadpoles

Posted on May 25, 2026 by Alistair

  Each spring, thousands of tadpoles spawn at various shallows around the Lake. This is a look at a small portion of one large population seen two days ago. Of course, most of these will die, many being eaten before … Continue reading →

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Tadpole

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Alistair

  It is June and the tadpole season is upon us. A few of the hundreds of tadpoles in the shallow, clear water of the lake.  

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Tadpoles

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Alistair

  Tadpoles have been seen for a week in Kokanee Creek Park. These tadpoles are the larvae of the Western Toad. First, the stage is set by going back about 5 weeks to the time of amplexus. (Actually it is … Continue reading →

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May goulash

Posted on May 31, 2024 by Alistair

  This is a small collection of pictures taken this May which didn’t have a posting of their own. Well in this case, it is also just a few shots while trying out a camera. One of my first shots … Continue reading →

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May miscellaneous

Posted on May 14, 2024 by Alistair

  I went looking for something else, but instead found, well, many other things. On a pond by the river, there was a loafing log with 14 painted turtles in three sizes. The mature females are the largest and there … Continue reading →

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Columbia spotted frog

Posted on June 7, 2023 by Alistair

  I came for the amplexus of the western toad but stayed for a sighting of a Columbia spotted frog. The Columbia spotted frog seems to be only found in the smaller lakes at a much higher altitude than Kootenay … Continue reading →

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April goulash

Posted on April 30, 2023 by Alistair

  This is a small collection of pictures taken this April which didn’t have a posting of their own. The Northern Shrike foraged in Kokanee Park for rodents for about three weeks this month before heading north. The shrike rarely … Continue reading →

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August’s goulash

Posted on August 31, 2022 by Alistair

  This is a collection of August’s pictures that lacked a posting of their own.  This strange looking bird is just a juvenile Robin. Wintering in the Amazon, this Red-eyed Vireo is near the limit of its summer range. The … Continue reading →

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June’s goulash

Posted on June 30, 2022 by Alistair

  This is a collection of June’s pictures that lacked a posting of their own.  June began with a dipper feeding a bug to one of it three chicks. This purple virgin’s-bower (Clematis occidentalis) is a western flower. If one … Continue reading →

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Ravens and mice

Posted on January 23, 2022 by Alistair

  Ravens have intelligence. Indeed, lab studies demonstrate that ravens will cooperate on a project that requires two of them. If yesterday’s test is a measure, they regularly cooperate on a joint exercise in the wild. Mind you, it all … Continue reading →

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