Category Archives: birds

Restoration goulash

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Alistair

  A week ago, this blog crashed: earlier postings could not be seen and nothing more could be posted. The blog is now restored. A week ago, the wildfire smoke became intolerable, and I headed west to find cleaner air. … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, mammals | Leave a comment

Merlin 1, Catbird 0

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Alistair

  The Merlin is the larger of our two regular falcons. It often takes songbirds by approaching them rapidly from below and behind in their blind spot. On this occasion a juvenile Merlin had captured and killed a Grey Catbird.  … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 2 Comments

July’s hummers

Posted on July 15, 2021 by Alistair

  Our three regular hummingbirds arrive in April to breed. First males come, soon followed by females. The three species are Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned. I have not seen a Calliope since early May (although others have) so I only … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 3 Comments

Pin feathers

Posted on July 12, 2021 by Alistair

  By watching eaglets over the last month or so, I discovered pin feathers. Mind you, I would have discovered them much earlier had I done more reading — or kept chickens. A pin feather is just a feather during … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 4 Comments

June goulash

Posted on June 30, 2021 by Alistair

  This is a selection of June images none of which had a posting of its own. While not exclusively birds, there is certainly a preponderance of them. Two Bald Eagle chicks still in the nest are scrapping over a … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, herptiles | 7 Comments

Heron preens

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Alistair

  As wildlife contortionists go, few exceed the twists of the heron when it preens. It preens to repair its feathers and spread waterproofing oil on them. The Great Blue Heron hunts for fish in Kootenay Lake year round. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 3 Comments

Bald, not Golden

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Alistair

  Yesterday, a friend told me that she had just seen a Golden Eagle that was hunting by the lakeshore. I was assured that it must have been a golden as it was particularly large and brown.  Hmm…, I was … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 3 Comments

May goulash

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Alistair

  This is a collection of images from this May, none of which has had a posting of its own. As spring is upon us, this collection is diverse, but hardly exhaustive. Of our three regular hummingbirds, the Calliope is … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, mammals | 8 Comments

Snipe’s snag

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Alistair

  I went looking for grizzlies, but found a snipe. The Wilson’s Snipe is a secretive shorebird that probes the water’s edge to capture and eat invertebrate larvae. When approached, it flushes with a rapid and erratic flight. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 1 Comment

Goshawk

Posted on May 13, 2021 by Alistair

  What does one say about a close observation of a Northern Goshawk? Maybe just, Wow! We certainly have goshawks, but they are uncommon. I have only seen one (at a considerable distance) once before. This one was found by … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 12 Comments