Category Archives: birds

It’s ploverly

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Alistair

  I had my first visit by Killdeer, today. Two of them, actually, but they do not appear in the same picture. The two images below show foraging and flying.

Posted in birds | Comments Off on It’s ploverly

Hummer happenings

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Alistair

  This morning, I watched copulating hummingbirds. Unfortunately, there are no pictures—which is not a result of my lack of trying. Clearly, things are beginning to happen. Our region has an unusually high diversity of hummingbirds for Canada: three species … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | Comments Off on Hummer happenings

From drab to bling

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Alistair

  Two birds visited on the same day. Each was emblematic of its status: one, a model of drabness; the other, the epitome of bling. It says a good deal for the versatility of evolution that each was rather well suited to … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 2 Comments

Flying-duck travails

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Alistair

  Pictures extend moments. Yet, for the moment to be extended, the picture must first be taken and sometimes that is difficult. Such is the case with small rapidly moving birds and bugs. It is no accident that most of … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary | 2 Comments

Blending in

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Alistair

  “Just ignore me, I am merely another one of the yellowish buds of May.” Yellow-rumped Warbler (Last January, I posted a picture of a Pygmy Owl blending in.)

Posted in birds | 1 Comment

Western Kingbird

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Alistair

  Last August, I saw my first Eastern Kingbird; last week I saw my first Western Kingbird. With geographically inspired names, one might think that the eastern bird would be found exclusively in eastern North America, and the western, exclusively … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 3 Comments

Rufous iridescence

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Alistair

  I photographed my first Rufous Hummingbird of 2013 this morning. It was a male—the sex which has the strikingly iridescent gorget. I attach three pictures of this visitor. The gorget of a hummingbird owes its colour to iridescence. As … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 4 Comments

It’s loonday

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Alistair

  It’s Monday, so it is lundi. And lo, there it was, floating in the calm of the early morning light.

Posted in birds | 2 Comments

Fool the birds

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Alistair

  Many birds feast on insects. Some of these insects can fight back, some cannot. If you are one of those tasty, but defenceless insects, what better tactic could you develop than to make the bird think you were actually a well … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs | Comments Off on Fool the birds

Osprey season begins

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Alistair

  The Osprey is the iconic bird of the Kootenay Lake summer. Indeed, the Main Lake ferry is named for it. There are often 20 to 30 Osprey nests along the West Arm alone. This morning, I saw my first … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | Comments Off on Osprey season begins