Category Archives: birds

  The Common Loon changes its appearance between the summer, when it is in breeding plumage, and the winter, when it is not. A striking aspect of this is that not only does its plumage change with the season, but … Continue reading →

    With a gazillion Mallards around the area, and each one of them moulting twice a year, one might expect to see them undergo this loss and regrowth of feathers with considerable frequency. Yet, I cannot recall having seen … Continue reading →

  The speculum feathers of various ducks are curious. These are the patches of often iridescent colour on the inner wings of many species of ducks. The colour of speculum (Latin for mirror) feathers differs from one species to another, … Continue reading →

  This is not how I woud choose to make a living: stand in an icy and turbulent mountain creek while attempting to catch delectables in the water, but this unusual songbird does just that. Hmm, come to think of … Continue reading →

Joke’s on me When I posted these pictures of the owl and raven, I thought the protagonist was a Barred Owl (and made a play on the words barred and bard). I was wrong. Two competent birders assure me that the pictures … Continue reading →

  I have a Ruffed Grouse in my yard. Well, it doesn’t spend all of its time here as the home range of the Ruffed Grouse is perhaps twenty or so hectares. This leaves my yard as but a sliver … Continue reading →

  Last week I took a picture of an eagle at sunrise. That shot was so satisfying that I was unwilling to detract from it with supporting images or text. So, a single unadorned image was posted. Yet, prior to … Continue reading →

  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 … Continue reading →