Category Archives: birds

Happy herons

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Alistair

For some years I have taken pictures of the herons that stop by the docks and pilings within sight of my home. A pattern emerged: there were no heron pictures during the osprey season of late spring and summer. None! … Continue reading →

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Heron trumps chicks

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Alistair

When momma merganser and her eight chicks came by at noon today, I obtained an acceptable picture and felt good. After all, when I made the posting, Water Babies, I had only managed to shown one merganser chick. Now there … Continue reading →

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Loons, merganser

Posted on June 26, 2011 by Alistair

A Common Loon couple and a Common Merganser male came by yesterday. With each visit of loons I try to get better shots. On this occasion, the loons were a bit closer to the shore than they usually are and … Continue reading →

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Water babies

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Alistair

Water babies exist. Of course, they don’t exist in the manner conceived of by the Reverend Charles Kingsley in his 1863 children’s story. He used a corrupted version of nature as a morality play about redemption. But, we don’t need … Continue reading →

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Bears, bugs, birds

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Alistair

I sometimes whimsically characterize kootenay-lake.ca as a website that treats bears, bugs, birds, and beaches. So, why not use that list as the theme for a posting? Alas, the only beach I show here is underwater, but it will have to … Continue reading →

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Ospreys’ annus horribilis

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Alistair

It seems that 2011 is an annus horribilis for ospreys along the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. Normally there might be 20 or 30 nesting pairs on the stretch of water between Balfour and Nelson (there is variation: in 2009 … Continue reading →

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Flotsam

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Alistair

As the Lake rises well above the levels of the previous few years, the shoreline is scoured of debris and the water becomes awash with logs, brush and junk. Speedboats must now travel with caution. But, the water birds seem … Continue reading →

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Red–winged Blackbird

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Alistair

The Red–winged Blackbird is one of the most numerous birds in North America. Gary Davidson’s Checklist of West Kootenay Birds lists it as common in the spring and summer. Yet, I never see it—or at least, I never see it … Continue reading →

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Playing catchup

Posted on June 5, 2011 by Alistair

I wander around taking in my surroundings. Sometimes no theme presents itself for a posting. All I have is a series of unlinked scenes. Such is the case here with these half–dozen images from this last week: Painted Turtles, American … Continue reading →

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Family portrait

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Alistair

When the kiddies are still young, the family portrait usually includes a formal shot of the whole family followed by a casual one of the children.

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