Category Archives: birds

Spring has arrived?

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Alistair

It is nearly half–past May and we are all looking for some evidence that there will be a spring this year. Today was sunny and warm, so I headed out to see how nature might have responded. Some of the … Continue reading →

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Vituperation

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Alistair

• Muriel’s partner found her a far better nest. • If you had arrived earlier we wouldn’t have such a dump. • Where are we ever going to put the chicks. • You left me alone this morning to chase away the geese by … Continue reading →

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That’s my nest

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Alistair

The name of the game seems to be nest usurpation. Swallows: A few days ago, a Mountain Bluebird attempted to take over the nest established earlier by Tree Swallows. Today, as the first picture below shows, the swallows are back … Continue reading →

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Rising water

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Alistair

Do birds react to a freshet? On April 24, this year’s freshet began on Kootenay Lake. The lake level had been declining during the winter as precipitation became locked in the mountains as snow. Now, driven by the melting of … Continue reading →

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Bluebird of unhappiness

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Alistair

You must search till you find the bluebird. You will find peace and contentment forever. Bluebird of Happiness (song), Edward Heyman, 1934 The myth of the bluebird of happiness is ancient and spans many cultures; the bluebird supposedly brings happiness, … Continue reading →

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Osprey bites

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Alistair

An osprey takes a bite. Move cursor over image; wait; move cursor off image; repeat.

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Mimics

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Alistair

  • April mimicked March. • April now departs. • Might May mimic June?   Departing mallards mimic circumflexes.

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Grub

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Alistair

Ok, I know that this shows a picture of a grub and that a few milliseconds later it ceased being a grub. Actually, it is not all that easy to take such a picture because the time between a robin … Continue reading →

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Osprey plunge

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Alistair

The osprey eats fish that it captures live in stunning plunges from high over the lake. Not every such plunge is successful. This one wasn’t. Sometime during this osprey season, I would like to take good pictures of the whole … Continue reading →

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Inchoate nest

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Alistair

An osprey couple has an off–again, on–again, relationship with an inchoate nest on some pilings. Add a stick, then abandon it; come back and mate, then abandon it; return with another stick, abandon it. Below is the latest addition. Composite of two … Continue reading →

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