Category Archives: birds

Requiem for a snag

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Alistair

  I didn’t know the tree when it was alive and bore leaves. Indeed, I don’t even know what species it was. I had known it only as a large snag and a wildlife tree for the last four years. … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary | 5 Comments

Away views: heron & crane

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Alistair

  I was at the Coast for three weeks so watched wildlife. Birds were seen mostly. The species I will show in the next few postings can all be seen at Kootenay Lake — herons are common here year round, … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 3 Comments

Heron drag

Posted on August 23, 2021 by Alistair

  This posting is about the aerodynamic drag on a flying Great Blue Heron. So why open with pictures of the Sandhill Crane? Well, the two species are often confused. Further, they have different strategies for minimizing aerodynamic drag. We … Continue reading →

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Flying fish

Posted on August 21, 2021 by Alistair

  Problem month: Unlike my usual ten or so postings a month, for the last thirty days, I made only one. The blog, itself, vanished, and even when it was restored, the subscriber emailer did not work. Add to this, … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary, fish | 5 Comments

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 | 1 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 →

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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