Category Archives: birds

Red-tailed couple

Posted on April 4, 2020 by Alistair

  Sometimes one happens upon a really nice scene. Such was the case this morning when, for the first time, I saw a close Red-tailed Hawk couple watching me from a snag. The female is on the left, the male … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 9 Comments

March goulash

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Alistair

  This is a collection of images from March, each of which lacked a posting of its own. Such observations of nature serve as a balm to my own increasing social isolation. These are creatures oblivious to our present angst. … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary, mammals | 7 Comments

Flicker fun

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Alistair

  It’s that time of year. Incoming. That was fun.  

Posted in birds | 5 Comments

Finally bluebirds

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Alistair

  For a few days now, others have been seeing Mountain Bluebirds around the Lake. I failed to find them until today.  With the coming of spring, Mountain Bluebirds flow into this region in search of insects. They perch close … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 8 Comments

Yard grouse

Posted on March 22, 2020 by Alistair

  Now is the time to start watching Ruffed Grouse. There seem to be many of them about and their mating period is coming up: April into May. I have two Ruffed Grouse that treat my yard as a portion … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 5 Comments

House Finch

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Alistair

  Some sources claim that we don’t have House Finches here; others allow that we have some. The latter sources are correct.  The House Finch is an urban junky. It likes to hang out in cities where it mainly eats … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 5 Comments

Tundra Swans

Posted on March 14, 2020 by Alistair

  Who needs yet more images of swans? After all, in my February goulash, I commented that it had been such a good winter for seeing Trumpeter Swans that I was discarding pictures of them. However, much less common to … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 2 Comments

Whither spring?

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Alistair

  What are the present intimations of spring? This snow-flecked Red Squirrel should be entering its summer moult about now. The arrival of Dark-eyed Juncos indicates spring is imminent…, as does the arrival of a Belted Kingfisher (with fish), which … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, mammals | 2 Comments

Flicker fencing

Posted on March 2, 2020 by Alistair

  Two male Northern Flickers were fencing. When seen from a distance, I thought that I was watching a courting couple. But no, both flickers were male. Cornell Lab comments on the flicker: Early in spring and summer, rivals may … Continue reading →

Posted in birds | 3 Comments

February goulash

Posted on February 29, 2020 by Alistair

  This is a collection of images from this February, none of which has had a posting of its own. The Rough-legged Hawk is a winter resident that hunts for rodents.  Our smallest falcon, the kestrel, hunts in open habitats. … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, mammals | 4 Comments