Category Archives: birds

Osprey migration preparation

  Around mid-September adult ospreys migrate. They have nested, raised chicks, and sent them off on their own. Now is the time to head south for the winter. However, that requires building up fat reserves by feasting on fish. (Juvenile … Continue reading

Posted in birds, fish | 7 Comments

Spread wings

  The explanation for why a bird spreads its wings when flying is obvious: the spread wings aerodynamically support its weight. However, when a bird is standing or floating on water, its wings are normally, but not always, folded. There … Continue reading

Posted in birds | 5 Comments

No theme

  When I post something to this blog, I like to have a theme — a story to tell. Alas, in the nascent days of September, I could find none. There were many images, but no theme. So, this is … Continue reading

Posted in birds, bugs | 1 Comment

August goulash

  This is a collection of images from August, none of which has had a posting of its own. An osprey flies by with a fish. Earlier I showed a Solitary Sandpiper. Here is another migrant: a Semipalmated Sandpiper. In … Continue reading

Posted in birds, herptiles | 3 Comments

Flaws in supporting pictures

  This blog bases its postings on recently taken pictures from local nature. Now and then an identification is mistaken and this results in a flawed text. Nevertheless, the picture is correct.  News sites have the opposite problem. A textual … Continue reading

Posted in birds, commentary, mammals | 2 Comments

Heron plunge

  Yesterday, with the Kokanee moving up local creeks to spawn, I posted a picture of a heron hunting by the creek. Today, it plunged after a Kokanee.  A Great Blue Heron strikes at a Kokanee. Alas, it failed to … Continue reading

Posted in birds, fish | 2 Comments

Spawning watch

  Kokanee are filling local creeks in preparation for spawning, after which their carcasses will become available to many other creatures. Those creatures are already standing by in anticipation. A Kokanee salmon enters the creek to spawn. Standing by to … Continue reading

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A serving of fish

  Mommy Osprey brings a serving of fish to her rather large chicks still in the nest.  

Posted in birds, fish | 2 Comments

Solitary Sandpiper

  This is only the third time I have seen a Solitary Sandpiper in the last decade, and it has always been seen in August. The Solitary Sandpiper does not appear to breed around Kootenay Lake, but does breed farther … Continue reading

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A fish flew by

  A headless fish flew by. It was being packed by an osprey. For an earlier discussion of this strange phenomenon, see headless fish flying.  

Posted in birds, fish | 1 Comment