Category Archives: birds

  Experienced birders might suspect that today’s posting is a hoax — it is not. The picture of the crossbill flicker at the bottom is real.  Crossbills are finches whose bills are adapted to prying seeds from cones. Flickers, however, … Continue reading →

  On their annual migration south, Trumpeter Swans are visiting the Lake in threes and fours. These trumpeters are in the waters beside Kokanee Creek Park. To my surprise, these swans took flight. The trumpeter is a big bird and … Continue reading →

  The rowan trees are many and heavily laden, but where are the irruptives? At this time of year, I watch for irruptives. These are birds that don’t visit us each year, but occasionally do so as a result of … Continue reading →

  Who can plumb the cormorant’s mind? Two perched cormorants croak at a third as it flies past. Were they warning it to stay away? Were they welcoming it? Who knows? Two Double-crested Cormorants react to a third’s flyby with … Continue reading →

  Sometimes a picture is posted merely because I like the action displayed. A male Belted Kingfisher plunges. It passed out of view before hitting the water.  

  Joanne was right. Earlier this the month, I posted the image shown to the right. I wondered about the dipper’s spread-wing stance. Large birds do this to dry their wings, warm their wings, or cook their parasites. None of … Continue reading →

  The Bufflehead Duck is a small waterbird of winter. It has been around the Lake for nearly a month now, and is likely to stay through April of next year. The striking black and white plumage of the male … Continue reading →

  Black birds were feeding on the residue of the Kokanee spawning run of a few months ago. Truth in advertising: that is black birds, not blackbirds. A raven scavenged the remains of a long-dead Kokanee — not terribly appetizing … Continue reading →