Category Archives: birds

Muskrat vs mallard

  A muskrat is primarily a vegetarian, but occasionally it will eat other small mammals: snails, mussels, crustaceans, and small birds. But, would it tackle a large bird? The literature is unclear. There is a pond where a few of … Continue reading

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Incidental images

  Outdoors, I often am looking for something specific, maybe a wild orchid, maybe a grizzly bear. While this approach is often successful, this fall, it has not been. I head out but don’t see many things previous years would … Continue reading

Posted in birds, fish, scenes, wildflowers | 5 Comments

September goulash

  This is a month’s end collection of images, none of which has had a posting of its own. Loons have been gathering on Kootenay Lake again, most having spent the breeding season on smaller lakes high in the mountains. … Continue reading

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Perching imbalance

  I have long heard the question: Why don’t birds in a flock collide? It is an odd question in that it does not ask if they collide, but why they don’t collide. The short answer is: They do collide, … Continue reading

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Cgull

  Those of us who frequent lakes are well aware of the unsuitability of the name, seagull. The bird is a gull (wherever found). So, how does one reflect on a passing Cgull?

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Happenstance birds

  Recently I wrote an essay about the difficulty of observing flying birds. It explored the reason why small birds are much harder to photograph in flight than big birds. Leaving aside the technical difficulties that the essay explored, there … Continue reading

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Osprey trifles

  If one had to compile a list of the significant verities of local Ospreys, I suppose that two items would stand out: • Although Ospreys breed and raise chicks locally, they migrate and spend their winters in Central and … Continue reading

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Kokanee scavenger

  Yesterday, I casually presented a list of some predators of spawning kokanee. In addition to bears, I listed: eagles, ospreys, ravens, and gulls. Bert Port then added mallards, and while I suggested they snack on the eggs, these could … Continue reading

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Osprey & fish

  The recent posting about fish and bears might have left the impression that it was only bears that take advantage of spawning kokanee salmon. Not so: eagles, ospreys, ravens and gulls do likewise. Mind you, this Osprey flying past … Continue reading

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Brown Creeper

  The Brown Creeper has to be one of the most cryptic of our local residents. I have yet to spot one on my own. On the rare occasions when I have seen it, someone else found it for me. … Continue reading

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