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Category Archives: birds
Peculiar duck names
Sometimes the name given a duck seems rather odd. This is the Ring-necked Duck, female left, male right. If one were to pick a name based upon a striking appearance, the white ring around the male’s bill would seem … Continue reading
Posted in birds
3 Comments
April goulash
This is a month’s end collection of images, none of which has had a posting of its own. A Bald Eagle brings sticks to enlarge its nest. A Columbian Ground Squirrel does sentry duty beside its burrow. My hare … Continue reading
Posted in birds, herptiles, mammals
7 Comments
Black & white
Forestation and colour: Last year’s posting illustrated both local habitat and dorsal colouring: magpie preferences. Magpies prefer open country with a sprinkling of trees. This makes them distinctly uncommon in the heavily forested lands around the Lake. While on a … Continue reading
Posted in birds
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Two portraits
While the naturalist in me likes to explore interesting behaviours — Ogopogo, planing, katabatic winds — the photographer in me just likes to take portraits — eagle, otter family, black grizzly. Here are two portraits from two days ago. Surely … Continue reading
Posted in birds, mammals
7 Comments
Plane harassment
No, the title does not contain a spelling mistake. I really do mean plane, not plain. This was an observation that would warm the cockles of the heart of any bird behaviourist: two male Common Mergansers were competing in their … Continue reading
Friends in residence
I generally try to sample delights throughout the neighbourhood of Kootenay Lake — a rather substantial area. However, the neighbourhood sampled for today’s posting is rather constrained: things seen in or from my yard over the last few days. Of course, … Continue reading
Posted in birds, mammals
3 Comments
Eagle hovering
Little birds can hover, but not soar; big birds can soar, but not hover. By hovering, I mean (what is called) true hovering: staying aloft by flapping rather than by moving horizontally through the air and doing so for … Continue reading
Posted in birds
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Osprey arrives
Ospreys are back. I saw my first Osprey of the year fly by last Monday (April 10th), but failed to get a picture. Others have seen them along the lakeshore throughout the week. Yesterday was the first time I … Continue reading
Merlin’s breakfast
Lying in the sand is a male Mallard — at least it used to be. Standing over it, the Merlin looks at me and says: “If you try to take my breakfast, I will eat you, too.”
Posted in birds
4 Comments
Apostrophe’s last bastion
Amongst geographical names, the possessive is discouraged in favour of the plural. Around Kootenay Lake, Johnson’s Landing is officially Johnsons Landing and Queen’s Bay has become Queens Bay — despite no compelling evidence for multiple eponymous Johnsons or Queens. In ornithology, the possessive still rules when … Continue reading →