Category Archives: birds

  The first thing to realize is that this picture does not show what it appears to show. It is easy to imagine that this is a picture of a bird squatting to poop in a field. That is not … Continue reading →

  I saw five Bald Eagles around the West Arm a couple of days ago.  It was interesting that, when I visited the Creston Flats three weeks ago, I saw no eagles, only hawks. The difference is probably related to … Continue reading →

  The Red-tailed Hawk is widespread in North America — which doesn’t mean that it is an everyday sighting anywhere. Indeed, along the West Arm lakeshore of Kootenay Lake, I don’t often see it except in March and April. These … Continue reading →

  Typically, swans stop at the Lake to feed only for a few days during their migrations north or south. However, there are two Trumpeters that have occupied the lakelet west of Kokanee Creek Park for about a month. I saw … Continue reading →

  “I cannot think that I have ever done anything to deserve this.” “Quite complaining, thrush. Do you think that mallards were designed to be icebreakers?”

  It is not everyday that one sees one, let alone three, owls. Seen were the smallest of our owls, the Northern Pygmy Owl, and the largest, two Great Horned Owls. (In fairness, the Snowy Owl is even bigger, but it … Continue reading →

  Yesterday, my backyard thermometer rose to +5° C for the first time in over a month. And with the warmth, Ruffed Grouse reappeared — two of them seen over 3 km apart. The first grouse sat motionless in the … Continue reading →

  Fresh from having seen Trumpeter Swans in Kokanee Creek Park, I have now seen an accipiter there.  Accipiters are a genus of hawks; They are not a species. Accipiters are distinguished by short, broad wings which have been adapted … Continue reading →