Category Archives: birds

Headless fish flying

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Alistair

  Thirteen months ago, I posted a blog entitled, headless fish flying, which explored the reasons one can see such fish flying across our skies.  Today, I post pictures of the same thing taken over this last week, although this time … Continue reading →

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Sandpiper migration

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Alistair

  As the fall looms, many birds migrate. I have shown other sandpipers that were passing through: Greater Yellowlegs, a Solitary and a Least Sandpiper. Here are three more. The Long-billed Dowitcher breeds along the Arctic coast, but winters along the … Continue reading →

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Hawks plus

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Alistair

  The interesting things one can watch, often changes with altitude.  Pipits prefer the high country where they travel in flocks scrounging the ground for insects. Certainly the Red-tailed Hawk can be seen everywhere, but I have only seen one all summer … Continue reading →

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Osprey feeds

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Alistair

  It is now the second week of September. Osprey chicks have (substantially) fledged and are hunting on their own. Consequently, the adults have to feed only themselves and, after catching a fish, often stop on a snag to eat. … Continue reading →

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Window thunk

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Alistair

  The predawn thunk of a window collision reminds one that birds rise early. The collision was a consequence of birds flying to an adjacent rowan tree (European mountain ash). Most of the birds flying to the rowan berries were robins. However, … Continue reading →

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Raven chases eagle

Posted on September 3, 2016 by Alistair

  I know it happens, but I just don’t understand why a Bald Eagle would flee from a Common Raven.  Once, when I watched a Red-tailed Hawk flee from the harassment of a raven, an experienced birder explained that ravens … Continue reading →

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Seasonal change

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Alistair

  The season is changing. Of course, children are going back to school, but other species are shifting over to the winter residents. Steller’s Jays are back, as are cedar bugs (aka, stink bugs). A sign of the shift for … Continue reading →

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Win some …

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Alistair

  The spawning season for kokanee brings out both predators and cameras. This combination increases the chances of capturing interesting scenes. Yesterday’s walk recorded winners and losers among the predators and some rather satisfying images. A Common Merganser chasing a fish produces an impressive burst of speed — … Continue reading →

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Kingfisher’s fish

Posted on August 28, 2016 by Alistair

  I am used to seeing kingfishers hunt from pilings. This one is a juvenile. It seeks minnows and fry such as these shown a week ago Having spotted something, the bird dives. Carrying a minnow, it picks a piling … Continue reading →

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Mysterious bird

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Alistair

  A blur flew past me over the calm waters at the mouth of Kokanee Creek. At first, it could have been almost any smallish bird: sandpiper, kingfisher, kingbird, any of a half-dozen local swallows. For five minutes it banked … Continue reading →

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