Category Archives: birds

Merganser stuffing

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Alistair

  Sometimes an event’s distance and rapidity make for low-quality, yet interesting images. This merganser swallowing a fish certainly qualifies. It is fun to see a merganser eat a fish anytime, but this one seemed unconscionably large for the bird. … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, fish | 6 Comments

Third hummer

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Alistair

  Chalk it up to inattention. I know that we regularly get three hummingbird species during the warmer months: Calliope, Rufous, Black-chinned. Yet, I don’t think that I have ever noticed seeing all three in a single year. This year I … Continue reading →

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Finally dusky &

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Alistair

  Last Tuesday’s foray into high-country wilderness produced some delights (already posted was the Wesakachak), some of which might be seen in the valleys, but are often easier to find in the subalpine and alpine tundra. Primary among these was a … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, mammals | 1 Comment

Fledging flycatchers

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Alistair

  Less than a week ago, I posted pictures of a Pacific-slope Flycatcher hanging around its nest in a local carport. Ron Welwood, from whom the flycatchers appropriated the space, has sent me a picture of the chicks standing in the … Continue reading →

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Wesakachak

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Alistair

  I encountered the Whisky Jack fifty years ago when camping in the high country. At the time, I had no idea what this jaunty bird had to do with whisky (or whiskey, as Americans style their beverage). Nothing, as … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary | 5 Comments

Robin vs toad

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Alistair

  The froggy wooing, reported in early May, seems to have had consequences. The toadlets were plentiful but tiny. When seen from afar, they could have been beetles. A tiny patch of lakeshore was crawling with them, for having grown legs, … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, herptiles | 2 Comments

Flycatchers, and

Posted on July 12, 2015 by Alistair

  Many songbirds eat arthropods. Only a few of these are named for their eating habits, but the tyrant flycatchers are. Members of this family often hunt from a perch, fly out and capture an insect in the air and then … Continue reading →

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Useful resources

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Alistair

  As I attempt to use images from my camera to help me make sense of my surroundings, I have relied upon many books (ranging over topics such as birds, meteorological optics and dragonflies) and upon many websites (examples being Wikipedia and All about … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, commentary, fish, herptiles, mammals | 1 Comment

Convergent waters

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Alistair

  How is it possible to use the first picture to discuss surface-water convergence and not even mention the word, cute (oops)? Well, there is something interesting here that illustrates both water flow and flexible feeding. This Mallard hen and her nine chicks … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, weather | 3 Comments

June goulash

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Alistair

  June ends with a stew made from images that did not manage to get their own postings. While walking in Kokanee Creek Park early in the month, I saw a Common Yellowthroat, and an American Redstart. Our local Garter … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, herptiles | 1 Comment