Category Archives: birds

  Although the Red-winged Blackbird is abundant through much of North America, it is not all that common around Kootenay Lake. The fields and marshes this bird prefers are in short supply around the heavily forested lakeshore—except, at the south end … Continue reading →

  Waterfowl adopt one of two different foraging techniques: diving or dabbling.  Divers, such as loons, grebes, mergansers, might be seen anywhere on the Lake, but are often found far from shore. Dabblers, such as mallards, geese, and swans, generally forage … Continue reading →

  This morning, a Great Blue Heron flew by.

  I was sitting by my doorway when some yard birds asked if I would help them with their passport photos. These are notoriously head-on shots without a smile.  Black-capped Chickadee: “I don’t like it; you made me look like … Continue reading →

  I saw my first swans of the year this morning: two Trumpeters. Mind you, I discovered later that I had not been the first to spot them, but that did not diminish the delight in seeing them once again. Both … Continue reading →

  Wood Ducks go unreported around Kootenay Lake in the winter months of December, January, and February. Occasionally one has been seen in the larger region in February, but that is rare. So, I hadn’t expected to see a female … Continue reading →

  Note: the text originally called the predator a Cooper’s Hawk, but it was pointed out that it looks more like a Northern Goshawk, so the text was amended. Dan Reibin watched the drama unfold in the rain: An juvenile Northern … Continue reading →

  January ends with three shots of birds, none of which deserved a posting of its own, but which form a nice group. What I thought was a flicker couple checking out possible springtime nesting cavities, turned out to be … Continue reading →

  Nothing else on the Lake looks similar to a fleet of Common Mergansers in hunting formation. The birds spread apart as they race across the water; their heads are down as they scour the shallows for fish. The sight is reminiscent … Continue reading →

  I can go months without spotting an owl. Yesterday, I saw two different species. The Pygmy Owl was intently watching some smaller birds: chickadees, siskins, goldfinches. It looked poised to have one for breakfast, but flew away rather than … Continue reading →