Category Archives: birds

  This is the first day out into a scary world.  So it was that three goslings attempted to follow mummy on a walk. “Yikes, this is scary stuff.” “Maybe another day…. For now, I’m out of here.”

  It is an embarrassment of riches: having to choose whether May postings begin with grizzlies or hummingbirds. Grizzlies won. Even though hummingbirds had appeared on the last day of April, I did not manage acceptable pictures of them until May 2nd. Now we … Continue reading →

  I have never seen a Dusky Grouse. Doug Thorburn has and he sent me these pictures of a male displaying on the mountain slopes above Nelson last Sunday. It is a sight that rivals the display of the Wild … Continue reading →

  These are the more interesting birds that were seen on two walks in Kokanee Creek Park.  As the Marsh Wren nests in wetlands, it is an infrequent visitor to this well drained region. It prefers to stay hidden. Twice, I inadvertently flushed … Continue reading →

  “The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl,” is the plausible claim of Cornell’s All About Birds website. The trouble with this bonny bird is that it normally hangs out in marshes and is … Continue reading →

  In the spring, I watch some tall trees overlooking a local campground because they often play host to Merlins. However, this small falcon finds the spot interesting only when the field below is filled with delicious little birds, and today, predation was on hold. The only … Continue reading →

  Red-tailed Hawks have been plentiful this spring. This has increased the demand for voles, which in turn, has driven up the cost of living. Could this be the reason some local birds have resorted to pole dancing?

  Most of our Common Loons spend the winter at the coast and the rest of the year on inland lakes. I generally see my first loon of the year in April, and early this morning, one obliged. This morning’s … Continue reading →

  From a distance, I thought the bush was covered with butterflies. But, they turned out to be Ruby-crowned Kinglets, tiny birds even smaller than chickadees. These frenetic birds were difficult to photograph as they hardly ever stopped moving. Only … Continue reading →