Category Archives: birds

Prairie Falcon

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Alistair

  We have falcons around Kootenay Lake, but only two species are normally encountered: Merlin, Kestrel. Merlins have appeared in this blog, but my nicest shots of them are on the main website. Two postings about Kestrels have been: Kestrel … Continue reading →

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Kestrel versus vole

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Alistair

  Last July, I took a picture of a heron about to consume a vole. Yesterday, it was of a Kestrel. Voles are rather low on the food chain.

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Pygmy Owl

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Alistair

  A month and a half ago, I posted my first pictures of the season of a Northern Pygmy Owl, and expressed the hope to see this winter visitor to the valleys again before the season was over. Indeed I … Continue reading →

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Wild Turkeys

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Alistair

  I would rather have Wild Turkeys roaming my yard than Canada Geese. Alas, the geese are the far more likely visitors. Yet, turkeys are here, having begun their colonization of the area from the south nearly a half century … Continue reading →

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Contested carcass

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Alistair

  Doug Thorburn and his trail camera have done it again: produced a remarkable sequence of images. Last time, they were of a bull elk preparing for a date. This time, they are of a carcass being contested by a … Continue reading →

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Some passerines

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Alistair

  Some of the most interesting birds to be seen at this time of year are waterfowl. However, the only satisfying bird pictures I have taken of late are of passerines—birds with feet adapted for perching, such as songbirds. The Song … Continue reading →

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Birds and berries

Posted on December 25, 2013 by Alistair

  This is a season of visitors, so it was grand that Bohemian Waxwings arrived from afar to enjoy our local fare. Most of the elderberries have been eaten, but there is still a good supply of rowan berries, aka, … Continue reading →

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Tracks in snow

Posted on December 22, 2013 by Alistair

  There is nothing like an overnight dusting of snow to hint at the number of animals happy to contest the deed to your property. It is also striking to see how often the tracks of one species share space … Continue reading →

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Flying under water

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Alistair

  I have long sought a clear view of a dipper hunting under water. Alas, repeated attempts proved unsuccessful. There was no reason to think that today would be any different.  Certainly, the temperature had risen; the anchor ice was gone; … Continue reading →

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Swan again

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Alistair

  Yesterday I posted a single picture without comment: Shades of white. I had just photographed a swan by the water’s edge and was so entranced by the beauty of its spread wings that I quickly picked one shot and … Continue reading →

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