Category Archives: birds

Caption contest

  The principals in this drama are an Osprey, a Ring-billed Gull and a Largescale Sucker (presumably in a non-speaking role). Cleverness First, Slydog’s winning caption (below) depends upon an implied sarcastic remark by Gull. Second, it uses a known but … Continue reading

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Seen gronking

  I have heard them; I have seen them; but, this was the first time I watched as a heron called. The Great Blue Heron is usually quiet, but when it speaks it does so with a loud low-pitched GRONK—a … Continue reading

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Bald Eagle, HY

  With the recent emphasis I have given to Ospreys (It’s time you went, Growing up Osprey, Bountiful nuisance, Osprey family), it is easy to forget the even larger raptor in our midst: the Bald Eagle. Indeed, the Bald Eagle is … Continue reading

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It’s time you went

  Imagine the problem faced by osprey parents when it comes time to boot the chicks from the nest. Winter is coming; chicks must learn to fend for themselves; soon they must migrate thousands of kilometres on their own. Time … Continue reading

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Kingfisher

  I find it is difficult to photograph a kingfisher. Is the difficulty because a kingfisher doesn’t like to be approached by land mammals, even from a distance? Possibly, but I think that most of the problem comes from the … Continue reading

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Yellow bullies yellow

  A Western Tanager was sitting atop a tree, a perch that allows it to glean insects. Elsewhere on the tree was a Cedar Waxwing, a slightly heavier bird. The tanager looked down and saw the waxwing coming after it. … Continue reading

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Growing up osprey

  A month after a previous visit, I stopped by an osprey nest on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. On July 19, I took this picture of an Osprey mother and her two chicks. On August, 20, I took a picture … Continue reading

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Bountiful nuisance

  Wasps—particularly Western Yellowjackets—have been bountiful this summer. People who normally favour an outdoor meal have been driven indoors by the nuisance of them. Yet, imagine the problem faced by an outdoor fish eater. Below is an Osprey chick that … Continue reading

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No colour bar here

  Male House Finches typically show a deep-red head and breast. So common is this that many websites only illustrate the male with a plumage of a strong red colour. Yet, it seems that it is merely diet (possibly genetics) … Continue reading

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Alpine wildflowers

  Tuesday’s walk through alpine meadows (altitude between 2100 and 2260 metres) produced a feast of wildflowers and hundreds of images. Already shown was the Pink Mountain Heather; here are a few more. The Harebell was easy to identify as it … Continue reading

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