Monthly Archives: September 2017

September goulash

  This is a month’s end collection of images, none of which has had a posting of its own. Loons have been gathering on Kootenay Lake again, most having spent the breeding season on smaller lakes high in the mountains. … Continue reading

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Perching imbalance

  I have long heard the question: Why don’t birds in a flock collide? It is an odd question in that it does not ask if they collide, but why they don’t collide. The short answer is: They do collide, … Continue reading

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Bears feed

  After weeks of regular visits to a local creek, I managed some clear views of a family of Black Bears feeding on the bountiful Kokanee. The cubs are now old enough to catch fish on their own. The sow … Continue reading

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Squirrel prepares

  It is difficult to overlook the ubiquitous red squirrel. It is always around as it tosses cones from the trees, eats them, and then berates anyone who enters its domain. Yet, in all of my (usually inadvertent) squirrel watching, … Continue reading

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Cgull

  Those of us who frequent lakes are well aware of the unsuitability of the name, seagull. The bird is a gull (wherever found). So, how does one reflect on a passing Cgull?

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Happenstance birds

  Recently I wrote an essay about the difficulty of observing flying birds. It explored the reason why small birds are much harder to photograph in flight than big birds. Leaving aside the technical difficulties that the essay explored, there … Continue reading

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Osprey trifles

  If one had to compile a list of the significant verities of local Ospreys, I suppose that two items would stand out: • Although Ospreys breed and raise chicks locally, they migrate and spend their winters in Central and … Continue reading

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Kokanee scavenger

  Yesterday, I casually presented a list of some predators of spawning kokanee. In addition to bears, I listed: eagles, ospreys, ravens, and gulls. Bert Port then added mallards, and while I suggested they snack on the eggs, these could … Continue reading

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Osprey & fish

  The recent posting about fish and bears might have left the impression that it was only bears that take advantage of spawning kokanee salmon. Not so: eagles, ospreys, ravens and gulls do likewise. Mind you, this Osprey flying past … Continue reading

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Fish & bears

  Creeks fill with spawning kokanee salmon; bears come to feast; people come to watch. Mind you, it is not easy to coordinate a visit with the bears: They follow their own clocks. This has been a rather good year … Continue reading

Posted in fish, mammals | 3 Comments