Monthly Archives: April 2025

April goulash

  This is a smattering of April pictures that were not previously posted. This is a Say’s Phoebe. It winters far to the south, but migrates north to the Okanagan in the summer to breed. It generally avoids the Kootenays. … Continue reading

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Killdeer returns

  Around here, the Killdeer is a migrant. It is usually here in the spring and summer. Indeed, there have been a few observations of it here for nearly a month, but, to my knowledge, these are the first pictures … Continue reading

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Antler buds

  Deer grow their antlers anew each year. And although it is variable, the new antler buds usually appear in April. Yesterday, I saw a male white-tailed deer with antler buds. A deer’s antlers are the fastest growing animal tissue … Continue reading

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Turkey Vulture eating

  Turkey Vultures are migrants that come here to breed from mid-March to mid-September, having wintered well to our south.  For years, I only saw them soaring as they scanned the ground for carrion to eat. Certainly, they did find … Continue reading

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Yellow-bellied marmot

  Yellow-bellied marmots are back out of hibernation. I think that only the adults are visible at present. Soon there will be mating, and then, after about 30 days of gestation, we will see pups nursing. A marmot watches the … Continue reading

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2025 Ospreys

  It appears that April 12 was the day that Ospreys arrived at Kootenay Lake this year. Here are shots of a pair that turned up at Harrop. Osprey were apparently also seen around Nelson. One male Osprey sits on … Continue reading

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Violet-green Swallows mating

  I have had little success in photographing the Violet-green Swallow, a western bird that comes here from Mexico in the breeding season. But they are rather fast flyers. Last weekend when they first arrived I watched some courting, but … Continue reading

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Mountain Bluebirds

  This is the time that the Mountain Bluebirds come through this region. There have been a few observations so far and here are some pictures we got yesterday. A male Mountain Bluebird sits on a bush watching for insects … Continue reading

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Two are eating

  This morning, I encountered two creatures eating. A crow appears to be choking on some food. A red squirrel is halfway through eating the seeds of a cone.  

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