Exploring Kootenay Lake

A January jaunt through the open farmland south of the Main Lake usually reveals diverse raptors: eagles, buteos, falcons and owls. Adding to these flying predators, coyotes prowl the fields. Not so yesterday. The fields were covered with enough snow that the voles and mice were hidden. On this jaunt, the only raptors spotted were Bald Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks, two of each.

The plumage of Red-tailed Hawks is remarkably variable. Indeed, its eponymous and often spectacular tail is not always red, and even when coloured, the red might be unseen from below.

So, what does one use to reliably identify this hawk as it flies by overhead?

A good indicator of a Red-tailed Hawk is the broad splotchy belly-band. Even better are the dark patagial bands on the leading edge of the underwing. In ancient Rome, the patagium was a gold edging on a lady’s tunic. One modern usage of the word is an edging on a hawk’s wing. The dark patagium on the Red-tailed Hawk extends from the neck to the bend in the wing (the wrist).

A Red-tailed Hawk flies closely overhead and even though the underside of its tail isn’t red, the belly band and dark patagial marks betray its identity.

“It is my understanding that this is a good day to eat well and wear a red cap.”

Seeing seven swans yesterday was both a pleasure and a disappointment. It was a pleasure to be able to watch these magnificent Trumpeter Swans; Yet, it was a disappointment that once again, they were Trumpeters rather than Tundras. 

Two species of swans migrate through this region — indeed through all of the southern interior of the Province: Trumpeter Swans and Tundra Swans. If we go back three decades, most of the migrating swans were Tundras. At that time, one yearned to see a few Trumpeters. Now most of the migrants are Trumpeters, and now one yearns to see a few Tundras. 

What has brought about the transition? I do not know. But, it remains: I now fervently watch for Tundra Swans.

Three (of seven swans seen were) magnificent Trumpeter Swans swim across the water.

One left the group and then flew past me.

After it alighted, it realized it was being watched, and barked its displeasure.

It then drifted away across the water.

Irruptive species of birds are ones that don’t migrate to a particular region every winter. Rather, they do so some winters, but not others. This year is shaping up to be a good year for seeing irruptive species around the Lake. Here are three seen a few days ago.

Redpolls have already been mentioned this year, but there are many around.

Bohemian Waxwings are back in good numbers.

So far, I haven’t seen many Pine Grosbeaks, but a few females were enjoying rowan berries.

The dipper is an unusual songbird. It dives in cold, swift mountain streams for delectables that are usually found on the stream bed. What it eats depends somewhat on the season: often aquatic arthropods in the summer, fish eggs in the fall and winter, and maybe the odd fry when anchor ice might coat the stream bed.

This is the season where a dipper goes after fish eggs, and in Kokanee Creek, this usually means the eggs of the Kokanee salmon. After diving for eggs on the stream bed, a dipper surfaces and usually doesn’t swallow them until perched on a rock, the shore, or border ice.

Kokanee eggs come in two different colours: clear when unfertilized; somewhat golden when fertilized. 

A dipper surfaces with an unfertilized egg of a Kokanee salmon.

A dipper surfaces with two eggs of a Kokanee salmon, one of which may be fertilized.

Although there might be only a few dippers working the same creek, each is remarkably territorial and will aggressively chase rivals. This dipper is doing the chasing.