When it is hot out, young folk like to wade in the Lake. However, this particular young bather was unexpected: a Merlin. That the bird is this year’s hatch is clear from the slight bit of white down remaining on its crown, evident in each picture.
A young Merlin walked off a beach and then went wading in the Lake.
Although it walked in, it flew out.
Like many a young bathing beauty, it then posed for a picture.
“The White Pelican is huge, endangered, and here.” That is how I began my only previous posting about this bird when I last saw some four years ago.
Huge: While not nearly as heavy as the Trumpeter Swan, the wing span of the White Pelican is a good deal greater and ranges up to three metres. In North America, only the California Condor exceeds this.
Endangered: The bird is provincially endangered for B.C. has only one breeding colony. It is at Stum Lake, a bit west of Williams Lake in an area threatened by wildfires this summer.
Here: The most likely place to see the White Pelican is at the south end of the Lake (Creston Flats) during the warm months.
A flock of White Pelicans was spotted about a kilometre away.
In small groups they would then fly across the valley.
One group landed on the lake about 400 metres away.
Kingbirds are flycatchers. We are near the northwestern end of the range of two species. The Eastern Kingbird is black and white. More colourful, the Western Kingbird is grey, and yellow.
An Eastern Kingbird is watching for insects from a perch.
A Western Kingbird was seen preparing to feed a longhorn beetle to its enthusiastic chick.
“Eat up.”
It seems that a PR representative of the Union of Carrion Workers (Vulture Division) must read my blog. A week ago, I commented that I had only ever seen Turkey Vultures flying, but never perched. Apparently, the Vulture Local was concerned by this lack of representation, and three days later, I was shown seven of them perched in trees. However, they were all distant and I posted nothing about it. So, the vultures upped the ante and yesterday I was given a close view of two. It pays to complain.
Two of seven Turkey vultures seen Tuesday when perched on distant snags.
This is one of two nearby Turkey Vultures seen on Friday.
The other vulture devoted its time to preening.
There are worse ways to spend a few hours than to wander amongst butterflies.
Painted Lady (topside of wings)
Painted Lady (underside of wing)
Common Wood-Nymph
Great Spangled Fritillary (in flight)
Purplish Copper (feeding)
Purplish Coppers in flight with the male (upper left) approaching the female.
Woodland Skipper
Hedgerow Hairstreak
Northern Crescent
Northern Checkerspot (portrait)
Life in the nest is good.
Or at least it is, if judged by the reluctance of the young of some bird species to leave it. And why would they ever want to leave? They are comfortable, fed, cleaned, and protected. Yet, there comes a time when offspring must leave and fend for themselves.
How do avian parents get their youngsters to move out? Answer: Stop feeding them.
Four years ago, I wrote about how Ospreys deal with the problem: It’s time you went. This time, the birds are kestrels.
Two weeks ago, this Kestrel nestling lived (apparently) contentedly in its cavity nest in a snag. Juveniles look almost identical to the adult female, but a male chick, such as this one, can be distinguished by the heavier streakiness on the breast.
A week ago, its parents decided it should get out and fly, and apparently stopped feeding it. Hungry and complaining bitterly over this outrageous treatment, the juvenile made it to a nearby branch. There it staged a hissy fit: whining, flapping its wings and even trying to eat the branch.
Repeatedly, each parent would fly past, but did not bring food. This is the father. The apparent message was: You must fly before you get further help from us.
Finally the juvenile Kestrel took to the air, if only to chase his mother. Mother is on the left. The juvenile (stronger breast banding) is on the right bitterly complaining about its dreadful treatment. The poor thing must now learn to live on its own. (Derek Kite photo)
Derek Kite’s photo is used with permission.
Various behaviours have been seen with most local birds: flying, perching or swimming. However, I have only ever seen vultures in the air — never roosting or feeding. This is odd.
This is one of five Turkey Vultures circling over farmers’ fields. What were they eyeing?
Ducks of that ilk
Sometimes a picture is taken merely so as to delight in a whimsical, but obscure, title. It may be that only a canny Scots botanist will get this one.