I have  been doing photography since I was a young teenager, watching and learning from my father who also had a passion for it. Many of my pictures of are birds and animals, and I am adding a few that you might enjoy.

BIRDS

There is never a shortage of ducks and water fowl in the Shuswap. We are fortunate enough to encounter Canada Geese, female and male mallards and their tiny babies (in early spring), cormorants,  Grebes (although I am still hoping to capture them doing their beautiful mating dance), common merganser, scoters, and so many more.

CANADA GEESE, OUR COUNTRY’S NATIONAL BIRD

MALLARD’S MATE FOR LIFE, AND THE COLOURFUL FATHER WILL PROTECT THEIR DUCKLINGS AS FIERCELY AS THE MOTHER 

    

 

 

 

WESTERN, RED-EYED AND BLACK HEADED GREBES, ARE ABUNDANT ON SHUSWAP LAKE IN EARLY MAY WHERE THEY COME TO ROOST, THEIR AMAZING DANCE BEING ONE OF THE MOST ELABORATE BREEDING RITUALS SEEN. 

TURKEY VULTURES, NOW SURVIVING STRONGLY, WERE INTRODUCED INTO BC’S INTERIOR TO PROVIDE COMPETITION WITH THE EAGLES AND RAPTORS FOR CARRION

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES OF WOODPECKERS IN BC, INCLUDING THE DOWNY,  WHO WILL COMPETE WITH THE NORTHERN FLICKERS AND STELLAR JAYS FOR A TASTY MEAL OF SUET. THE NUTHATCH, ALTHOUGH SMALL, WILL HOLD ITS OWN AT THE BIRD FEEDERS. 

 

NUTHATCH and NORTHERN FLICKER

 

 

 

 

Downy and Stellar Jays

SWANS, SWIMMING PEACEFULLY ON WHITE LAKE – I HAD THIS PHOTO PUBLISHED IN A NATURE PAMPHLET

YELLOW TANAGER, RESTING IN THE CEDAR LEAVES

BLUE HERONS ARE A FAMILIAR SIGHT ON MOST BC LAKES.  THERE IS A HUGE PROTECTED COLONY THRIVING IN VERNON, BC. THESE FASCINATING BIRDS ARE COMFORTABLE AROUND OTHER WATER FOWL, PROVIDING NO THREAT TO THEM. THEY ARE FORMIDABLE FISHERS 

THERE ARE MANY SPECIES OF RAPTORS IN BC, BALD EAGLES, GOLDEN EAGLES, OSPREYS, VARIOUS KINDS OF HAWKS TO NAME A FEW.  IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE ONE OF THESE MAJESTIC BIRDS SOARING HIGH ABOVE, LOOKING FOR THEIR NEXT MEAL 

OSPREY

BALD EAGLE, RESTING IN A TREE NEXT TO OUR HOUSE

RED TAILED HAWKS

AND WE CANNOT FORGET THE COMMON BLACK CROW, SMART, A COMEDIAN AND A TRICKSTER.  I ALWAYS ENJOY WATCHING THEIR ANTICS 

ANOTHER HILARIOUS BIRD IS THE INTELLIGENT PIGEON.  PAIRED PIGEONS STAY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.  THESE BIRDS ARE GENERALLY FOUND IN CITIES OR TOWNS, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YEAR ROUND FEEDERS

AND WE MUST NOT FORGET OUR BEAUTIFUL SONG BIRDS, WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE THEM THRIVE IN OUR AREA.  THEY FREQUENT THE BIRD FEEDERS IN THE WINTER, AND ALWAYS PROVIDE TONS OF ENJOYMENT. 

THIS FELLA I HAVEN’T FIGURED OUT WHAT HE IS – IF  YOU KNOW PLEASE SEND ME A BLOG  

BLACK HEADED JUNCO, USUALLY SEEN  AT WINTER FEEDERS 

AND OF COURSE, THE TINY HUMMINGBIRD.  IN THE SPRING THE MALES WILL COMPETE FOR THE FEMALES ATTENTION. HUMMINGBIRDS ARE VERY TERRITORIAL. 

AND THE STARLINGS ARE OFTEN FOUND CLOSE TO WATER.

AND WHEN YOU’RE NEAR A WHARF, OR ON THE BANKS OF A LAKE OR RIVER, THE GULLS ARE ALWAYS PRESENT, STEALING FOOD FROM UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE.