Category Archives: nature

Commentary, nature, Photography

Variations Month

40 Comments

Happy March! It’s definitely the month for weather variability if not unpredictability. Cold wind one minute, warm sun the next. Depending on where you live, there might even be snow, sun, sleet, and thunderstorms all during the same day! It can at times be absolutely *spinny.

Although our weather has been somewhat unpredictable over the last couple of months – something that seems to be true in many locations – I hope it begins to settle into a nice slow spring.

Slow would be very, very good as we can probably then avoid a similar forest fire season as last year’s, something that is desperately needed given that much of the province is still classified as suffering from severe drought.

Happy weekend.

* spinny – Canadian word meaning foolish, silly or unreasonable

nature, Photography

Lucky Duckies

27 Comments

While out walking we stopped to give our resident duck flock their quinoa quota.

After we were done, a man who had been waiting in his truck for us to finish stepped out and the ducks launched themselves at him in a big swarm! He was carrying about 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of bird seed which he distributed to a very happy flock. We thought they mobbed us, but we have nothing on their reaction to him!

Gathered in a tight knot, we didn’t see much except their backs once the seed was spread.

About three or four pigeons were able to squeeze their way toward some food, but they were mostly excluded.

We chatted with him and he related that he regularly comes by to provide them with seed, especially if it’s cold out or their nearby creek is frozen over.

These are definitely some lucky ducks!

Happy Friday.

Commentary, nature, Photography

Of Lions, Lambs and Leap Years

31 Comments

An uncommon intersection is occurring today: a leap year, a lion-like in-coming March and, I hope, an out-going lamb-like March.

The last time we had a February 29 was in 2020, and I hope there isn’t a repeat of what was shortly to follow, of what had actually already started. I was still in the Northwest Territories then, and I took this picture of children having immense fun playing on a giant pile of snow that had been pushed up by road-clearing vehicles. None of us knew it then, but they were coming up to having their fun seriously curtailed. March was arriving like a lamb, but Covid’s hobnailed boots were about to teach us a thing or two. Fortunately however, we are past that.

Herewith are some lion-like March starts:

NWT: cleaning up after a huge early March storm in 2022.
NWT: an icicle, my heavy-duty truck plug-in cord and another early March clean-up, 2021.
Penticton: a leaden, windy, chilly lion-like late February sky, 2024.

Some lamb-like March departures – I like the lambs more, don’t you?

Jasper National Park: April 2, 2023.
NWT: an April 1 blue sky, 2022.
NWT: under a bright blue April 2 sky in 2021.

And last but not least:

Vancouver Island: hiking in a rainforest, March 27, 2019.

More often than not, March has done its lion- like best but has meekly disappeared by the time April arrives. Although we need a coolish, slower spring in order to facilitate our continued drought recovery – and to mitigate forest fires, too – there’s no reason why some sun and blue skies can’t be a part of that.

Penticton: May azaleas, 2023.

Happy Leap Year. It’s much better than the last one.

nature, Photography

Turning Weather

20 Comments

Well, it’s February and officially still winter, so I guess Mr. Cold feels like it has a job to complete.

After several days of inaccurate predictions, Environment Canada finally got it right. Our temperature dipped, snowy rain started to fall and it felt quite cold after our streak of warmish, springy days.

I was surprised to spot these icicles hanging from a willow tree next to the lake; it seems the wind had whipped the water up and it had frozen there, creating these solid striations. Although the wind had died off by the time I went walking, it was definitely cold. My ears and nose tingling from the frost, I enjoyed getting inside again.

Happy Wednesday.

nature, Photography

Bird Colour

69 Comments

Western bluebirds are such a fabulous shade of blue. Like robins, they are members of the thrush family and love to eat insects and berries.

Most of them migrate from points further south to the Okanagan Valley to nest but some overwinter, as well. I was very surprised to see the one above so early, but it may be that he stays all year. In any case, I was happy to get a picture of this colourful and very cute bird.

Happy Tuesday.

nature, Photography

Spring You Say?

28 Comments

Yes, cautious agreement. There are some subtle signs of spring beginning to happen. The angle of the sun, bird behaviour, wind direction and temperature are all conspiring to create a springy sort of feeling here.

We might actually be leaving winter behind!

We have reached steady double digits – 10°C or more (50F) – and the sun really feels warm.

Doesn’t this look like early spring?

The rhododendrons are greening up by the day and really nudging the sense that we’re getting closer to spring and further from winter.

Of course, there will be lots more rain. We’re supposed to get some tomorrow, and given where we’ve lately been with the drought monster, some coolish rain isn’t a bad thing.

Happy Saturday.

nature, Photography

Spring Birds

25 Comments

Over the last few days I’ve noticed that the ducks and geese are beginning to prepare for new little ones.

Canada geese.

The geese mate for life but something about their recent behaviour tells me that they’re becoming expectant; perhaps they’re waiting for the double-digit warm weather so that they can build nests and raise their young.

Hooded merganser ducks.
Coots.

At this point, the coots just seem to be eating; of course, many of them will soon be migrating to their nesting grounds.

And then we have the mallard duck crew. They’re pairing up too. Here’s a short video showing how quickly they come running and flying toward us for a quinoa snack.

Snack time!

Happy Thursday.