OKANAGAN RIVER SCULPTURES & DREAMSCAPES

 

ANOTHER COLD SNAP AT THE RIVER THIS MORNING

 

BIGHORNS SNOW DINER

 Taken the other day, I was parked across the highway from the sheep.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE BUCKS GONE DURING HUNTING SEASON?

They're hiding out in plain sight in the vineyards in town.  Our section of the Okanagan River is filling up with Barrow's Goldeneye ducks.  I've been counting over a hundred in the group lately.

Barrow's Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye

One night a beaver tried to take a tree over the dam but it got stuck.  He got it over the next night.

Muledeer

Hoar frost

Just a bit of hoar frost

Eagle flying in the snowstorm

Eagle flying in the snowstorm

Bighorns near Vaseux Lake

Nice tongue

Bighorns near Vaseux Lake

Bighorn near Vaseux Lake

Bighorns near Vaseux Lake

Bighorns near Vaseux Lake

Mule Deer in the vineyard

Mule Deer in the vineyard

Yummy!

Mule Deer in the vineyard

Mule Deer in the vineyard

A WALK YESTERDAY MORNING THEN I TRIED TO TAKE THE RZR FOR A TOUR

 There was a bit of hoar frost on the bluff when I started my walk yesterday morning.  Still in the park, I heard a commotion in a couple of trees that wasn't caused by the multitude of quail I was seeing.  After finding a vantage point, I found that a pair of Flickers were playing among the branches which made for very difficult shooting as they kept getting behind obstacles.  I persevered and eventually got a few shots where the detail was acceptable.

After lunch I took the RZR and clawed my way up to Burnell Lake.  I had thought that the lower elevation might have less snow and I would be able to take a group ride out on Saturday.  Not to be!  The only reason I made it up to the lake was that a high clearance vehicle with great tires had made it although he had spun out several places and had to take multiple runs to get up.  I was able to keep one wheel in his track so I was only breaking trail with one.   As soon as I tried to drive in virgin snow, I was stuck.  There was 12 - 14 inches of snow at the lake and it was the type of snow that wouldn't compact and was like sugar so gave little traction.  As soon as I high centered, the granules of snow spun out from under the tires and there was no traction.  I guess this shows that my ATVing is over until a major thaw or spring. 

Oh look, a plane.

Northern Flicker

Northern Flickers

Northern Flickers

Northern Flickers

Northern Flicker

Northern Flickers

My attempt at the virgin snow

Hi there!

Burnell Lake 

Burnell Lake