WE TOOK A DRIVE UP INTO THE HILLS AROUND MT BALDY.

 Our neighbour Marian had this idea that she'd like to find the Old Camp McKinney cemetery which sounded like a fun project.  We had consulted another neighbour a few months ago just before he passed away and he gave us some hints on where to look.  While there is a bit of information online, no co-ordinates were found.  I did find a YouTube video that gave me more clues so off we went Tuesday morning.  I thought I found where I was to park so then I went off through the bush until I stumbled onto the actual trail.  I followed it back to where it started which wasn't far from the car and it was a short walk uphill to the actual cemetery.  There wasn't much to see but there is a good fence around it.  After lunch we took a different route home.

We came upon a band of wild? horses along the way.  They are probably owned by some of the local Indian band members but they roam over a huge part of the area.

Pond reflections along the way.

Pond reflections along the way.

Common Brown Cup mushroom or fungi.

Okay, any idea what kind of critter this is?  Answer with my next post.

It was still dandelion time up over 5,000 feet elevation.

Violets.

Calypso bulbosa or Fairy Slipper.

Short-winged Blister Beetle.

Jacob's Ladder.

Jacob's Ladder.

Old Camp McKinney Cemetery.

Sculptured Puffball.

Stream Violets.

Marsh Marigold.

Another pond along our route.

WE HAVE QUITE THE VARIETY OF BIRDS AROUND HERE THIS YEAR.

I've seen some new to me birds this spring, or at least I think they are new to me.  The Lazuli Bunting I'm pretty sure I haven't noticed before and there are more types of swallows than I realized.

Brown-eyed Susans.

I was only eighteen feet away from this female quail.

Swallowtail Butterfly on Oregon Grape.

Some type of Warbler, I believe.

Black-headed Grosbeak.

Bald Eagle pair.

I think it is quite unusual to get a photo of Peregrine Falcons.  They are usually seen flying along the cliffs at a great distance.  I was excited to see this one perched in a snag across the river from me.

This is a Northern Rough-winged Swallow.  I think this is the first one I have photographed.  We were out driving around after supper when we had it land on the wires above where we were parked looking for meadowlarks.  Bonus!

And I finally did get a Meadowlark!

And a Magpie.

At first I dismissed this as a bluebird but something seemed different so I took a long shot of it and it turned out to be a Lazuli Bunting.  We're close to the top of their range.

Lazuli Bunting serenading us.

A very full Tree Swallow.

A very full Tree Swallow.

See Ya later vineyard way across the valley from us.

Marmot on guard duty.  He whistled at us.

This baby marmot had been in the wet grass.

This Marmot was standing at the entrance to his abode.

Poppies in a driveway south of Oliver.

Poppy.

AILEEN AND I TOOK THE GENERAL FOR A RIDE UP IN THE HILLS A FEW DAYS AGO.

Vineyards at the north end of Oliver.

Vineyards at the north end of Oliver.

The view of the previous two from where I was standing.  That's Mount Baldy in the center with a bit of snow visible.

From the same spot looking south with Osoyoos Lake visible.

Western painted Turtles at Madden Lake.

Male Ring-necked Duck, Madden Lake.

Male and female Ring-necked Ducks, Madden Lake.

Canada Goose family on Madden Lake.

Coot on Madden Lake.

While we were having our lunch at Madden Lake there were several of these tiny Boisduval's Blue moths at our feet.

Beardtongue.

Mountain Lady Slipper.

Mountain Lady Slipper.

Canada Violet.

Striped Coral Root.

Chocolate Lily.

Mallards on Ripley Lake.

Mallards on Ripley Lake.

Mallards on Ripley Lake.