A MORNING WALK AND AN AFTERNOON DRIVE.

The robins might be staying for the winter.

Northern Flicker.

Magpie.

Red-tailed Hawk.

Looking up from the valley floor to the ridge on the west.

After the harvest.  I don't know why there were so many apples left in that one spot.

I saw several orchards being ripped out to put in vineyards instead.

Vineyards.

And more vineyards.

The old Haynes Ranch.

The old Haynes Ranch.

A SNOWY MORNING JUST ABOVE VASEUX LAKE.

While we didn't have any snow at home, you didn't have to gain much elevation to get into a bit of snow.  It was foggy in places too.  We were heading up to Penticton to get a few things so I took a detour up McIntyre Creek Road above Vaseux to see what was about.  Lucked out with sheep and an eagle.

These first three were the day before. Three boys here, Western Bluebirds on the left and a House Finch on the right.

When we came upon these rams they were busy licking up dirt.  There must be some type of mineral that they like.

Pretty boy.

He or she looks extra grumpy in the snow.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 24, 2025 MORNING AND AFTERNOON WALKS.

In the morning Aileen and I walked along Allendale Road, our usual route then after lunch I drove down to Road 22 closer to Osoyoos and walked along the river trail.

As we started up Allendale Road I spotted this buck off in the brush.  Since he was angling to cross the road I hopped out with my camera and got lucky.

As we were walking along two small planes flew over in tight formation.  While I was trying to find the planes in my viewfinder, Aileen drew my attention to these Trumpeter Swans flying overhead so I gave up on the planes.  There was a larger flock close to this one but since I had my longest lens on, I couldn't get the large flock all in my viewfinder.  

We saw several Northern Flickers on our walk.

Backlit grasses on my afternoon walk.

Backlit grasses on my afternoon walk.

Backlit Cattail.

Northern Harrier.

Northern Harrier.  I waited ten or fifteen minutes hoping he'd fly and finally some dog walkers came along and he lifted off.

Northern Harrier.

Mallards.

A COUPLE OF WALKS ALONG ALLENDALE ROAD AND SOME NIGHT PHOTOS.

The night before last I thought there might be a chance of some northern lights so instead of going to bed, I grabbed my photo gear and drove up the road to this end of Vaseux Lake to check it out.  It turned out to be a bust for the lights so I thought since I was all dressed up and out there I might as well see what else I could do.  That late at night I had to wait quite a while for some cars to come along to give me some light trails.

The crows were having fun. 

 

 

 As we were walking along, I spotted this guy walking along above us.

Traffic on Highway 97. 

The lights of Okanagan Falls in the distance. 

Saw these rams on our walk this morning. 

 Saw these rams on our walk this morning. 

 Saw these rams on our walk this morning. 

IT WAS A DREARY MORNING FOR A WALK BUT THE BIRDS DIDN'T MIND.

A Northern Flicker coming in to land.

Western Bluebirds with a House Finch in the middle.

Western Bluebirds resting and grooming.

Western Bluebirds resting and grooming.

Western Bluebirds resting and grooming.

There are lots of grapes on the vines still.  I'm guessing they had such a large crop that they just took the easy to pick ones.  No matter, the birds are loving the bountiful harvest.

It was a dreary day for our morning walk.

First time I've gotten photos of a Rock Wren.

Rock Wren.

Rock Wren.

Rock Wren.

Rock Wren.

Rock Wrens are difficult to photograph for several reasons.  They are well camouflaged in their predominant habitat, they flit about endlessly and they're so small it's hard to get close enough for the camera to do them justice. 

Did I say it was a dreary day?  We had a good walk anyway.