OSPREY EXTRAVAGANZA

On my walk yesterday morning, I was fortunate to capture several different species of birds but the highlight was getting some shots of an osprey in flight.

Mallard hen

Yellow Warbler

Western Wood-Peewee

Mountain Chickadee.  He's scruffy as he's molting which is something most birds do at least once a year to grow new feathers.

Whatcha looking at?

Grasshopper stare down

Tent Caterpillars

Tent Caterpillars

Tent Caterpillars

Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Kingbird departing, doesn't he look like a flower?

Osprey

Osprey getting ready to fly

Osprey in flight

Osprey in flight

Osprey in flight

Osprey in flight

Osprey in flight

Osprey in flight

Osprey in flight

Osprey in flight

Osprey in flight

PSYCHEDELIC SPIDERWEBS

 Taken on my walk along the river yesterday.

I got this prismatic effect by shooting right into the sun through the web

I got this prismatic effect by shooting right into the sun through the web

I got this prismatic effect by shooting right into the sun through the web

Steller's Jay straight up the tree above me

Okay, I will pose nicer

Oregon Grape berries

Oregon Grape berries

MY PERSONAL AVIARY AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

 Taken on my morning walk a couple days ago.

Eastern Kingbird

Yellow Warbler

A young robin

Our friendly two point mule deer

We see him frequently on our walks

I think the osprey are on their second hatch unless it's a second pair that nested here

A BIT MORE FROM OUR VISIT TO SALMON ARM AND HOME AGAIN

 

Salmon Arm Bay from the end of the wharf

Looking back toward shore

Halfway out the wharf

Mushroom family

Praying Mantis at our neighbour's

Spotted Lake near Osoyoos is a saline endorheic alkali lake.  It is rich in a variety of minerals including calcium, sodium sulphates and magnesium.  During the summer months, much of the water in the lake evaporates leaving concentrations of these minerals that form spots visible in the lake.

Neat cloud on our walk the other evening

Oregon Grape berries

Thunderstorm to the north of us.  We had a few large raindrops but it seemed to rain a lot more up that way.  Lightning was constantly flashing behind the clouds.

TIME TO REPORT IN AGAIN

I guess I'm suffering from the summertime blahs but I have been lazy about photo editing and the blog.  We have been busy nonetheless.  We took the motorhome to Salmon Arm August 4 and parked at Jacquie and Jim's.   We managed to visit a few friends while there and took care of some business.  Bev flew in for a week and we picked her up at the airport in Kelowna so we got a visit that way.  She joined us Tuesday morning on our walk for another visit.  We went to Jack and Diana's with Jacquie and Jim to pick raspberries and enjoyed catching up with J&D after several years.  For those not in the know, Jacquie and Diana are my Mom's much younger sisters.

We had to cut our trip short and get home for the air conditioner repairman who was coming Wednesday morning.   It turned out to be a leak in the furnace room that depleted the refrigerant causing the A/C to fail.  He recharged the system but because he didn't have all the parts, he'll return next Tuesday to complete the repair.  Below are a few photos taken in Salmon Arm.

Moving along at a snail's pace

Old viewing platform by Christmas Island

An otter with a fine coat

We saw a pelican

Scruffy sparrow

No photos please

AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING NEAR US

This is the Keremeos Creek fire that started Friday.  I took this photo at Okanagan Falls Friday evening.

Some ivy hanging down in front of a pine tree on my walk up the river this morning.

Also spotted on my morning walk were these Milkweed pods.

Something I hadn't seen before.  This Red-tailed Hawk captured a duck of some sort for his lunch.

Vaseux Lake this morning

Vaseux Lake this morning, that little notch at the far end is where we live.

Day three of the Keremeos Creek fire.  That's our house on the left.  I think the fire is close to 25 kms away.