DURING AND AFTER THE RAIN.

 It rained nearly all day Friday with a high of 15C whereas the day before had been 30C!   We had some morning rain yesterday but the high was only 13C.  We had a visit from Aileen's cousin Lorene and her husband Tony from Victoria Friday morning.  It was great to have them visit.  We sat inside where it was dry and caught up on news and happenings.

Antelope Brush in the rain.

Antelope Brush in the rain.

Sumac in the rain.

Sumac in the rain.

Red-osier Dogwood in the rain.

This was the only view I could get of the male Wood Duck on our walk last night.

I was able to crop the male Wood Duck quite well.  This is the same photo.

Pileated Woodpecker last night on our walk.

Male Western Tanager on our walk last night.

Lupine.

Balsamroot.

Lupine.

Oregon Grape.

Vaseux Creek across the street from our house was roaring well yesterday.  With the rain ending last night, the creek is dropping today.

Vaseux Creek across the street from our house was roaring well yesterday.  With the rain ending last night, the creek is dropping today.

ROAD TRIP UP TO SALMON ARM GAVE US A CHANGE OF SCENERY.

 We drove up to Salmon Arm on Thursday and spent some time down on the waterfront and walked around McGuire Lake as well.  

 Canada Goose.

Bald Eagle on the breakwater.

Bald Eagle on the breakwater.

Bald Eagle on the breakwater.

Western Painted Turtles from the wharf.

Western Painted Turtle from the wharf.

Western Painted Turtles from the wharf.

Western Painted Turtle from the wharf.

Western Painted Turtle from the wharf.  The lake is very low so the whole wharf area is very muddy.  The turtles spent a lot of time in the mud.

Western Painted Turtle from the wharf.

Log sharing, mallards, heron and turtles.

Western Painted Turtle on the lakeshore.

Western Painted Turtle in the clear pond by the hotel.

Western Painted Turtle in the clear pond by the hotel.

Only Western Grebe we saw.

YESTERDAY'S MORNING WALK AND "WILD" HORSES AT KALEDEN.

 Yesterday we had sunny and 30C.  Today it has been raining nearly all day and a high of 15C.  Our creek is rising rapidly and is a yucky colour.  We also had a nice visit this morning from Aileen's cousin Lorene and Tony from Victoria who were in the area to celebrate a friend's birthday.

Hawthorn flowers, note the thorn!

Larkspur with spiderweb.

Wild Phlox.

Balsamroot.

Shrubby Penstemon on the cliffs across the river.

Horses on reserve land at Kaleden.  This horses are generally classified as wild.  Other than being fenced from the highway they don't seem to be managed in any way.  They become a danger to humans when they manage to get on the highway either by finding a hole in the fence or has happened recently, someone cutting the fence.  The resulting collision with vehicles is not pretty!  

Horses on reserve land at Kaleden. 

Horse on reserve land at Kaleden. 

Horses on reserve land at Kaleden. 

IT'S TURTLE TIME

 The first seven photos are from a ride I led on Sunday while the last four are from this morning when I took Aileen up to Burnell Lake in the car and we walked the last bit to sneak up on the turtles.  For some reason the turtles were really nervous this morning and would disappear into the water as soon as they spotted us. We think it might be because it was so windy.   I had to use as much brush as possible to keep them from seeing me but still find a hole to shoot through.

Taken with my small camera on the Sunday ride.  They weren't spooked by the ATVs.

Taken with my small camera on the Sunday ride.  They weren't spooked by the ATVs.

Crossing the road, taken with my iPhone.

Crossing the road, taken with my iPhone.

A bank of Trumpet Lungwort taken from the driver's seat with my iPhone.

Lunch overlooking Willowbrook.

Sandhill Cranes flew over us at lunch time.

Last rest stop overlooking Osoyoos Lake in the distance.

Western Painted Turtles at Burnell Lake.

Western Painted Turtles at Burnell Lake.

Western Painted Turtles at Burnell Lake.

Western Painted Turtles at Burnell Lake.

BIRDS AND FLOWERS.

 The first photo was taken Saturday but I missed putting it in the rest.  The second image was taken on my walk yesterday morning and the rest on our walk after supper last night.

A partially albino American Robin in the Apricot orchard at Cawston.

Rufous Hummingbird that was bouncing in the breeze.  It was hard to get it in the frame with all the motion.

Goose family with day old goslings on an island in the river along the park trail.

Goose family with day old goslings on an island in the river along the park trail.

Holboell's Rockcress.

Larkspur.

Oregon Grapes in front of Ponderosa Pine.

Osprey between me and the river, looks like he just finished supper.

Osprey flew across the river after he finished eating.

Osprey flew across the river after he finished eating.