LITTLE ROAD TRIP TODAY TO THE ASHNOLA RIVER NEAR KEREMEOS, BC.

 We took the Fairview Road over the hills to Cawston then through Keremeos to the turnoff to the Ashnola River.  There was a devastating wildfire that swept through the area in 2023 and the destruction was pretty complete.  The grasses and small plants have started coming back but the trees will be a long while.  Other than lots of snow we didn't see anything photo worthy on the Fairview Road today.  Later we did see a few deer in two spots and nice bighorn sheep on our way down the Ashnola Road.  We came home via Highway 3A.

The hills above Cawston.

Grass on the hillsides above the Ashnola River.

I spent a while trying to capture the ice and flowing water in the Ashnola River.

The Ashnola River and fire aftermath.

It was pleasant enough to eat outside today.

I WENT FOR A SHORT DRIVE UP MCINTYRE CREEK ROAD ABOVE VASEUX LAKE THIS AFTERNOON.

It was a dull dreary type day so I took my camera for a ride to see what I could see.  I lucked out and saw three different groups of bighorn sheep within about a half kilometre.  The rams were totally separated from the rest of the sheep today, just hanging out with the boys.

We've been seeing a compact group of ducks when we go zipping by Vaseux Lake in the car so today I stopped and grabbed a few photos and identified them.

I had just left the house on my walk Sunday afternoon when I spotted this murmuration of starlings across the river.

Six rams.

As I was driving down the road I spotted this Red-tailed Hawk playing in the wind way down below me.  Even though I knew it was too far away for a decent photo, I had to try.

Part of the large flock of ducks in Vaseux along the highway.

They are Common Mergansers and they're almost all male.  The males have the white body and black head.

A SHORT DRIVE AROUND VASEUX LAKE AND OKANAGAN FALLS.

 We went for a drive the other morning after a dusting of snow and some fog.  There were no sheep in the vicinity of Vaseux Lake the we could find but we did see two coyotes at a distance.  One was down low and was way ahead of us and running.  We spotted the other one as we were turning around at the end of the road.

We carried on to OK Falls and spotted the kestrel on the line.  I backed up and parked off the road and the kestrel patiently waited for me even when I changed lenses.  It was still there when I drove away.  After circling around via McLean Creek Road as we were heading back to OK Falls, I spotted a sheep way up the hill so we took a side road and found a whole bunch of sheep right on the side of the road and up the hillside.

I have a busy week coming up.  Monday I am hanging 36 of my framed prints at the Oliver Seniors Centre for the month then I have camera club in Osoyoos in the evening.  Aileen gets together with some crafty ladies in the clubhouse Tuesday afternoons.  Wednesday I usually attend the music jam at the Seniors Centre and then on Friday there is the monthly music jam in our clubhouse.  Thursday we are going to Penticton.  This will probably be the busiest week of the winter for me.

Looking down McIntyre Creek Road to the north end of Vaseux Lake.

The south end of Vaseux Lake and McIntyre Bluff.

Ice and a piece of ribbon on a fence.

Vineyards above Vaseux Lake.

Vineyards above Vaseux Lake.

Allendale Road which is above the vineyards.

Vineyards above Vaseux Lake.

Vineyards above Vaseux Lake.

Vineyards above Vaseux Lake.

Vineyards above Vaseux Lake.

American Kestrel which is a small falcon, about 9 inches tall.  They hunt by perching or hovering then diving to catch their prey which could be voles, mice, birds or insects.

A majestic Bighorn Sheep ram.

The hillside above Skaha Lake near OK Falls.

I met the four point Mule Deer buck again on my walk yesterday.

I HAD A BIT OF LUCK ON MY STROLL TODAY.

 

Our un-winter is still with us.  We've gone for many day not deviating more than a degree or two from the freezing mark.  We had a few snowflakes today but barely sticking.  As I was walking this afternoon, it struck me that we are basically halfway through the worst four months of winter for this area.

This Northern Shrike wasn't on my walk today but was taken out the car window a couple of days ago.

Across the highway from the river trail.

There were two mature eagles in adjacent trees.  This was the closer one.

There were two eagles and this is the second one.