American Kestrels

It's August, so I know I'm guaranteed to see American Kestrels somewhere in Shoreacres, and usually in our yard. Today, during a short hail storm, one was sitting at the top of a fir tree. As the hail and rain pelleted down on him, instead of retreating to a drier spot, he stayed put, but also extended his wings out to the side as if sheltering from the rain and hail. Odd behaviour I thought as he was still get wet!

Solitary Sandpiper

I went for a walk along the river this evening in search of migrating sandpipers. I did see a small peep a few days ago but was without binoculars and didn't positively identify it. Today it was easier the shorebird I saw was easier to identify as it was the larger Solitary Sandpiper (122) which I see in the ponds each August. 

Also about are lots of tiny greens frogs (as big as my thumbnail) everywhere. This is an annual event. They are Pacific Tree Frogs.

Lurking in the reeds I noticed a rather large crocodile as well! I'll have to keep a close eye on the grandkids next time they come to visit...

Same time every year

I'm beginning to notice a pattern. This is the third summer in a row I've seen a group of Black Swifts (121) here at the same time period. It was great to sit outside on the deck and eat dinner and watch them dipping and diving. I estimate about 40 this year which is more than past years. Just a few hours earlier I wondered if I would see Black Swifts today.....

Gulls & Sapsuckers

Went out for a paddle around Gold Island yesterday morning in the warm sunshine (today it's pouring rain!). The Eaglets were no longer in their nests & four adult Ospreys were flying around the Island. An juvenile Red-naped Sapsucker (119) was in the little bay near the Ward's Ferry Trail. I suspected they nested in the area but was never able to confirm that. A pile of rocks was home to about 30 Common Mergansers. They swam away and I noticed a grayish bird remain. Upon closer look I saw it was a gull and since it wasn't a Ring-billed I thought I better take a look and get a photo. As mentioned before, gulls don't often come to Shoreacres. They are usually flying over and don't land. This one turned out to me a juvenile Herring Gull (120). 

Pacific Tree Frogs

We are fortunate to have a couple of wetland ponds between our house and the river. The provide habitat to Pacific Tree Frogs which we hear in the spring. The other evening we spotted one on the wall of our house. Not too unusual a place until you realize that he is positioned near the black light which is used to attract moths. Was he being opportunistic? We didn't notice him catching any moths while we observed him. He was gone by the morning. I have noticed Black-capped Chickadees come searching for dead moths that get trapped in spider webs. The black light is actually an ultra violet light or 'party' light that makes your white clothes very bright at night.

 

New Bank Swallow Colony

Some Bank Swallows decided to start a new colony in what I considered a strange location. It was a bank but the holes are easily accessible by man and creature alike. When the first few holes were made the water level was higher, but as you can see in the photos, all the holes are easy to access now. At first there were six holes, then 14 and now about 20. Only two holes have nesting material and some holes are not very deep. Recently I haven't seen any activity at the nest holes and wonder if they have been abandoned. Occasionally boats get launched from there and they might have been disturbed by this. It will be interesting to see if they try again next year. 

Lesser Yellowlegs

We went out for a paddle this morning with the intention of heading south on the Kootenay River towards the junction of the Slocan River. But a wind blew up and the paddling was difficult so we headed north instead. I went on to the small bay in Slocan Pool and was very surprised to see a Lesser Yellowlegs (118). This is the first one I've seen in the Shoreacres area. I just looked at Gary Davidson's checklist and they are rare here in the summer but occasional in spring and fall when migrating through. You can see the smaller & very common Spotted Sandpiper beside it to get a sense of it's size. The paddling home was hard work against a strong head wind, when normally you just float down with the current!