Sweat Bees

Finally discovered what was making ant hill type holes in my thyme plants. Sweat bees! Their heads are metallic green and their bodies are bee-like; yellow with dark stripes. They are good native pollinators so if the honey bees (which is non-native) populations crash, we know we have native bees around to do the job. Also, native are mason bees which are back and look like flies.

Northern Harrier

I must have been in a hypnotic trance the first time this bird flew by because she had to come by a second time to show me that she wasn't a Cooper's Hawk but a Northern Harrier (123).  She flew by low to the ground, slowly, showing off her white rump patch. It just didn't register the first time. I just looked and thought, 'oh there's that Cooper's again!' The Harrier is still around somewhere because I can hear the crows are agitated and cawing back and forth. I'm pretty sure my subconscious mind knew it was a Northern Harrier and that's why it sent the bird around a second time for my conscious mind to register it. This is only the second time I've had a Northern Harrier here in 3 years. Gail: I'm pretty sure it's the same bird you photographed. I guess it will pass Michael's Hawk watch tomorrow!

Common Nighthawks

My neighbours Al & Val called to tell me they had a bird roosting on the roof of their house. I went over for a look and we decided it was a juvenile Common nighthawk. What a rare treat to see this bird at rest and to observe it's plumage in detail. Normally, we only see it at dusk while it twists and turns catching insects. 

Saw a small flock (6) of Horned Grebes in front of our house and heard reports of larger flocks on Kootenay lake near Nelson. The Ospreys are still around. I went kayaking last week and saw four Great Blue Herons. 

Larry found a huge Western toad in our small pond beside our deck a few weeks ago. Turns out is probably a female which can lay 16,000 eggs. I have noticed, as well as tiny green pacific tree frogs, we have lots of little broad toadlets.

Butterflies

Here are some photos of butterflies seen in the Shoreacres area in the past month.

Great Spangled Fritillary (male) on Butterfly bush. 

Great Spangled Fritillary (female on left, male on right)

Lorquin's Admiral on Pearly Everlasting

Pine White - this was a rare occurrence for me. Usually this butterfly is flying high and fast. This one co-operated by staying still on this flower while I sat in my kayak and took a photo.

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.....