The Lake is mostly frozen over this morning but still some large chunks of open water where the current is faster and perhaps there are springs. Hundreds of geese and ducks in the water and along the shore mobbing every car, pedestrian or trike, looking for a handout.
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| Stopping to admire the ducks will get you mobbed by a few dozen or a few hundred waterfowl |
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| How does an eagle spell lunch? D-U-C-K! |
As I approached Walnut Beach Resort there was quite a commotion coming from the underbrush. It was California Quail (I think), several coveys of then. We see lots of them darting about in the orchards and lawns, rarely flying, just zip!zip! zip! They are also not very vocal as a rule, but today they were chattering away, noisier than the women's section at McDs. What was up? Then it happened dozens of them exploded from an evergreen tree right next to me as a smallish falcon/hawk darted in trying his best to catch lunch. He missed.... this time.
I tried my best to get some pictures but everything was a blur. And the quail were pretty much spooked deciding not to pose for any still shots. I finished my 5km loop and headed home as my feet were a little cold from not moving while in pursuit of photos.
This afternoon I went out again. Now -7C and had a beautiful ride around that 5km loop. this time pedaling faster to keep the circulation up... It works.
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| This immature Bald Eagle (I think) took off from the top of a cottonwood as I approached |
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| A few flaps of its wings and it was out of sight up the lake |
I have seen what I think are immature Bald Eagles in the big cottonwood trees and patrolling the shoreline looking for coots, ducks and perhaps a goose or two. They don't generally tackle adult geese, but I have seen them clean up weaklings and stragglers, back home in Rainy River. Sure enough as I came around a bend there was one up in a big cottonwood. I started shooting and pretty much got up to him before it launched out of the tree and headed up the lake.
Got several decent shots, but on blowing them up found I had lost definition as the focus was having trouble with the intervening branches. But still OK.
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| Two male California Quail of a covey of perhaps a dozen or better, busy feeding on berries in a driveway. Was perhaps 20 ft away |
I. carried on down the road and turned around just in time to spot a covey of quail on a driveway feeding on dropped berries.Slowly wheeled up and got a good 5 minutes of uninterrupted shooting as they scurried about and fed. Must have been over a dozen of them and no hawks to spook them.
Five minutes was all it took for my hands and feet to tell me it was just too cold. So I turned on the power and headed for home as fast as I could. Nice and warm by the time I got there. Another good day, well wasted.
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| Another well wasted day triking around Osoyoos, BC even if it was a tad nippy |
