Bug Buffet

I watched a flock of robins and other birds having a feast under some infested elm trees this week and was pleasantly surprised at how fast and efficient they were at picking up the bugs and how many they could stuff into their beaks. Some of them looked downright comical 😊. A few adult birds … Continue reading Bug Buffet

Happy Spring!

I have been taking in the sights of all the blooms in the valley - what a display! The cherry blossoms were unbelievable this year, as if the trees were making up for last year's lack of blooms caused by the unexpected cold snap. It is wonderful to see the cherry orchards doing so well … Continue reading Happy Spring!

Breakfast at the Chicories

The common chicory is a weed that is not native to British Columbia and can be a problem in disturbed areas in Interior British Columbia. I have seen them on roadsides, pastures, and abandoned fields. Chicories have beautiful blue flowers. I was lucky to come across a lot of American gold finches having breakfast at … Continue reading Breakfast at the Chicories

Bugs in the Milkweeds

It is always nice to see the swallowtail butterflies feeding and frolicking around milkweeds at bloom. I decided to take a closer look at the milkweeds this year because I had come across a patch with a lot of bees and other bugs. Milkweeds are called milkweeds because of the milky sap they produce. They … Continue reading Bugs in the Milkweeds

The Leafrollers and the Wasp Enemies

I saw a lot of leafrollers on ornamental plants including wild roses, snow berries, chokecherries, Saskatoons, dogwood, Oregon grapes etc. this spring. As their name implies, leafrollers are caterpillars that roll up leaves. The leaves provide a home, food, and some protection from predators and parasitoids. The caterpillars are greenish to yellowish, have dark heads … Continue reading The Leafrollers and the Wasp Enemies

A Winter’s Delight (Rose Gall Wasps)

I collected wild rose galls last spring and successfully reared some wasps from them. I had forgotten all about the galls and wasps until I came across a banditry of chickadees pecking at galls on a cold winter's day. "Banditry of chickadees" 🙂 - love it, had to look that up. I collected a few … Continue reading A Winter’s Delight (Rose Gall Wasps)

The Tailed Beauties (Swallowtail Butterflies)

I have seen so many swallowtail butterflies this year on my hikes in forest areas, along creeks, meadows, in town and in gardens. They seem to be abundant everywhere and it is so nice to see them. The yellow, and black markings on swallowtail butterflies are very striking. Yellow and black colours in the bug … Continue reading The Tailed Beauties (Swallowtail Butterflies)

Mommas, Papas, and Little Ones

The birds have been very busy; building nests, nesting and taking care of their babies. Bugs serve as a good food source for birds. I had a lot of fun watching Brewer’s black birds hunting for bugs for their babies at Munson pond park in Kelowna. These birds do not swim, and they kept walking … Continue reading Mommas, Papas, and Little Ones

Enjoying the Sunshine

It has been a very sunny week and a lot of people are out enjoying the sun. We are, however, not the only ones enjoying the pleasant weather. Our feathered friends and other small creatures are also having their fill. I went for a walk along Munson Pond Park and was surprised at the diversity … Continue reading Enjoying the Sunshine

Feathered Friends II

It has been a while since my last post. Hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. I went for a walk along Mission Creek Greenway with a girlfriend last weekend. It was a beautiful sunny day, not a lot of "greens" and bug activity but we saw some sagebrush buttercups, a few bumble bees, … Continue reading Feathered Friends II