It may be a sign of maturity that at a certain point in your life, on Christmas Eve, instead of casting your eyes heavenward for a glimpse of Santa, you're scanning the horizon for a glimpse of a Short-eared Owl. John Tschopp shared that he's been waiting for some Short-eared Owls since the end of … Continue reading Sighting: Short-eared Owl and Northern Shrike
With the face of an owl and the body of a hawk, the Northern Harrier (or marsh hawk) is a raptor - a bird of prey - are often welcomed by farmers - they eat the mice that damage crops and pose no threat to poultry as some hawks do. This juvenile was a welcome … Continue reading I spy a northern harrier catching a little sun
Yesterday proved to be a good day for our birding correspondent, John Tschopp, with sightings of a portrait-ready snow bunting, a peregrine falcon in a roadside cottonwood, trumpeter swans, northern harriers and even a kestrel. Tschopp had already spied a small flock of snow buntings, the previous week. Rare visitors to Pemberton Valley, snow buntings … Continue reading Birds of November: raptors, snow buntings, and a great horned owl
It appears, reports our birding correspondent John Tschopp, that 2018 is an exceptional year for reproduction. At least for the birds. (We'll obviously have to wait a few more months to find out if the prime conditions alter the human population, too.) The berry bushes are loaded. The cherry trees are full of fruit and … Continue reading Baby boom, bird-style
My favourite correspondent, John Tschopp, has broken away from his usual orthithological themed observations to share this one, for our collective phenology journal. Phenology, derived from the Greek word phaino, meaning "to show or appear," is literally "the science of appearance." It is a segment of ecology focused on the study of periodic plant and animal lifecycle … Continue reading Seasonal observations: It’s spring and love is in the air
Wednesday March 28 was "a lucky day" for John Tschopp and his camera. "The field is crowded with waterfowl on their way north. The trumpeter swans come and go all day long. Northern Pintails are one of my favourite ducks. If I were on the board of an airline, I would just the Pintail design … Continue reading Bird bonanza in the back forty
Guest post by John Tschopp Last week I had to drive to North Vancouver. The weather was drab, cloudy, with intermittent rain. Since time was in my favor, I pulled onto the parking lot at Porteau Beach. Usually one passes that spot at 90 km/h. What a surprise ! Everywhere I looked, there was wildlife, … Continue reading John Tschopp explains the pleasure of a roadside stop at Porteau Cove
Last week, Hugh Naylor called in a sighting of pinegrosbeaks to fellow bird-watcher, John Tschopp, prompting John to head out for a photo session. Here is the result of that fruitful collaboration. They can be seen from the Naylor Trail, which runs from Urdal Rd below the railroad track to Lillooet river. 1 - 3pm … Continue reading Sighted: Pinegrosbeaks snacking on maple seeds down by Naylor Trail
John Tschopp shared the recent news of a Great Horned Owl doing battle in a local chicken coop. It won. Meal was successfully attained. Franzy Schnyder provided these pictures of the intruder. Save the date for the Pemberton Christmas Bird Count 2017. December 15. Based on the event's longstanding track record, there is zero likelihood … Continue reading Birds can be deadly. The Christmas Bird Count won’t. Save the date. December 15.
Early in August, the fence in the back of John Tschopp's field looked different. He got out the binoculars and zeroes in on some Turkey Vultures. Many Turkey Vultures, in fact. Usually, explains Tschopp, the presence of so many turkey vultures indicates a carcass, but not in this case. No dead animal to be found and … Continue reading Just a couple of turkey vultures sitting on the fence
The Wellness Almanac 