Alan Burger's Site

The portion of Wells Gray Provincial Park that contains Clearwater and Azure lakes. (BC Parks map)

Unpacking at the Clearwater Lake boat launch

The bluff at Divers’ Bluff. No-one was diving when we paddled past.

Bar View campsite has a lovely sandy beach. The tenting sites are just behind the beach.

Our first camp at Bar View. Having a nice tent spot and a picnic table were appreciated luxuries. All the campsites also provide pit-toilets and bear-proof food lockers.

Our camp was just a few steps from the beach.

Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum), one of the many butterflies that were active during our trip.

A colourful cluster of Bunchberries (Cornus canadensis) right next to our tent.

Black Hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii) at Bar View. Many plants have berries at this time of year.

Our route from Bar View to Archer Creek on 8th August. (This map in the Avenza Maps app has the location of the Huckleberry Campsite incorrect – it is about 1 km further south than shown here, about where we crossed the lake).

We encountered many Common Loons on the lake. On the left the loon is searching underwater before deciding to dive in pursuit of fish.

Common Mergansers were usually in small flocks of 5-15, often females with large ducklings.

Our camp at Archer Creek. When we arrived there was no-one there, so we had the choice of 4 campsites and chose the one with the most privacy and a good lake view.

From Archer Creek there is a lovely view across the lake at the Huntley Mountains with the tallest, Garnet Peak, in the background with patches of snow remaining. Azure Lake lies between the forested ridge in front and the big mountains behind.

The forest around Archer Creek Campsite had loads of berry-bearing bushes – here Andrea is picking Oval-leafed Blueberries. We also found lots of Black Huckleberries, Saskatoon berries and Thimbleberries. We picked enough berries for the next three breakfasts.

Mosses in the forest around Archer Creek Campsite.

Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora). This is a saprophytic plant; it lacks green chloroplasts for photosynthesis and relies on food and nutrients that it gets from organic matter in the soil. These flowering stems are about 20 cm high.

A pair of Common Loons.

A lone female Common Merganser on the lake shore.

Our route on August 9th – exploring the north end of the lake, the river up to the Portage and back.

A lovely morning for kayaking, with the Huntley mountains as backdrop.

An Osprey in its nest. There were two fledglings from this nest calling from the nearby trees but we couldn’t see them.

This Great Blue Heron allowed us to get close enough for a decent photo.

We had three separate sightings of a Mink along the northwest shore of Clearwater Lake. Only this fellow stuck around long enough to get photographed.

A closer look at our Mink. On a muddy shore a few km away we found some tracks that are probably from another Mink.

At the Portage to Azure Lake, about 1 km up the Coldwater River from Coldwater Lake.

Lush forest along the Portage trail. There were many delicious Black Huckleberries (Vaccinium membranaceum).

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) is prolific among the mosses on the forest floor.

A few of the diverse array of mushrooms in the forest along the Portage trail. Possibly (L to R): Rufous Milkcap (Lactarius rufus); Golden Cap (Cystoderma aureum); Upright Coral Fungus (Ramaria stricta)

Azure Lake at the north end of the Portage. One of the campsites is just across the lake at the beaches.

A canoe party preparing to carry their canoes and camping gear from the river to Azure Lake.

The gravelly beaches along the river support many wildflowers, including Self-Heal (Prunella vulgaris) and Lindley’s Aster (Symphyotrichum ciliolatum).

There were dozens of these Common Water Striders (Aquarius remigis) in the sheltered side-channels off the main river.

And also frogs, including Columbia Spotted Frogs (Rana luteiventris).

Alan and Andrea at the Portage beach with the Coldwater River behind.

Descending the Coldwater River back to Coldwater Lake.

A Great Blue Heron on a scenic log.

A Common Loon with two large chicks.

Two common species along the lake shores: Belted Kingfisher and Spotted Sandpiper.

Mama Common Merganser (extreme right) and her eight almost full-grown offspring.

Our route on August 10th – across the lake and south back to Bar View campsite. Another lovely calm morning on the lake.

We chose a different campsite at Bar View from our previous stay here. We had the whole site to ourselves and had a leisurely afternoon enjoying the beach and sunshine, and with no-one around, some refreshing skinny-dipping.

Shrubs at our campsite: Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) and Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum edule).

This White-spotted Sawyer beetle (Monochamus scutellatus) blundered into our camp and got stranded in one of our bowls.

A big mama Western Toad in the forest near our camp.

A gorgeous sunset on the night of August 10th, viewed from Bar View campsite.

Our route on August 11th – down the eastern shore to the boat launch. There were many cliffs and steep forested slopes along this shore.

Alan investigating an interesting cliff made of honeycombed basalt.

Another colourful cliff and dense steep forest along the shoreline.

Yet another morning of calm water. Clearwater Lake is appropriately named.

Helene and Andrea in the spruce forest at the start of the hike – Trophy Mountain Trail, 24 June 2025.

Yellow Glacier-lilies (Erythronium grandiflorum) are the dominant flower on the meadows.

Trophy Mountain Meadows – in the lower elevations the Glacier-lilies were mostly done blooming.

The further up we hiked the more spectacular the Glacier-lilies were on the meadow.

Dense Glacier-lilies (Erythonium grandiflorum)

Mop-top Anemone (Anemone occidentalis), also known as Western Pasqueflower – another very common plant flowering on the meadows. The tiny white flowers are Western Springbeauty (Claytonia lanceolata), also abundant here.

One of the many small ponds in the meadows. The mountain has had a lot of rain and everything was lush and muddy.

A pause on the hike.

Andrea descending on the final stretch to the Sheila Lake campsite after 5 km uphill hiking. Spring is not very advanced here at 2,060 m elevation, with lots of snow banks remaining.

The Sheila Lake campsite has very nice tent platforms.

Sheila Lake with the campsite. On both our nights there we had very few other campers at the site. There are 20 tent platforms at this site.

Our two tents at the Sheila Lake campsite. The cook-shelter on the right was a very welcome feature when the rain poured down.

The Trophy Mountain Ridge is a rugged landscape with sparse vegetation.

My first sighting of a Hoary Marmot on the slopes of the Trophy Mountain Ridge.

Another Hoary Marmot on the ridge slope.

High alpine flowers – Moss Campion (Silene acaulis) on the left and Few-seeded Draba (Draba oligosperma) right.

Yellow Mountain Heather (Phyllodoce glanduliflora) just starting to bloom on the high ridge.

After a steep slog – the top of the Trophy Mountain Ridge, with snow cornices on the north side.

Spot the ptarmigan! White-tailed Ptarmigan are masters of camouflage.

The female White-tailed Ptarmigan sitting tight on her nest.

Looking back down the spine of the ridge towards the west. This is where the ptarmigan was nesting. I climbed up the slope on the left.

Looking northwest into Wells Gray Park from the ridge.

Another elusive high-elevation species – Grey-crowned Rosy-finches. They regularly forage on the snow banks, picking up dead insects and seeds on the snow.

The summit cairn on the ridge at 2490 m elevation, with Trophy Mountain beyond.

This is supposedly the route to Trophy Mountain peak – a very steep climb down and then a rather dubious route along the narrow ridge and up the steep side of the peak. Definitely not for old geezers with dodgy knees – I enjoyed the view while I ate my lunch in a nook out of the wind.

Impressive snow cornices at the ridge summit.

Looking north into the heart of Wells Gray Provincial Park.

Frost polygons along the summit ridge. Over centuries of freezing and thawing the rocks get shattered and then sorted with the bigger chunks pushed aside to create these polygons.

Heading back along the ridge.

A Moss Campion adds a touch of colour to the stark rocky ridge-top.

Mop-top Anemones and Subalpine Buttercups (Ranunculus eschscholtzii).

Close-ups of Subalpine Buttercups.

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) – another very common subalpine plant here.

White Mountain Heather (Cassiope mertensiana) at the Sheila Lake campsite.

Our tents at Sheila lake campsite.

A bit of sunshine between rain showers at Sheila Lake campsite.

Heading home in the early morning mist on very muddy trails.

Our hike down was once again across fields of flowers.

More interesting alpine flowers – Sitka Valerian (Valeriana sitchensis).

Red Paintbrush just starting to bloom – probably Castilleja miniata.

Hiking in the mist – Trophy Mountain Meadows.

Mama Spruce Grouse and one of her seven tiny chicks.

Female Spruce Grouse.

A stark winter landscape in the Logan Lake ski trails. Following the devastating 2021 wildfire and subsequent salvage logging, the area where we often walk has lost most of its wildlife.

New Year’s Day at Tunkwa Lakes Provincial Park – a flock of Redpolls in a frosty tree. These would be the only Redpolls I saw all year.

My year often begins with an interesting owl sighting. This year it was a Short-eared Owl near Stump Lake on the old Hwy 5A between Merritt and Kamloops – 20 January 2024

A collection of woodpeckers – photos taken from my office window: Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker and Pileated Woodpecker.

A Mule Deer doe, near our yard in Logan Lake

Interesting patterns in the ice at the small pond on the Logan Lake ski trails near our home.

A comparison of eagles – Golden Eagle (L) and immature Bald Eagle (R). Both were at the location where our naturalist club took the Merritt NatureKids Club for a Christmas Bird Count for Kids – 20 January 2024.

Winter landscape – Douglas Lake, 18 February 2024.

Mule Deer on the Pennask Lake Road grasslands – 18 February 2024

A mammal highlight on the Snow Bunting Shiver outing was this mom and calf Moose. Douglas Lake Plateau – 18 February 2024

A pool of open water next to the frozen-over Douglas Lake yielded a group of Trumpeter Swans – here an adult and two juveniles.

And we did find a Snow Bunting – just one. Pennask Lake Road – 18 February 2024.

Sagebrush Buttercups are always the first blooms that we see in spring – sometimes before the snow has all gone. A very welcome splash of colour. Logan Lake 15 April 2024.

In spring ducks are usually seen as pairs – here a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneyes (male on the left) on the Nicola River in Merritt, 6 March 2024.

And nearby a pair of Wood Ducks (female on the left).

American Kestrel on the Pennask Lake Road grasslands – 17 April 2024.

One of the many big flock of Sandhill Cranes that stop over on the Douglas Lake Ranch on their spring northward migration – 21 April 2024.

We often get interesting shorebirds moving through on their spring migration. American Avocets are rare in the BC Interior, but have been recorded to breed on Douglas Lake Ranch where this photo was taken, 7 May 2024.

An interesting encounter between a young Black Bear and a Coyote – perhaps attracted to the same food? Douglas Lake Plateau, 17 May 2024.

This Olive-sided Flycatcher visited us briefly at our Logan Lake home – a rare species and a nice addition to our yard list. 27 May 2024.

Once again I helped briefly with the Burrowing Owl restoration program on the Douglas Lake Plateau. 31 May 2024.

In summer and fall I regularly kayak on our local lakes – a great way to see and photograph the water birds. Red-necked Grebe, Tunkwa Lake on 19 June 2024.

This male Red-naped Sapsucker was feeding chicks in a Kane Valley nest, 8 July 2024.

And nearby in Kane Valley was a Columbian Ground-squirrel

Ruffed Grouse are the most widespread and common of our local grouse. Douglas Lake, 21 April 2024.

Sharp-tailed Grouse are fairly rare and generally in open grassland. Douglas Lake Plateau, 14 June 2024.

This Dusky Grouse female was quite agitated because she had some chicks nearby. Kane Valley, 8 July 2024.

Spruce Grouse are usually found in higher elevations and, true to their name, often in spruce forests. These look like juvenile birds. Stake Lake Ski Trails, 10 November 2024.

Hummingbirds attracted to the hanging flower-baskets at our home in Logan Lake – Calliope Hummingbird (L) and Rufous Hummingbird (R) – both are females.

This spring and summer we had two pairs of Violet-green Swallows using nest-boxes at our house – one on each side of our carport. At the nest-box visible from our dining room window we tried to figure out from the photos how many fledglings they had, based on the subtle differences in their plumage. We figured there were four fledglings.

This Sitka Bumblebee (Bombus sitkensis) was at our cabin in the Broughton Archipelago, 2 July 2024.

This is a Long-legged Anabrus (Anabrus longipes) – a type of cricket. 28 July 2024.

We have at least five grasshopper species in our yard – this is a Two-striped Grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus). The stripes that give it that name are on the top of the thorax (one stripe is visible here). 13 August 2024.

Sawyer Beetle (Monochamus obtusus). 16 August 2024

A Hoary Marmot lazing on some interesting conglomerate rock – Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, Rocky Mountains, 31 July 2024.

The small pond on the Logan Lake ski trails where we often walk sometimes attracts interesting shorebirds – a Solitary Sandpiper, 18 August 2024.

Mama Griz and her cub getting down to the business of eating salmon, Atnarko River, 11 September 2024.

The cub was intensely interested in what his mom was doing.

Mom and cub sharing a Pink Salmon, Atnarko River, 11 September 2024.

A Great Blue Heron with its wriggling prey – Cattle Point, Victoria. By posting a close-up of the fish on iNaturalist I learned that it was a Penpoint Gunnel (Apodichthys flavidus). 16 September 2024.

Trembling Aspen leaves starting to turn in early autumn, Logan Lake – 25 September 2024.

Sunset over Logan Lake, 23 September 2024.

This immature Lewis’s Woodpecker was catching ants and other insects in our back yard. This was the first time we’d seen this rare woodpecker in our yard, 21 September 2024.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn rams at Wilcox Pass in the Rockies, 3 October 2024.

Aurora Borealis seen from our yard, 10 October 2024.

Varying colours of the aurora, 10 October 2024. The little cluster of stars in mid-photo, a little to the right, is the constellation Pleiades. In Japan this star cluster is known as Subaru and is the symbol of the car we drive.

Interesting patterns on Logan Lake as the lake begins to freeze over – 19 November 2024.

A Red Squirrel at Tunkwa Provincial Park. I wondered what it was eating – turned out to be a mushroom. Squirrels must know which mushrooms are OK to eat. 5 November 2024

Bohemian Waxwings on a frosty spruce tree in Logan Lake town – 2 December 2024.

Bohemian Waxwings in Logan Lake.

Pine Grosbeaks eating fruit in a Logan Lake yard, male left and female right – 23 November 2024.

Foggy mornings in winter produce hoar-frost on the bushes and trees – Tunkwa Lake Provincial Park, 12 December 2024.

A “sun-dog” at Tunkwa Lake Provincial park. The halo and bright spots are caused by ice crystals in the atmosphere on a foggy cold morning – 12 December 2024.

This Boreal Chickadee was one of five I found on the Logan Lake Christmas Bird Count in the high country near Paska Lake – 20 December 2024.

Townsend’s Solitaires seem to be more common than normal this winter, but always a good bird to get on a Christmas Bird Count, in this case the Ashcroft CBC. Solitaires rely heavily on juniper berries in winter and vigorously defend clumps of juniper trees – that is what this bird is sitting on.  21 December 2024.

A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers was working old cottonwood trees on the Savona-Walhachin CBC – 22 December 2024. This is a female with a black moustache.

This Coyote was quite intrigued with our group looking for birds near Nicola Lake on the Merritt CBC – 14 December 2024.CBC

Northern Pygmy-owls found in two different locations: Nicola Lake (L; 4 December) and Tunkwa Lake (R; 12 December).

The highlight of the Savona-Walhachin CBC was this Northern Hawk Owl. In the early morning gloom I initially thought it was a Pygmy-owl but the photos proved otherwise. 22 December 2024.

A pair of Lesser Scaup – one of the more common ducks breeding in our area. Tunkwa Lake, 19 June 2024.

Coot are abundant breeders on Tunkwa Lake. 19 June 2024.

Mallard mom with some newly-hatched ducklings. Tunkwa Lake, 18 July 2024.

Several pairs of Common Loon breed on both lakes. This one allowed a close approach on Mamit Lake, 9 June 2024.

Despite all the boat traffic on Tunkwa Lake, this loon managed to hatch a chick, now safely riding on the parent’s back in a quiet backwater. 19 June 2024.

A pair of Red-necked Grebes. The one on the left has its throat inflated – possibly a display. Tunkwa Lake, 19 June 2024.

I discovered this Red-necked Grebe nest tucked into a reed-bed on Tunkwa Lake, 19 June 2024.

Back near the nest site a month later – two of the three eggs in that nest produced grebelings. These kids were constantly begging to be fed. No wonder the parent looks a bit bedraggled compared to a month ago. Tunkwa Lake, 18 July 2024.

Wilson’s Snipe is a common local breeder, but they are usually fairly secretive, foraging in the muddy thickets bordering the lakes. Tunkwa Lake, 13 July 2024.

Spotted Sandpipers are probably the most common of the local breeding shorebirds. I regularly count 30-40 on the shores of Mamit Lake. 13 July 2024.

Killdeer are another common local breeder. Tunkwa Lake, 18 July 2024.

I was very pleased to come across this Sora rail foraging on an open mudflat. One usually hears them calling from the depths of the lakeside vegetation but seldom see them this clearly. Tunkwa Lake, 18 July 2024.

Eared Grebes nesting in a shallow pond in Tunkwa Lake Provincial Park. This pond was rapidly getting shallower but I did see grebe chicks there later in the summer. 23 July 2024.

Bald Eagles breed at both lakes, feeding primarily on fish, which they catch at the surface or find dead along the shore. Adult (left) and immature (right), Mamit Lake, 9 June 2024.

Savannah Sparrow is a common grassland species, often seen along the lake edges. Tunkwa Lake, 18 July 2024.

Willow Flycatchers are the most common flycatchers along the lake edges. Mamit Lake, 9 June 2024.

Northern Rough-winged Swallows breed in burrows dug into the steep sand-banks at Mamit Lake. These are newly-fledged juveniles, sitting near their natal nest. Notice the orange gape at the base of the mouth on the right-hand bird – this is an indicator of a recently-fledged bird. 13 July 2024.

A big flock of Brewer’s Blackbirds lives at Tunkwa Lake. Glossy males on the left and a brown female on the right. 18 July 2024.

A male Brown-headed Cowbird in the grassy verge of Mamit Lake. This species is a brood-parasite. The females lay their eggs in the nests of other species, leaving them to raise the chicks. 9 June 2024.

Solitary Sandpipers show up fairly regularly at ponds and lakes in our area. They do breed in the southern interior of BC, but I have yet to find evidence that they breed on our nearby wetlands. Tunkwa Lake, 18 July 2024.

Long-billed Dowitchers were among the first migrant shorebirds to show up on their southward  migration. Tunkwa Provincial Park pond, 23 July 2024.

A closer look at a Long-billed Dowitcher, still in its colourful breeding plumage. Tunkwa pond, 23 July 2024.

A tranquil scene at Mamit Lake, 10 August 2024.

For the past few summers a pair of Herring Gulls has nested on an island close to the camp site at Tunkwa Lake. I suspect they often mooch food from the campers.

By early August this Herring Gull pair had two large fledglings, just learning to fly. Tunkwa Lake, 8 August 2024.

This juvenile Franklin’s Gull was an unexpected visitor at Tunkwa Lake on 8 August. This species breeds on the Prairies, so this bird probably wandered over from Alberta. It was catching insects in the air as it flew over the lake.

A couple of pairs of Belted Kingfishers breed in burrows in the high sand-banks on Mamit Lake. This is a fledgling. 10 August 2024

Two common “peeps” that visit our wetlands in late summer – Least Sandpiper (left) and Semi-palmated Sandpiper (right). They can be difficult to identify, but a close look shows differences in their beaks, plumage and leg-colour. Mamit Lake, 10 August 2024.

Baird’s Sandpiper is a relatively rare migrant in the BC Interior. This long-winged shorebird goes all the way to Patagonia during its non-breeding season. Tunkwa Lake, 8 August 2024.

I always enjoy seeing the elegant Lesser Yellowlegs when they visit our wetlands. Mamit Lake, 10 August 2024.

Pectoral Sandpipers are a regular visitor in late summer and fall. Mamit Lake, 10 August 2024.

Big-beaked birds! Local breeder Wilson’s Snipe on the left and migrant visitor Long-billed Dowitcher on the right. Both species use these long beaks to probe into the mud to find invertebrate prey. Mamit Lake, August 2024.

These Red-necked Phalaropes, part of a flock of seven, were an unexpected sight on Mamit Lake, on 23 August. This species breeds on ponds in the arctic tundra. A few pass through our area on their way to their oceanic wintering grounds.

A closer look at one of the Red-necked Phalaropes. These are shorebirds that are adapted to forage on tiny aquatic animals which they catch while swimming or wading. Mamit Lake, 23 August 2024.

A lovely group of Lesser Yellowlegs, Mamit Lake, 23 August 2024.

Two Stilt Sandpipers were a surprise at Mamit Lake on 23 August. This species is relatively rare in the BC Interior.

Compare the Lesser Yellowlegs (left) with the Stilt Sandpiper (right). The downward curving beak is a key feature of the Stilt Sandpiper. Mamit Lake, 23 August 2024.

Peregrine Falcon, Mamit Lake, 23 August 2024.

This juvenile Merlin captured and ate a large dragonfly while I was watching. It later posed for a better photograph (right). Mamit Lake, 23 August 2024.

This Mule Deer found a cool shaded spot in a sand-bank on a warm summer’s day. Mamit Lake, August 2024.

I watched this young Mule Deer leave the lake shore and swim several hundred metres to a large vegetated island. Mamit Lake, 10 August 2024.

This Yellow Pine Chipmunk was infected with a parasitic blowfly. Notice the raw spot on its shoulder where a fly maggot is living. Mamit Lake, 10 August 2024.

A family of five River Otters spent the summer on Mamit Lake – providing entertainment on all my visits to that lake. 10 August 2024.

White Pelicans are regular visitors to Mamit Lake, although we saw fewer this year than in previous summers.

Early fall migrants – Pectoral Sandpipers with two smaller Least Sandpipers. Mamit Lake, September 2024.

Close view of a Pectoral Sandpiper. Mamit Lake September 2024.

Ospreys are regulars at both lakes all summer and into fall. Mamit Lake,21 September 2024.

Same species – different plumages. Long-billed Dowitchers arrive in early summer in their breeding plumages (left; 28 July) but by early fall they are in their basic winter plumage (right; 21 September). Mamit Lake.

These two River Otters were squabbling over the large fish that one had caught. Mamit Lake, 12 October 2024.

A curious River Otter that approached to check me out. Mamit Lake, 12 October 2024.

Fall colours at Mamit Lake, 12 October 2024.

A Great Blue Heron – Mamit Lake, 12 October 2024.

In October and into November there were about 100 Common Mergansers on Mamit Lake. They don’t breed here and are on their way to their marine wintering grounds. 12 October 2024.

Western Grebes breed on Shuswap Lake at Salmon Arm, over 100 km away, but in fall we usually see a few on Mamit Lake en route to the sea. Notice how this bird tucks its feet up on its back – presumably to keep them out of the cold water. 12 October 2024.

Mountainous country in the Cariboo-Chilcotin, with the Fraser River way below.

The Fraser River on the road to the Gang Ranch

The road north of the Gang Ranch, approaching the Chilcotin River

The Chilcotin River at Farwell Canyon. A major landslide upstream, a few weeks earlier, turned this river muddy.

A chilly morning at Bull Canyon park. The Chilcotin River above the recent landslide is a typical milky blue from glacial runoff.

Waiting for a high horse-power fill-up? Redstone, on the Chilcotin-Bella Coola highway.

Coast mountains, seen from the Chilcotin-Bella Coola highway.

The notorious “Hill” road, going from the high Chilcotin plateau to the coastal lowlands at Bella Coola along the edge of a very steep canyon.

Two large grizzlies, evidently a mother and her two-year-old offspring catching salmon in the Atnarko River near Bella Coola.

Mama grizzly and her cub at the Atnarko River near Bella Coola.

The cub was usually intently interested in what his mom was doing.

Mama grizzly eating a Pink Salmon, Atnarko River.

Mother and cub sharing a salmon.

We were impressed at the amount of salmon they could eat, especially the adult female.

The grizzlies just 15 m from where our group was gathered. The mother was deliberately ignoring us, but the cub, safe behind his mum, was extremely interested.

Mother and cub swimming away across the river.

The Bella Coola River – milky from the glaciers up the mountains.

Mountains behind the lodge where we stayed outside Bella Coola. We scanned the slopes with binoculars for Mountain Goats but the ones we found turned out to be white boulders.

Hiking up the Snooka Creek trail to the lookout above Bella Coola.

Some of the big Red Cedar trees in the Bella Coola valley.

Leaving Bella Coola harbour on the Northern Sea Wolf ferry – 13 September 2024.

Fjord scenery from the ferry.

Old glacier ice on a peak – North Bentinck Arm near Bella Coola.

Interesting patterns in the calm sheltered ocean

Coastal mountain scenery from the ferry.

An adult Humpback Whale – Fitzhugh Sound

One of the Orcas in the pod we passed – Fitzhugh Sound.

Three of the Orcas in the pod we passed.

Female Humpback Whale close to the ferry – Fitzhugh Sound.

Baby Humpback imitating his mom, with an impressive breach – right out of the water.

Baby then followed this with five more breaches – this sequence shows one of them.

Pelagic Cormorant – Queen Charlotte Strait.

Common Murres – Queen Charlotte Strait

Misty scenery in Queen Charlotte Strait.

Scarlet Point Light-station, Queen Charlotte Strait

A curious split island – Queen Charlotte Strait.

Sea Otters in the strait.

Some of the totems in Alert Bay, including two that are in front of private homes.

A wonderful eagle carving – Alert Bay

These are door panels at the cultural centre, Alert Bay.

The ‘Namgis burial grounds have some of the older totems.

Marianne & Damien at Cathedral Grove, Vancouver Island

Corey, Damien & Marianne at Fisherman’s Wharf and doing the essential silly tourist thing at the Royal BC Museum.

Our campsite at Spray Lake Provincial Park on the Alberta edge of the Rockies.

View of Marvel Lake from the helicopter as we headed across the Rocky Mountains.

With its Matterhorn spire, Mount Assiniboine is one of the most awesome peaks in the Rocky Mountains. At 3,618 m (11,870 ft), it is the third highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. The summit is 1,525 m (5,003 ft) above Lake Magog.

Summer and Winter – Mount Assiniboine in August 2024 and March 2010.

Our tents at Magog Lake campsite. The cooking shelter has bear-proof lockers where we stored our food and cooking gear.

Our first hike was along the shores of Magog Lake to the base of Assiniboine peak.

Huge boulders of intriguing conglomerate rock hug the shoreline of Magog Lake.

A Hoary Marmot on the slopes above Magog Lake.

Another Hoary Marmot at Magog Lake.

Lovely waterfalls coming off the high glacier on Mt. Assiniboine.

Our visit in mid-summer was a good time to enjoy the alpine wildflowers. We were too late to see the flowers of this mop-top (Anemone occidentalis), but the seed heads are very attractive too.

Pink Wintergreen (Pyrola asarifolia) is a fairly common little herb in the sub-alpine zone.

Paintbrush (Castilleja spp.) is a diverse and common plant across most of British Columbia. They tend to hybridize so nailing down the species can be tricky. The red one (left) is probably C. miniata. We were pleased to find the less common white one, probably C. occidentalis.

Two common species in the sub-alpine forests – Hermit Thrush (left) and Boreal Chickadee (right). Both are uncommon at low elevations in BC. It was a joy to go to bed in the evening and wake up in the morning hearing the lovely flute-like song of the Hermit Thrush.

Columbian Ground-squirrels are one of the most common mammals in Assiniboine.

The only Mountain Goats we saw were these three, perched precariously on the cliffs adjacent to Mount Assiniboine.

On our second day in the park we hiked 5 km through the huge expanse of Og Meadows to Og Lake

Pikas live in the rock piles of the mountain slopes. Although they look like guinea-pigs they are actually Lagomorphs – relatives of rabbits and hares. They don’t hibernate but survive through the long alpine winters by stockpiling dried grass and herbs. So in summer one sees them carrying mouthfuls of vegetation and making little haystacks to dry in the sun outside their rock-crevice homes.

Og Meadows. We kept a close lookout for Grizzly Bears here but didn’t see one. A few days later, however, some hikers encountered a young Grizzly here.

Sunburst Peak and Sunburst Lake with Mount Assiniboine behind.

Sunburst Lake and Sunburst Peak

Throughout the sub-alpine areas there are numerous meadows and glades with lovely displays of wildflowers -mainly the yellow arnicas, red paintbrush, blue fleabane asters and white sweet-vetch.

A Golden-mantled Ground-squirrel.

The view from the Niblet lookout, along the route up to Nub Peak. From left to right the lakes are Magog in the distance, Sunburst and Cerulean.

Stunning views from the trail up to Nub Peak.

Lyell’s Phacelia (Phacelia lyellii) is endemic to the southern Rocky Mountains in BC.

Cut-leaf Fleabane (Erigeron compositus).

Moss Campion (Silene acaulis) is commonly found in high alpine areas and also throughout the Arctic tundra. As a pioneer species growing on raw gravel it often provides a base for other plants to colonize, like the grasses in this cushion.

Two high alpine flowers – Black-tip Groundsel (Senecio lugens) on the left and Alpine Anemone (A. drummondii) on the right.

Mountain Avens (Dryas octopetala) is another high-alpine species that is also common throughout the Arctic tundra. Here it made extensive carpets in which other plants sometimes take root.

This big shaggy Hoary Marmot is probably an older animal – foraging in the high alpine area.

View from the summit of Nub Peak, at 2,746 m (9,009 ft).

Roy and Heather at the summit of Nub Peak, with Magog Lake below and the red roofs of Assiniboine Lodge on the far left. Smoke from nearby wildfires was starting to drift into our area at this time.

Summer and winter – the Naiset Hut cookhouse and the Jonesy Hut where we stayed in March 2010.

Beautiful Gog Lake on the trail up to Wonder Pass.

We encountered several Snowshoe Hares on our hikes. This one stayed long enough for a photo.

What a surprise to emerge from the Larch trees to see this gorgeous waterfall coming out of a deep canyon.

Unfortunately the smoke reduced the impact of the view from the Marvel Lake overlook. Mount Assiniboine is on the right.

The route back to Wonder Pass (on the horizon) went down this very steep and slippery scree slope. A challenge for my creaky knees.

What a difference a day makes – views of Mount Assiniboine from Sunburst Lake. The photo on the left was at sunset on 3rd August and the one on the right was the next day when thick smoke from nearby wildfires filled the valley.

A couple of the lovely butterflies that were common in the alpine and subalpine areas: Northern Crescent (Phyciodes cocyta; left) and Bog Fritillary (Boloria eunomia; right).

Growing on a rocky outlook, some Spotted Saxifrage (Saxifraga bronchialis).

Three colorful daisy relatives: Alpine Groundsel (Packera pauciflora) on the left, Orange Agoseris (A. aurantiaca) centre and Arrowleaf Senecio (S. triangularis) right.

Most meadows were dominated by the yellow Broadleaf Arnica (A. latifolia).

But some meadows were dominated by Subalpine Fleabane (Erigeron glacialis).

White-flowered Rhododendron (Rhododendron albiflorum) is a common shrub in the subalpine woodlands.

Andrea on the trail near Cerulean Lake.

Spruce Grouse are usually common in the subalpine spruce forests, but on our hikes we had only a fleeting glimpse of one. On our last evening I took a stroll and this male grouse was right in the path. He even stayed long enough for me to warm up my failing camera battery and get a few photos.

All too soon it was time to pack up and get the helicopter back to Alberta and then the long 7.5 hour drive home.

With hundreds of islands, lovely shorelines, beautiful forests and mountains, and loads of interesting wildlife, the Broughton Archipelago is one of B.C.’s premier kayaking destinations.

Will it all fit in? Doing a test pack in our yard at home.

Loading kayaks on to the Paddlers Inn boat in Port McNeill.

Traveling to the Broughton Archipelago – a 2.5 hour boat ride from Port McNeill.

Paddlers Inn, located on Gilford Island in Little Simoon Sound.

Sorting and packing for our camping trip on the Paddlers Inn dock.

We left some of our gear and food at Paddlers Inn but needed lots of stuff for four nights of camping.

Heather, Roy, Andrea and Alan at the start of our adventure.

At last we are on the water and heading off.

Our first night of camping was at Echo Bay Provincial Park – close to float houses and a lodge.

Day 2 began with a 10.4 km paddle to our next campsite on the Fox Islands. Andrea among the many small rocky islets.

Short-billed Gulls were our constant companions. These are non-breeding immature birds.

On a couple of occasions we passed a Raccoon foraging at low tide along the shoreline. But they scampered away before I could get a decent photo. We also saw several Mink but they were even more skittish and disappeared as we approached.

A few pairs of Black Oystercatchers appear to be breeding on the islands. Here we see a bit of display between a pair on their territory.

Dozens of Harlequin Ducks were in the Fox Islands. These are all males – the females are back on the breeding grounds far inland, looking after the year’s offspring. Once the eggs are laid the males leave their mates, head back to the coast and spend the rest of the summer hanging out with the boys and moulting. Notice how ragged their plumage looks – they are replacing all their feathers and are flightless for some of this process.

Harbour Seals are plentiful in this area. They are often curious and follow behind a kayak.

A male Columbian Black-tailed Deer on one of the Fox Islands. Deer are good swimmers and we later saw this individual swimming to a small islet to enjoy a feast of lush grass there.

Our tent for three nights at the Fox Islands campsite.

Our campsite in the Fox Islands offered a cooking shelter. This was a very welcome feature as the rain set in. We stayed three nights at this site and luckily no-one else was using the shelter as we spread out our wet gear.

Day 3 was rainy through most of the day. But the sea was calm and we explored some of the more exposed islands – the Coach and Marsden groups, Hudson Island and nearby islets. Here we are transiting the narrow passage between Tracey and Mars islands.

Paddling among the Coach Islets with the open Queen Charlotte Strait beyond.

Throughout the Broughton Archipelago, especially around the outer islands, we saw numerous Marbled Murrelets – over 150 on a 20 km paddle to the outer Coach and Marsden islands on 29 July 2024. [These photos were taken elsewhere – I didn’t have the right camera gear to photograph murrelets on our Broughton trip]. Photos: ©Alan Burger

By the end of the day the rain eased somewhat and we were happy to be back in our campsite shelter making hot dinners.

Day 4 started off foggy but once the mist lifted we had good conditions for the day. We headed north to explore Blunden Passage, Innis Island and around Insect Island.

A lunch break on Eden Island. The beaches are not sand but are ancient clam middens. There are few of them and we were often on the lookout for somewhere to land for a break. Across the channel is the campsite at Insect Island, with a group of kayakers.

Many of the little rocky islets have lovely wildflower patches. The plant on the right is a Yellow Monkey-flower (Mimulus [Erythranthe] guttatus).

High rainfall and frequent mist promote lush lichens on the forest trees. The one on the right is Methuselah’s Beard Lichen (Usnea longissima).

As we paddled into an inlet on Baker Island we spotted a Black Bear on the shoreline.

We drifted quietly closer and watched as she rolled over boulders to get at crabs and other intertidal critters hiding beneath.

And at the forest edge we saw two tiny cubs. We moved away to let the bear family continue their activities in peace.

We were surprised to have several encounters with Red-throated Loons. This is a fairly rare species in southern B.C. but we saw them at four locations. Notice that the loon on the right is carrying a fish. Moments later these two took off and headed inland towards a nearby lake where they likely were feeding one or two chicks.

Day five – we headed back to Paddlers Inn, with many detours to explore inlets and islets.

Part of a big flock of Surf Scoters – all look like immatures. The adults are hundreds of km away, breeding on lakes and rivers as far off as the Yukon.

One of the many Bald Eagles we saw. One nest had two almost full-grown chicks.

We were amazed to find this small Western Toad on a small islet where we stopped for lunch. We saw several toads on the big Gilford Island but this little guy somehow got across 20 m of salt water to reach this islet.

Returning to Paddlers Inn.

Enjoying a cuppa on the deck of our cabin – Alan, Andrea, Heather & Roy.

Dinner with a view! And the sounds of Humpback Whales and Marbled Murrelets in the ocean below.

Relaxing at the covered dockside lounge at Paddlers Inn.

The lupin flowers on our cabin deck attracted many bumblebees – we later identified them as Sitka Bumblebees (Bombus sitkensis). Note the orange pollen sacs on the bee’s hind legs.

There is an interesting hike of about one km through the forest from Paddlers Inn to a beautiful lake.

The lake in the hills above Paddlers Inn.

Lakeside flowers – Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) with Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant) on the left and Salal (Gaultheria shallon) with a few Labrador Tea (Ledum groenlandicum) on the right.

Kayaker’s view of our cabin at Paddlers Inn.

Roy and Heather paddling along the heavily forested shore of Gilford Island.

The Broughton Archipelago has experienced a long history of logging, continuing today. At many places along the shore we came across old equipment, like this winch.

Heather passing one of the colourful oceanside cliffs.

What a thrill to be sitting in a kayak as Humpback Whales pass nearby. We saw this female and her calf on several occasions around Paddlers Inn.

A sunset view from our Paddlers Inn cabin. The impressive high peak in the distance, Mount Spencer, is 3,006 m in elevation, in the Waddington Range.

The Bruneau Dunes State Park in Idaho was a lovely place to stop over, and do a little hiking among the extensive sand dunes.

Great Salt Lake from our campsite on Antelope Island, with the mountains behind Salt Lake City in the background (and yes, the water does taste very salty).

We didn’t expect to find a herd of Bison on Antelope Island, within sight of Salt Lake City.

Big mesas of Navajo sandstone on the road to Horsethief Camp, Utah.

Hiking the mountain bike trails at the Horsethief Camp area

One of the little ground squirrels common throughout the canyon area of Utah – a White-tailed Antelope Squirrel

The view from Dead Horse Point State Park, looking towards the mountains behind Moab. The blue ponds in the bottom right are evaporation ponds for extracting potash.

Dead Horse Point – look carefully to see the two people on the clifftop, providing scale to these immense cliffs.

The Colorado River has carved these magnificent canyons, on its way to the Grand Canyon further south.

Views from one of the hiking trails at Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah. The Island in the Sky portion of Canyonlands National Park is on the plateau on the horizon.

True to their name, Rock Squirrels live right on the edges of the immense cliffs. We watched them chasing each other within inches of the abyss.

Two of the more exotic (for us) birds in the canyon lands – a Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay (left) and a Grey-headed Junco (right). The junco is a variant of the very common Dark-eyed Junco which we have in our backyard in British Columbia.

Andrea and Alan do the selfie thing at Canyonlands National Park.

Wonderful rock formations and canyons far below our vantage point on the upper plateau. The harder white sandstone forms resistant caps on top of the softer reddish sandstone.

We were amazed to see two climbers ascending the Totem spire –  305 feet (93 metres) high.

This huge intrusion, known as the Upheaval Dome, was probably formed by the collision of a large meteorite. The feature is 3 km wide.

A splash of colour in the rocky landscape – Zion Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja scabrida)

Andrea on a Canyonlands hike.

Utah Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma). Many of these trees are hundreds of years old, gnarled and twisted. A somewhat younger tree on the right is loaded with juniper berries which are actually fleshy cones.

Art in nature – on a gigantic scale. The blackish band near the bottom is 2 metres thick.

Art in nature – sandstone sculpted by rain and wind.

A dramatic sunset with rain clouds at Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park. The river in the distance is the Green River which joins with the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park.

Mesa Arch at Canyonlands National Park.

Cliffside scenery – Mesa Arch area.

Petroglyphs on the road between Moab and the Needles portion of Canyonlands National Park.

Our camp at Creek Pasture BLM campsite. Most of the campers at this site were rock climbers, taking on the cliffs that you see in the background.

We stopped to watch the rock climbers at the Indian River cliffs. The tiny figure in the left photo is shown again, zoomed in, on the right. We were very impressed!

Needles! A sample of the wonderful scenery that we enjoyed for our week at Needles in Canyonlands National Park.

Our camp at the Needles portion of Canyonlands National Park.

We shared our Needles campsite with this Desert Cottontail. That was appropriate because it was Easter weekend, but bunny evidently didn’t get the Easter egg message.

Another resident at our campsite was this beautiful Black-throated Sparrow, sitting in a juniper bush. Who knew that a sparrow could be so striking.

Andrea on one of the many trails in the Needles park.

The hiking trails often traversed large areas of slickrock – mostly easy hiking but sometimes steep and exposed.

Eroded sandstone formations.

One has to ponder at the time it takes to erode sandstone in a desert environment to create these lovely formations.

At every turn in the trails there was more exquisite scenery. In the far left distance are the snowy mountains near Moab.

An easy portion of the 12 km hike from our camp to the Chesler Park needles and back.

But there were also steep and tricky portions along most of the trails.

Along the Peekaboo Trail – notice the people traversing the rock ledge mid-picture.

Semi-desert country on the border between Utah and Nevada – we traveled through many miles like this.

But if you get out and look around there are many little treasures, like this Squarestem Phlox (Phlox muscoides) or the well camouflaged Saussure’s Blue-winged Grasshopper
(Leprus intermedius).

We also encountered a few small herds of Pronghorn Antelope – apparently one of the few animals that thrive eating sagebrush.

We spent a night at the Great Basin National Park in Nevada, right on the Utah border. The mountains here rise out of the flat desert plain to impressive heights. We camped in fresh snow in the high elevation campground.

Wild Turkeys in Great Basin National Park.

The mountains in Great Basin National Park, Nevada. The highest is Mt Wheeler at 13,063 feet (3,980 m) and several of the others are over 10,000 ft (3,000 m).

We had days of unexpected cold weather in Utah and Idaho. This scene was in Nevada near the Idaho border.

Contrasting campsites on the last two nights of this journey. We camped in deep snow and icy conditions at Winchester, Idaho. Got out of there before breakfast. Our last night was in relatively balmy and sunny Palmer Lake in Washington near the B.C. border at Osoyoos.

A view of Mamit Lake. Most of the lake shoreline is natural with no houses or fields bordering the lake.

About 8 pairs of Killdeer breed on or near the shores of Mamit Lake. Killdeer feed mainly on the drier parts of the mudflats, taking flies and other insects.

Once the chicks have fledged, Killdeer often hang out in flocks of 10 or more along the shoreline.

Spotted Sandpipers are the most conspicuous of the shorebirds on the lake. They are resident here all summer and 10 or more pairs establish breeding territories along the shoreline. This adult bird is agitated because it has small chicks hidden nearby.

Wilson’s Snipe foraging on the water’s edge. There are probably a dozen or two pairs of snipe nesting around Mamit Lake, but they tend to remain in the thick vegetation and are not often out in the open like this.

Wilson’s Phalaropes do not breed on Mamit Lake (as far as I have seen), but they must breed on ponds nearby because juvenile birds like these regularly show up in mid- to late-summer. Phalaropes are unusual among shorebirds in that they mainly forage by swimming and picking tiny prey items off the water.

Closer view of a juvenile Wilson’s Phalarope. Notice how immaculate and unworn its feathers are.

This juvenile Wilson’s Phalarope still carries some of its natal down – suggesting that it must have come from a nearby nesting site.

One of several broods of Barrow’s Goldeneyes that were on the lake in mid-summer. The little ducklings dive underwater to feed themselves from the time they leave the nest. Female Barrow’s Goldeneyes are renowned for attacking other conspecific females and the winner often ends up with a duplicate brood of ducklings. So these 14 ducklings are likely not all her own offspring.

A female Blue-winged Teal with her brood of ducklings. This is one of the less common duck species breeding here – I encountered only two females with ducklings

The huge beak easily identifies a female Northern Shoveler, with her ducklings. Another uncommon duck on this lake – probably only 2-3 pairs breed here.

Mallards are by far the most common breeding duck on the lake – this horde is mostly comprised of half-grown ducklings, all staying together with a few adults in between.

An adult Bald Eagle with a large fish – probably a sucker, one of the more common large fish in the lake. One pair of eagles has a nest visible from the lake and another pair probably nests nearby.

This immature Bald Eagle was one of 5 or 6 regularly seen at the lake through the summer.

An Osprey calling – there is likely another conspecific in sight. One or possibly two pairs of Osprey nest nearby and use the lake as their fishing ground.

Belted Kingfishers nest in the sandy banks at a couple of locations on the lake shore. This hovering bird is a female – with chestnut breast markings.

Most often the Belted Kingfishers forage by sitting on perches overlooking the water and plunging down into the water when a fish is spotted.

I usually see 4-6 Great Blue Herons foraging for fish along the shoreline of Mamit Lake.

White Pelicans do not breed on Mamit Lake but this is a favourite spot for immature birds to spend much of the summer. At one stage there were 45 pelicans at the lake – feeding and resting.

I see several Mule Deer every time I paddle around the lake in summer and fall.

I regularly see Coyotes sniffing along the shoreline, but they are very wary and usually disappear into the thickets when they see me in my kayak.

Long-billed Dowitchers are regular visitors to Mamit Lake on their southward migration. These birds are a long way from their arctic tundra breeding grounds, but on 27th July they still have most of their cinnamon breeding plumage.

Here are two of the regular small “peep” sandpipers that visit the lake in late summer – Semi-palmated Sandpiper on the left and Least Sandpiper on the right. Their leg colour, beak shape and plumage are identification features.

The elegant Greater Yellowlegs are regular visitors and always a delight to watch.

Solitary Sandpipers are normally an uncommon species in our area, but in 2023 they were seen in many nearby wetlands and there were 2 or 3 on Mamit Lake for much of the late summer.

This Solitary Sandpiper provided some goofy entertainment – first getting something dislodged from its throat and then running across the mudflats.

Another contrast of migrant peeps – Semipalmated Sandpiper left and Least Sandpiper right.

Juvenile Hooded Mergansers – likely born and raised here at Mamit Lake. Look closely and you can see the serrated ridges on the inner beaks of these birds – these tooth-like ridges allow mergansers to catch slippery fish and aquatic invertebrates like dragonfly larvae.

Taking photos of land birds from a kayak on the lake is not easy. Here are a couple: an Orange-crowned Warbler in the shoreline bushes (left) and a Song Sparrow having a bath (right).

By August there are usually several dowitchers stopping off at the lake – mostly Long-billed Dowitchers, but see the next photo …..

This photo shows two species of dowitchers. There are two Short-billed Dowitchers – the bird at the front left and the bird furthest right at the back. This species is unusual in the BC Interior but more common along the coast. The remainder are all Long-billed Dowitchers – the species most likely to be found in the BC interior. Notice that the Short-billed Dowitchers have orange-and-black tiger striping on their dorsal feathers – one of the diagnostic features of this species.

Another long-billed shorebird, but the plumage is very different from that of the dowitchers. A resident Wilson’s Snipe foraging in the shallows.

Lesser Yellowlegs usually show up on Mamit Lake in August and there might sometimes be a dozen or more on the lake.

Compare the yellowleg species – Greater Yellowlegs on the left and Lesser Yellowlegs right. When they are side-by-side like this recognition is easy, but when alone one has to look at bill-length and subtle plumage features to identify them.

Another graceful Greater Yellowlegs. If the bill is longer than the head length that indicates Greater.

An equally elegant Lesser Yellowlegs. If the bill is about head length then it indicates Lesser.

Least Sandpipers can be found for most of August and September at Mamit Lake. Their tiny size and greenish-yellow legs are diagnostic.

This was a very exciting shorebird to find on Mamit Lake – a Stilt Sandpiper. The long yellow legs and long slightly downturned bill are identification features. Several of this mid-sized shorebird were reported in the Kamloops and Logan Lake area around mid-August in 2023.

Here are two different Merlins at Mamit Lake – an adult on 2nd September and an immature bird on 27th August 2023.

White Pelicans were on the lake for most of the summer with a high count of 45 birds on 6 August 2023. Notice all the feathers on the mudflat – these birds are moulting.

Scenic shot – Mamit Lake on 17th September. Notice the little group of White Pelicans on a tiny island near the far shore.

A post-breeding flock of swallows containing mostly Bank Swallows and a couple of Barn Swallows.

Savannah Sparrows breed in the vegetation bordering the lake but often venture out on the mudflats to feed on seeds and insects.

In late September migrating flocks of American Pipits forage on the open mudflats. I counted 129 on 17 September, the day these photos were taken.

Action from a Bald Eagle – this adult eagle was swooping down to attack a duck on the water – unsuccessfully.

Red-necked Grebes sometimes breed on Mamit Lake. There was a pair here in 2023 but I didn’t see any chicks.

Canada Geese are resident at the lake from early spring until the lake freezes and they raise many goslings here. Some of these birds are likely locally-bred juveniles.

In a kayak it is sometimes possible to quietly drift up to birds and get quite close. This Green-winged Teal appeared to be asleep, but look closely and you can see it was actually watching me. Then it aroused with a big yawn!

Autumn colours at Mamit Lake on a misty morning – 8 October 2023.

Western Grebes on a cold misty morning – 8 October 2023. This species breeds on Shuswap Lake more than 100 km from here and these birds are probably from there, making their way to the coast to overwinter.

A Western Grebe in the colourful reflection of fall trees.

Horned Grebes are another species that doesn’t breed on Mamit Lake but several of them stop off on the lake in early fall as they migrate to the coast.

Common Mergansers – another species that I see on Mamit Lake only on their fall migration. But there can be several dozen of these fish-eating ducks on the lake in October.

The last of the pelicans – these two were still on the lake in early October, but gone by mid-October.

Five of the 10 Trumpeter Swans on Mamit Lake – 22 October 2023. These were the first swans to arrive in our area on their southward fall migration. Some of them remain in local lakes until these freeze over in mid-winter.

Late migrants – these three Long-billed Dowitchers were the only shorebirds on the lake on 22 October.

More fall colours at Mamit Lake – 8 October 2023.