To Nelson and back again.......

Not long ago got back to Nakusp and my little living room. Started the fire. Put Blue Rodeo on the stereo. And now it’s time to reflect on my weekend….

I’ll start at the end; just had a great drive through the countryside from Nelson back to Nakusp via Kaslo. Most of the Canadian clichés experienced – scenery of lakes, pines, mountains plus plenty of snow and ice and water  to drive through – good fun…. See the route map attached.

Now – working backwards. What was I doing in Nelson? Well I wrote an email to a local Kootenays email birding group effectively touting for birding opportunities and was very kindly offered a nights accommodation and a Sunday morning of birding by Doug and Gala Sly. Their generous hospitality was gratefully received, as was their breakfast of fruit salad and blueberry pancakes [washed down with excellent coffee]. Doug and Gala are retired school teachers enjoying the good life of cycling, skiing, paddling, birding and gardening around their beautiful lakeside home. And travelling. In fact Tuesday sees them leave Canada for a month in Turkey!

At any rate the birding started before we left the kitchen with Redpoll, Siskins and Flickers around their feeders. Soon we travelled a little way north to Kokanee Creek Provincial Park. It was a warm and windy day and birds were scarce on the water however we saw some Canadian Geese, Mallard and some swans that were, on the balance of probabilities, Trumpeters. Good views of a dipping Dipper were had near the river mouth.  Little else was seen, save singing Song Sparrows and a few crows.  

Back in Nelson proper we got a few good birds in the water; Pied billed Grebe, Coot, Mallard, Wigeon [c20], Greater Scaup [5]  Bufflehead, Barrow’s Goldeneye [c12 or so], Canada Geese and a single male Gadwall. A generous flock of Rock Doves and Mallards descended on us as we approached in a scene reminiscent of Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’. A couple of Bald Eagles completed the set.

The bird of the day - Northern Hawk Owl

back view

The bird of the day was a fluke; Northern Hawk Owl perched in the open by an entry road to the highway south. We parked precariously, jumped out snapped a few quick shots and within thirty seconds or so the bird decided he was shy and flew off.

One last stop by an old bridge south of town yielded some more mallards, wigeon, bufflehead, Trumpeter Swans and, new for the day, some Ring necked Ducks and two Common Merganser.

Now a few words are needed about the drive straight south to Nelson from Nakusp. ‘Beautiful’ is one. Perhaps, ‘stunning’ is another. It’s best to drive by yourself so you don’t have the conversation interrupted as people just stare at the scenery. One pity though is the best spots seem to be on places where to stop is impossible due to narrow roads and / or avalanche zones. Both Mule and White tailed Deer were seen on the drive down.

Pileated Positioned on Power Pole

Okay last but not least; I’ve got back to Saturday morning before leaving for Nelson when I scored species number 55 for Nakusp – Pileated Woodpecker.

All in all a good weekend. Now for three days strike!