Post by kestrel on Aug 22, 2019 17:30:20 GMT -8
My dad and I recently got back from an amazing canoe trip in Bowron Lake Provincial Park, up in the Cariboo. We went with a guiding company called Pathways. The route consists of a 116km circuit of lakes, with a few portages (land crossings). During this time I was able to do a lot of birding, and managed to see/hear a wide variety of species. One bird that seemed to be everywhere along the route was the Belted kingfisher. I don't think there was a single day on which I didn't see one or more of these guys.
Common loons were on most of the lakes. We were serenaded on many evenings and nights by these birds .
An adult with a youngster, on Kibbee Lake:
Common loons by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
This butterfly landed on the head of one of our guides during a rest stop along Isaac Lake, and stayed put even we continued onward:
butterfly by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
I have no idea what kind it was. Any ID help would be appreciated.
At one campsite on Isaac Lake, a small flock of Least sandpipers made an appearance.
A family of Common goldeneyes along the Isaac River:
Common goldeneyes by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
While we were enjoying lunch one day on a nice wide sandbar, we came across fresh moose tracks:
moose tracks by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Probably the main highlight of the whole trip, for me, was seeing this moose on Rum Lake:
cow moose by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
As well as (likely) the same one with its calf:
cow moose with calf by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
This was straight across the lake from our campsite.
While we were paddling from Spectacle Lake into Swan Lake the following day, I noticed a Bonaparte's gull:
Bonaparte's gull by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
That night, my dad and I heard wolves howling in the distance.
In the Bowron River marshes on the last day, this young Bald eagle stood its ground even as we passed right by it:
young Bald eagle by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Once we entered Bowron Lake the wind really picked up. Before we knew it, we were fighting a nasty headwind and whitecaps.
In the midst of all this was a pair of Red-necked phalaropes. The birds didn't seem one bit fazed by us being in close proximity to them.
Red-necked phalaropes by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
This was a lifer for me.
Red-necked phalarope by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
It was awesome being out in wilderness, with practically no devices or other modern conveniences.
Common loons were on most of the lakes. We were serenaded on many evenings and nights by these birds .
An adult with a youngster, on Kibbee Lake:
Common loons by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
This butterfly landed on the head of one of our guides during a rest stop along Isaac Lake, and stayed put even we continued onward:
butterfly by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
I have no idea what kind it was. Any ID help would be appreciated.
At one campsite on Isaac Lake, a small flock of Least sandpipers made an appearance.
A family of Common goldeneyes along the Isaac River:
Common goldeneyes by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
While we were enjoying lunch one day on a nice wide sandbar, we came across fresh moose tracks:
moose tracks by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Probably the main highlight of the whole trip, for me, was seeing this moose on Rum Lake:
cow moose by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
As well as (likely) the same one with its calf:
cow moose with calf by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
This was straight across the lake from our campsite.
While we were paddling from Spectacle Lake into Swan Lake the following day, I noticed a Bonaparte's gull:
Bonaparte's gull by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
That night, my dad and I heard wolves howling in the distance.
In the Bowron River marshes on the last day, this young Bald eagle stood its ground even as we passed right by it:
young Bald eagle by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Once we entered Bowron Lake the wind really picked up. Before we knew it, we were fighting a nasty headwind and whitecaps.
In the midst of all this was a pair of Red-necked phalaropes. The birds didn't seem one bit fazed by us being in close proximity to them.
Red-necked phalaropes by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
This was a lifer for me.
Red-necked phalarope by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
It was awesome being out in wilderness, with practically no devices or other modern conveniences.