Mountain bluebirds have returned

Male mountain bluebird on Beaver Lake Road, Winfield.

Canada isn't known for having colourful birds.  There are a few that stand out, however.  Red cardinals, wood ducks, and Atlantic puffins are a few of them; here in British Columbia, there is the male mountain bluebird.  The entire male of the species is feathered in sky-blues, darker shades above and lighter below.  And, although not as colourful as the aforementioned species, the sight of one makes you catch your breath.  Anyway you call it, it is beautiful.

I photographed this today (Saturday, March 28) along the Beaver Lake road in Winfield, about half an hour outside of Kelowna.  I also saw a western meadowlark, a Townsend solitaire, and a host of other fairly common birds (robins, starlings, song sparrows).  I also saw a female mountain bluebird, although she was farther away and didn't wait around for me to get a photo of her.

By next month, the birds should be beginning their nesting, and I think I will be able to get a few more photos.  I hope to find some western bluebirds and perhaps get a decent photo of a western meadowlark.  We will see.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com

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