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Monday 18 June 2018

Wood Duck vs Harlequin Duck

There are only two serious contenders for the most dazzling duck in western Canada. The male Wood Duck and male Harlequin Duck are easily our most decked-out waterfowl. But other than looking outrageously handsome, there are surprisingly few similarities between these two indigenous Canadian species.
Trying to describe the feathers on these fellows is like trying to describe a box of crayons. A male Woody wears iridescent emerald head feathers,

a white polka-dotted mahogany breast, and smooth almond flanks. The male Harley sports a midnight-blue body, chestnut flanks, and white patches that vary in shape from round to crescent. The females and young of both species are mottled brown, and the female Woody wears a striped, white eye patch while the Harley hen has a round, white cheek patch.
Think of these two smallish ducks as Canada’s “common cosmopolitan” and “rare recluse.”

While Woodies are pretty common in summer, Harleys are twice as rare as grizzly bears. Woodies spread out across most riparian habitats, but they prefer the slow waters of beaver ponds, creeks and oxbows.

Harleys are just the opposite. They spend the nesting season on just a handful of fast-flowing Canadian streams, though they’ll occasionally show up on lakes and rivers during migrating. Just to prove, nothing is ever black and white, Wood Ducks, not Harley as probably the majority of people call them; are very common in Stanley Park Vancouver British Columbia.

Sunday 3 June 2018

One, now recognised, "subspecies" and "OTHER" COLOUR VARIATIONS of the common Canadian/North Ameican Black Bear.


  http://www.discoverwildlife.com/animals/mammals/10-amazing-black-bear-facts  As you've undoubtedly guessed, the bear pictured,  with her cubs (would kinda negate the whole focus of this post if she were), is NOT A BROWN BEAR.

A black Bear becomes a rare " Blue Bear"


Saturday 2 June 2018

Elephant Hill/Loon Lake, the Strangest Forest/Wild Fire in all of History; or Nature's the Creator's Devine Providence???







Image may contain: house, sky, outdoor and natureThis photo shows the cabin and the woodpile, which is provided free of additional charge--no need to pay $25.00 for a little bag containing 8 toothpicks.


Image may contain: house and outdoorCabin 12 did start to burn, 13, 14, 15, are long gone.
Where cabins 13, 14, 15 stood. The area now being turned into an RV Site.Image may contain: outdoor and nature
Image may contain: screen and indoorShowing the wood Heater/stove and the electric Stove.

Table, chairs and fridge, entrance to the bedroom.Image may contain: table and indoorImage may contain: bedroom and indoor
There are two beds one in a separate bedroom, as you see in this photo, the other in the main portion of the cabin. In the old days, when this cabin was still a school student wishing to sleep in class got no such luxury
Image may contain: indoorCabin 12 in which I stayed this time was originally a one-room schoolhouse. The Bathroom as shown however is a modern innovation. In the old days, the doors let outside and to two outhouses, one labelled Girls the other Boys.

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The second bed.Image may contain: indoor


The kitchen area and leading towards the front entrance.Image may contain: indoor


The next few pictures show just how close cabin 16 (the newest and largest, complete with basement) cane to becoming one of the lost. The pictures show the opposite side of the cabin from where the lost cabins were. The trees shown are only about three feet from the cabin.
Image may contain: plant, outdoor and nature

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Image may contain: house, outdoor and natureCabin 16 was completely surrounded by fire. Areas that one might suppose would survive were lost, while buildings and areas one would think just couldn't survive did.