Nicola Naturalist Society – Members’ Photos April 2014

A selection of winter and early spring photos from the members of the Nicola Naturalist Society, Merritt, BC.

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Northern Pintails in early spring. Photo: © Bob Scafe

Northern Pintails in early spring. Photo: © Bob Scafe

 

Canada Geese and Mallards on a spring pond, Nicola Valley. Photo: © Bob Scafe

Canada Geese, Northern Pintails and Mallards on a spring pond, Nicola Valley. Photo: © Bob Scafe

American Goldfinch male in late winter. Photo: © Bob Scafe

American Goldfinch male in late winter. Photo: © Bob Scafe

A Northern Pygmy Owl.  Photo: © Alan Burger

A Northern Pygmy Owl. Photo: © Alan Burger

A Belted Kingfisher on the shores of Douglas Lake.  Photo: © Bob Scafe

A Belted Kingfisher on the shores of Douglas Lake. Photo: © Bob Scafe

A Western Screech Owl photographed in the Okanagan Valley. Photo: © Kenneth Ostraat.

A Western Screech Owl photographed in the Okanagan Valley. Photo: © Kenneth Ostraat.

This Cat-faced Orb Weaver spider was found on a Merritt lawn. Photo: © Gloria Brenner

This Cat-faced Orb Weaver spider was found on a Merritt lawn. Photo: © Gloria Brenner

Red-naped Sapsucker male. This species is common in the forests around Merritt, BC.  Photo:  © Alan Burger

Red-naped Sapsucker male. This species is common in early spring and through the summer in the forests around Merritt, BC. Photo: © Alan Burger

A Yellow Pine Chipmunk - newly emerged from its winter hibernation.  Photo: © Alan Burger

A Yellow Pine Chipmunk – newly emerged from its winter hibernation. Photo: © Alan Burger

Sagebrush Buttercups (Ranunculus glaberrinus) is always the first flower to bloom in early spring in the Nicola Valley area.  Photo: © Alan Burger

Sagebrush Buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrinus) is always the first flower to bloom in early spring in the Nicola Valley area. Photo: © Alan Burger

A lovely portrait of a Mourning Dove at a feeder in winter.  Photo: © Bob Scafe

A lovely portrait of a Mourning Dove at a feeder in winter. Photo: © Bob Scafe

A male House Finch in winter, Merritt, BC.  Photo:  © Bob Scafe

A male House Finch in winter, Merritt, BC. Photo: © Bob Scafe

This Sharp-shinned Hawk was a regular visitor to backyard feeders in the Merritt area.  Photo:  © Bob Scafe

This Sharp-shinned Hawk was a regular visitor to backyard feeders in the Merritt area. Photo: © Bob Scafe

Early spring aggregation of Canada Geese, Northern Pintail and Mallards at a shallow pond in the Nicola Valley.  Photo: © Bob Scafe

Canada Geese and Northern Pintails at a shallow pond in the Nicola Valley. Photo: © Bob Scafe

Bohemian Waxwings - common winter visitors to the Merritt area.  Photo: © Bruce Grimshire

Bohemian Waxwing – a common winter visitor to the Merritt area. Photo: © Bruce Grimshire

Spring migrants: female (left) and male (right) Varied Thrushes.  Photos: © Anne Pang (L) and Murphy Shewchuk (R)

Early spring migrants: female (left) and male (right) Varied Thrushes. Photos: © Anne Pang (L) and Murphy Shewchuk (R)

This Wilson's Snipe was mistakenly searching for food among the rocks of a Merritt garden. Photos:  © Bob Scafe

This Wilson’s Snipe was searching for food among the rocks of a Merritt garden. Photos: © Bob Scafe

An immature Red-tailed Hawk in winter, Nicola Valley.  Photo:  © Alan Burger

An immature Red-tailed Hawk in winter, Nicola Valley. Photo: © Alan Burger

This Muskrat was diving down below the ice to bring up plants to eat, Harrison Lake, Kane Valley near Merritt.  Photo: © Alan Burger

This Muskrat was diving down below the ice to bring up plants to eat, Harrison Lake, Kane Valley near Merritt. Photo: © Alan Burger

A Muskrat muching on aquatic vegetation that it has brought up to the ice to eat, Harrison Lake, Kane Valley near Merritt.  Photo: © Alan Burger

A Muskrat muching on aquatic vegetation that it has brought up to the ice to eat, Harrison Lake, Kane Valley near Merritt. Photo: © Alan Burger

A mid-winter flock of Bohemian Waxwings in the Nicola Valley, BC.  Photo: © Bruce Grimshire
A mid-winter flock of Bohemian Waxwings in the Nicola Valley, BC. Photo: © Bruce Grimshire
Like an impressionist painting, this cell-phone photo beautifully captures the lifestyle of Mountain Goats. Interior BC. Photo: © David Pitt

Like an impressionist painting, this cell-phone photo beautifully captures the lifestyle of Mountain Goats. Interior BC. Photo: © David Pitt

A pair pf Barrow's Goldeneyes in spring, Kane Valley near Merritt.  Photo: © Alan Burger

A pair pf Barrow’s Goldeneyes in spring, Kane Valley near Merritt. Photo: © Alan Burger

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