by Cindy Here on May 16, 2011
On Sunday, my stomping buddy and I decided to spend an hour exploring the lower parts of Kalamoir Park in West Kelowna, BC. We parked at the bottom near the information boards (lots of info about the geology, plants, and wildlife in the area). Facing the lake, we headed towards the left. This 1/2 hour walk took us along very gentle terrain towards Casa Loma.
Along the way, I spotted something orange flitting through the trees. I have never seen an orange bird before. He even posed for the camera.
Once I got home, I checked the bird book. My best guess? A Bullock’s Oriole.
by Cindy Here on April 27, 2011
I have something in common with Indiana Jones. I don’t like snakes!
However, if I have my camera with me, it’s a completely different story. To give you a heads up, I did a little research and discovered there are three main snakes which reside in the Okanagan Valley.
The first is the Western Rattlesnake. I’ve never seen one myself, but my husband encountered one many years ago while exploring Boucherie Mountain on the Westside. Both went in differenct directions. Two identifying marks on this fellow are the triangular head and the distinctive rattle at the end of the tail. You’ll want to keep your eyes open for rattlesnakes in the dryer rocky areas of the valley. In the spring, you may spot them in the grasslands hunting for rodents. If bit by one, get yourself to the hospital so they can determine if it was venomous (apparently some bites are “dry”) and treat your bite accordingly.
The second is the Garter Snake. I have seen a few of these over the years. They are named garter snakes because the pattern on their sides resembles the “garters” which men used to wear to hold up their socks. They are harmless. If I ever manage to snap a photo of these guys, I’ll post it.
And now, onto the third – The Great Basin Gopher Snake. This fellow scared the *** out of me while we were exploring Kalamoir Park on Saturday. We were just a few feet away when I spotted it. “SNAKE!” The first thing I saw was the snake, the second was that it had no rattle. Whew! However, since I didn’t know what it was at the time, we backed up and let it go on it’s way. Of course, my camera was snapping as many shots as possible!
The Gopher Snake is easy to confuse with the Rattlesnake, however it is non-venomous. It’s markings on the back are rectangular (verus oval shaped for the Rattlesnake). It’s head has a darker brown line running from the top past the pale round eyes. The tail ends in a thin point. These guys are after rodents, smaller snakes, lizards, and will even climb trees to get into bird nests. They are the largest non-venomous snake in BC (up to 1.8 meters long!)
It was cool seeing the snake, but I have to admit, I would rather see birds! – Cindy
