Juncos!
Pussy willows
Our road.
Spring morning sun on the beaver pond (still frozen.)
It was at this time the West Chilcotin Search and Rescue had their annual, compulsory helicopter awareness day at White Saddle
Air. Mike (standing next to one of his cherished babies) gave us the usual lecture about the dangers of walking into whirling blades or not securing loose items like hats and tools.
The first group were away. Hover exits are not in fact a requirement for SAR (although frequently done by firefighters), but those with good knees always do this.
It was a blustery day. Mike has to get the chopper so that the person can step carefully off without jolting the aircraft. This is a tricky maneouver at the best of times, and the strong gusts made it very difficult.
To get pictures with the mountain behind I stood in the combined blasts of air from the wind and the machine.
Back home, the ice on the beaver pond was beginning to break up. First duck was the usual – barrow’s goldeneye.
Then I saw the first bear. May 16th. A tad on the early side.
The May moon just past the full.
The ice is now half off the beaver pond.
Ducks are busy and not always very friendly. The tiny buffleheads have multiple fights but this mallard wasn’t going to let them get away with it.
Hawks cruise checking on migrating birds. This northern harrier decided the beaver house made a good lookout.
A striking and uncommon visitor to the pond was a horned grebe. I saw two males but no females; one male is still there as I write.
Over Easter weekend, Pepita developed an enormous absess under her chin. This necessitated a couple of trips to Williams Lake to the vet. (She is fine now.)
The first spring fire. There are two reserves about an hour east of Williams Lake and they burn off the grass. Every year one or the other group lets the fires get away. There wasn’t much fire activity anywhere then so it was soon taken care of. Still, this is what makes summer my least favourite season. The constant threat of fire.
Tatla Lake school put on a play, a musical version of Cinderella. I had fun helping the kids with the scenery.
Cinderella and her dog singing a duet.
