Category Archives: Naturalist Posts

The Alien Bur Buttercup Is Blooming

Kamloops Naturalist Club Posted on by

This is a re-post of my article from about one year ago. Look around on road sides or bare disturbed ground and you are likely to see the small yellow flowers of Bur Buttercup (Ranunculus testiculatus). It is also known as Hornseed Buttercup or Horned-Head Buttercup. It is native to southeastern Europe (Balkan Peninsula). It was first recorded in North America from Utah in 1932. The first record for British Columbia, in southern regions, was in 1966 and it has spread widely since then. It is an annual that flowers … Continue reading →

Are We in the Next Mass Extinction? Sure Looks Like It

Kamloops Naturalist Club Posted on by

The last extinction occurred 65 million years ago when it is believed that a six mile wide asteroid hit the earth killing off the dinosaurs. Many scientists agree that the next mass extinction might happen sooner rather than later– as in, it’s already underway. Scientists believe that one-third of freshwater mollusks, sharks and coral reefs are well on their way to vanishing from our waters. Moreover, a quarter of our mammals, a fifth of our reptiles and a sixth of our birds are on their way out too. And every … Continue reading →

Mary Oliver

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  I did not know poet Mary Oliver until her death, last week, at the age of 83. Mary Oliver was an American poet-naturalist. I intend to read all of her work. Her writing is full of reminders, like this, which is taken from the poem Sometimes:   Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.

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First Cape May Warbler Ever Seen In the Lower Mainland

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Instead of spending time in Turks and Caicos or Barbados, this tiny yellow Cape May warbler has somehow ended up in Abbotsford, B.C. Bird photographer Nick Balachanoff says, to his understanding, it’s the first identified Cape May warbler in the Lower Mainland or Fraser Valley. See the full story

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Kamloops Christmas Bird Count

Kamloops Naturalist Club Posted on by

The Kamloops CBC was held on Dec. 15, 2018. We tallied 75 species and 15,185 individuals. Highlights included Snow Goose, Sandhill Crane, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a bumper crop of Robins. A Belted Kingfisher was seen during the count period. The order below follows the 7th edition of the AOU checklist plus recent supplements to 2017. Snow Goose – 1 Canada Goose – 2817 Trumpeter Swan – 63 Northern Shoveler – 43 Gadwall – 10 American Wigeon – 3 Mallard – 1684 Green-winged Teal – 26 Ring-necked Duck – 4 Greater … Continue reading →