Slocan B.C. is a truly lovely spot. A recent drive to visit my daughter and her wife was full of memorable moments. The family time was full of conversation, memory building and remembering, gourmet meals, restful viewing of the Slocan valley from Sarah and Therin’s living room, and wonderful hikes and cross country skiing.
I spent hours gazing over the Valhalla Valley from the living room windows.
As you might guess the bulk of this blog will be the wonderful bird life that presented for portraits during my trip.
Wild turkeys are really beautiful once you get beyond the crazy face.
One of my goals while visiting Slocan was to locate and photograph Trumpter Swans. They came close to extinction in the early 1900’s due to hunting for their feathers, meat and skin but have rebounded and are not considered threatened now. Sarah told me that they overwinter on Slocan Lake so we headed out on a beautiful ‘Rail to Trail’ spot just a few minutes from their house. A fresh snow the night before and a deliciously warm day helped us fly along the trail to a spot where the trail comes close to the Lake.
My first glimpse of the swans came after a short walk through the trees where the lake shore comes close to the trail.
The grey coloured ones are younger. Notice the Canada Goose getting in on the action.
The brown staining on the head comes from foraging in iron rich sediments on the lake bottom.
This group was a long way off and were flying to a new spot for feeding.
A few other species were visible along the trail as we came back home.
8 Comments
Oh Trent, All these pictures are so stunning. The valley is so beautiful and the bird pictures are, as always, gorgeous shots. Love seeing the kids corner of the world through your words and camera lens. Lovely as always. Thanks so much!
Stunning as always Trent! What a lovely spot for Sarah and Therin and you’ve been able to enjoy visiting in two lovely seasons.
I always feel like I can reach out and touch your photo objects!
Wonderful shots from the Slocan Valley. It is truly a beautiful part of our planet. Well worth a return there for you. The valley os full of interesting things to do, to see, to learn history, for one to beactive and just to relax. The “Rails-to-Trails” Galena Trail is great for cycling in the summer and you found for x-c skiing. Idaho Peak is amazing in the summer – views from the former fire-tower at the summit and the flowers in the meadows going up. Valhalla Park, across the lake, is an unknown own wilderness treasure. Crossing the lake in a kayak in the afternoon can be dodgy. The Valley is also home to a “black” part of Canadian history. Japanese Canadians were sent to the valley in 1942. Sandon was, and returned to, a ghost-town near New Denver where today The Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre is located on the site of a wartime internment camp. Thanks for sharing another of your adventures.
Great photos. I didn’t know that the Trumper Swans wintered in the Slocan Valley. Beautiful big birds. I did know the valley was home to Turkeys as years ago I came around a corner and nearly clipped one sitting on the while line. It was dusk and the highway was warm. Big birds also.
What an amazing view that would be grand in all seasons! Your photos are always the best thank you!!
What a beautiful place Sarah and Therin have chosen to live and now you can visit!!
Every Season will be so different. Wishing you many more wonderful trips.
Thanks Trent for the great photos.
Margaret
Not only are your photographs awesome Trent, your commentaries are near poetry. Robin Wall Kimmerer has company!
Thanks for doing this.
Ernie
Another wonderful adventure. Thanks for sharing.
Joe