An Eagle, A Marmot and Some Very Large Ants

March 31, 2014

Spring continued to wake this weekend: two butterflies (probably Tortoiseshells?) were basking in the sun; the Song Sparrows were singing in the sun; pairs of noisy Winter Wrens were active and the dippers, as usual, were chasing each other noisily over the roaring waters of Kokanee Creek. This Bald Eagle was perched overhead watching all the action.

A Bald Eagle at Kokanee Creek

A small Yellow-bellied Marmot was basking in the sun at Taghum. I haven’t seen a marmot on these rocks before and I wonder if it will survive all the dogs – and eagles – in the area.

A Yellow Bellied Marmot at Taghum

A Yellow-bellied Marmot sunning.

The Formica Mound Ants have been sluggishly active on the surface for a couple of weeks now, but this mound in Taghum was alive with bustling ants this weekend. Bears frequently dig into these mounds up to find the protein-rich larvae. The bear must get some substantial bites on the nose and around the eyes from these large ants – but bears are tough. There have been no bears sighted around here yet this season. But soon!