Powers Creek Valley--Looking toward Okanagan Lake

Yesterday, I hiked in the upper Powers Creek area. My three trail cameras each had something to offer---a strawberry blonde Black Bear, a Cougar, a cow Moose with her two calves of last year, a Mule Deer and a Whitetail Deer. 

The variations of colour possibilities in Black Bears ranges from black to white, with almost any shade in between. White ones have been called Spirit Bears and bluish ones, Glacier Bears but they are all Black Bears by species and differing colours may even be born in the same litter.

The cougar picture was taken at night, by an infra red camera, the first cougar picture for this year.

The moose pictures were on the camera at the pond, probably the same moose that showed up there earlier. 

Now I see that the cow has twin year old fawns. These are probably the same moose that lived in this area last summer.

There was also a picture of a Whitetail Deer on one of the cameras, but it was of poor quality. 

This Mule Deer is still losing its winter hair coat.

When I was examining the contents of one of the cameras, I noticed this cricket on the bark of the spruce tree. 

It was so well camouflaged against the bark that had it not moved, I probably would not have noticed it. I intend to send the photo to E Fauna, for when I looked through their pictures of BC crickets, I could find none that matched this one.

During my usual enjoyable walk among the wild flowers on the canyon rim trail, I was under constant attack by mosquitoes and black flies. Mosquitoes I can ignore but black flies are another matter! I react badly to their bites, with swelling, redness and even small haemorrhages. I awoke this morning with a lumpy face and large bags under my eyes. I usually avoid use of insect repellants because I don't want to leave their strong odours around my trail cameras but yesterday, toward the end of my hike, my resolve crumbled!

Most of the plants seen have appeared on my posts at other times but I never cease to enjoy seeing them, for example. Spotted Coralroot, a saprophyte. 

Notice the mosquito that happened to get in the picture, perched on the central plant stem, near its top.

 In the lower stretches of Powers Creek valley, Blue Clematis grow as much taller vines. The ones that I have found at this elevation, about 1150 metres, have all been tiny, about grass level height.

My friend Reg Newman has given me the identity of the plant in this picture. It is Buttercup-leaved Suksdorfia.

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