Saturday, November 25, 2006:
A somewhat blustery and snowy day greeted four intrepid birders this morning at Lakeside Park in Nelson. Starting at the orange bridge and wandering along to the “Mall Bay,” or “Duck Bay” as some call it, we saw 11 different species: Mallards, Rock Pigeons, Canada Geese, American Coots, Buffleheads, American Wigeons, Ring-necked Ducks, Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Gull, Common Goldeneyes, Song Sparrow, and an American Dipper spotted by either Sharon or Gary (sorry, I forget who!). We also heard an American Robin call once as we walked back to the parking lot after a refreshing hot drink! The group dispersed at this point and I decided to head over to the Waterfront Walkway below the airstrip to see what I could see. Walking into a 10-minute snowstorm, I managed to add the following species to my list: American Crow, Greater Scaup, Hooded Merganser (1 female), Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Redhead (for sure, 1 male, but there may have been a female in among the Greater Scaup females), and a Horned Grebe. In all, 18 species and 1,056 birds were seen! It was a good outing – thanks to Gary, Sharon and Lloyd for joining me.
Elaine Moore

Saturday, December 2, 2006:
Six Nats attended the x/c ski down the old railbed known as the Slocan Valley Rail Trail. We were joined by a deer picking its way through the brush. Another deer was spotted crossing the highway, and there was also sign of a deer being killed, either by a vehicle or a hunter. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the trail was in great shape.
SW Webster

Saturday, December 9, 2006:
Five people birded the Waldie Island area. There was heavy overcast but no rain. Birds seen were bald eagles, red-shafted flickers, crows, mallards, common and barrows goldeneyes, herons, geese, lesser and greater scaup, song sparrow, common merganser, bohemian waxwings, blue jays, stellar jay, ring-neck duck, dippers, black-capped chickadees, winter wrens, juncos gadwalls, and a gull.
Ed Beynon

There is pleasure in the pathless woods
There is rapture on the lonely shore
There is society where none intrudes
By the deep sea and music in its roar
I love not man less, but nature more
-Lord Byron

Marion Elizabeth (Betty) Drew
1906-2006