Richard Cannings
@dickcannings.bsky.social
Biologist, author, birder, mediocre fiddle player, slow cyclist and grandfather. Canadian Member of Parliament for South Okanagan-West Kootenay 2015-2025.
Just checked out Comet Lemmon in the western sky by following the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper down towards Arcturus. Helps to have binoculars or a scope and a dark sky! Map by Anthony Wood.
October 18, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Just checked out Comet Lemmon in the western sky by following the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper down towards Arcturus. Helps to have binoculars or a scope and a dark sky! Map by Anthony Wood.
The 2025 Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory season ended with 1539 birds of 55 species banded and an impressive 185 species detected. A record hot September kept birds at higher elevations so a lot of birds passed us by. Thanks to David and Aiva and all the volunteers!
October 16, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The 2025 Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory season ended with 1539 birds of 55 species banded and an impressive 185 species detected. A record hot September kept birds at higher elevations so a lot of birds passed us by. Thanks to David and Aiva and all the volunteers!
Only a few days left in the banding season at Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory. A lot of big birds going south on the north wind this morning —vultures, ospreys, harriers, rough-legged hawks and more. Last day is Wednesday!
October 12, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Only a few days left in the banding season at Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory. A lot of big birds going south on the north wind this morning —vultures, ospreys, harriers, rough-legged hawks and more. Last day is Wednesday!
The fall season is winding down at the Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory with the shift to late migrants like Pacific Wren and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Last day of operation is October 15.
October 9, 2025 at 12:16 AM
The fall season is winding down at the Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory with the shift to late migrants like Pacific Wren and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Last day of operation is October 15.
Two of the five lutescens Orange-crowned Warblers netted today at Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory. VLBO is open to the public every morning until October 15, located 1 km north of the lake (4 km south of OK Falls).
September 20, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Two of the five lutescens Orange-crowned Warblers netted today at Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory. VLBO is open to the public every morning until October 15, located 1 km north of the lake (4 km south of OK Falls).
Dropped into Salt Spring Books and met Adina Hildebrandt who has owned this fine independent bookstore for 25 years. Support your local bookseller!
September 12, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Dropped into Salt Spring Books and met Adina Hildebrandt who has owned this fine independent bookstore for 25 years. Support your local bookseller!
Nice to bump into friends and colleagues Jan O’Brien and Geoff Meggs and talk about families as well as the federal and provincial political scene.
September 12, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Nice to bump into friends and colleagues Jan O’Brien and Geoff Meggs and talk about families as well as the federal and provincial political scene.
We were all saddened to learn today that Ken Dryden had passed away. I had the privilege of meeting him in 2022 at the celebration for the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series--he was a great Canadian on and off the ice.
September 6, 2025 at 2:47 PM
We were all saddened to learn today that Ken Dryden had passed away. I had the privilege of meeting him in 2022 at the celebration for the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series--he was a great Canadian on and off the ice.
It’s moulting season at Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory for songbirds as they get their flight feathers renewed for the fall and winter ahead. This young chat and adult male goldfinch are going through complex patterns of moult that will make it easier for them to fly.
August 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
It’s moulting season at Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory for songbirds as they get their flight feathers renewed for the fall and winter ahead. This young chat and adult male goldfinch are going through complex patterns of moult that will make it easier for them to fly.
Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory continues to monitor a good diversity of birds with numbers ahead of last year. Today’s highlight was a young Black-headed Grosbeak—with a beak like that you have to handle them carefully! Open every a.m. 1 km N of the lake on Hwy 97.
August 23, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory continues to monitor a good diversity of birds with numbers ahead of last year. Today’s highlight was a young Black-headed Grosbeak—with a beak like that you have to handle them carefully! Open every a.m. 1 km N of the lake on Hwy 97.
The Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory continues to see and band good numbers of local birds and migrants. This Least Flycatcher was one of this morning’s surprises. Drop in any morning until October 15–we’re 1 km north if Vaseux Lake on the west side of Hwy 97.
August 10, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory continues to see and band good numbers of local birds and migrants. This Least Flycatcher was one of this morning’s surprises. Drop in any morning until October 15–we’re 1 km north if Vaseux Lake on the west side of Hwy 97.
After a wipeout of last year’s crop due to a flash freeze, it is so good to see and smell a bumper crop of fresh peaches! We be jammin’ today.
August 10, 2025 at 8:30 PM
After a wipeout of last year’s crop due to a flash freeze, it is so good to see and smell a bumper crop of fresh peaches! We be jammin’ today.
Retirement so far.
August 8, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Retirement so far.
I don’t often post fly pictures here but this Rocky Mountain Hornet Fly is one of the most convincing wasp mimics I’ve ever met.
August 7, 2025 at 10:57 PM
I don’t often post fly pictures here but this Rocky Mountain Hornet Fly is one of the most convincing wasp mimics I’ve ever met.
Cedar Waxwing fledglings in our elderberry yesterday--even the late starters are leaving the nest this time of year!
July 24, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Cedar Waxwing fledglings in our elderberry yesterday--even the late starters are leaving the nest this time of year!
The shrine grows for the Stubbies rehearsals in Stew McLeod’s garage.
July 17, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The shrine grows for the Stubbies rehearsals in Stew McLeod’s garage.
Fantastic performance of Dream—Tempest Theatre’s reimagining of a Midsummer Nights Dream—at Linden Gardens this evening. Fabulous cast and magical setting. www.tempest.ca/on-stage.html
July 16, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Fantastic performance of Dream—Tempest Theatre’s reimagining of a Midsummer Nights Dream—at Linden Gardens this evening. Fabulous cast and magical setting. www.tempest.ca/on-stage.html
Starting to process this year’s garlic! Thinking of the fine folks in the Slocan who sold me the fine seed stock I’ve been using for the past decade or so.
July 15, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Starting to process this year’s garlic! Thinking of the fine folks in the Slocan who sold me the fine seed stock I’ve been using for the past decade or so.
Nice to see a lovely Agapostemon bee in the potato patch this morning!
June 25, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Nice to see a lovely Agapostemon bee in the potato patch this morning!
Our bicycle birdathon to raise funds for the Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory was a big success! John Reynolds, Brian Starzomski and I pedalled 117 km through the Okanagan and tallied 128 species. Full story to follow, but please click on the link to donate to the cause!
www.canadahelps.org/me/6TrkxXY
www.canadahelps.org/me/6TrkxXY
May 20, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Our bicycle birdathon to raise funds for the Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory was a big success! John Reynolds, Brian Starzomski and I pedalled 117 km through the Okanagan and tallied 128 species. Full story to follow, but please click on the link to donate to the cause!
www.canadahelps.org/me/6TrkxXY
www.canadahelps.org/me/6TrkxXY
Big south wind bringing smoke to Penticton from the first Okanagan wildfire of the season—just south of the border in Washington.
May 8, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Big south wind bringing smoke to Penticton from the first Okanagan wildfire of the season—just south of the border in Washington.
A Wild Turkey just landed in one of our big firs!
April 17, 2025 at 11:30 PM
A Wild Turkey just landed in one of our big firs!
Happy birthday to my brother Syd! (that's him on the left)
March 31, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Happy birthday to my brother Syd! (that's him on the left)
Great time was had by all at the Elks!
March 29, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Great time was had by all at the Elks!
Our band is playing at noon at the Penticton Elks Hall as part of Ignite the Arts. Come on down!
March 29, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Our band is playing at noon at the Penticton Elks Hall as part of Ignite the Arts. Come on down!