June 20-24, 2016-Lillooet, Diamonds Ranch, Fountain Lake, Bobolink, Veery, Macgillivray's Warbler

At the beginning of June we visited BC Hydro's Seton Campground close to Lillooet.  We liked the location and the fact it was free camping.  So we headed out there again for 5 days.  The following maps show 2 areas we visited.

The point on the map indicates the Diamond Ranch between Pavillion and Clinton.  This back road is very picturesque and birdy.  I wish we would have gone all the way to Clinton but rain showers were hindering our explorations.

High in the hills above Lillooet are a couple of nice lakes that we hiked around.  One was Fountain Lake.

This Robin was collecting bugs on the shore of Fountain Lake.

We were excited to find a Bobolink on the Diamond Ranch.  Unfortunately it was raining at the time.  This restricted our exploration of the area.  This area is 1500 meters above sea level and is a vast grassland between Pavillion and Clinton.  The good variety of birds we found there was unexpected.

Ian Routley from Lillooet went up to find the Bobolink on June 30 2016.  He reported back that he found it and 1 other male and 1 female.  They were carrying insects.  This may be the first breeding evidence recorded for this area.  

Okay butterfly guys-Fritillary?  Thanks to Tim Allison of Calgary for identifying it as a Field Crescent.

I posted a picture of this Gray Catbird on the blog  from our previous trip.  He popped up again and ate a few Red Osier Dogwood berries.

Dian heard something and after a little searching we found a Macgillivray's Warbler at Fountain Lake.

Many of the birds we saw were in feeding mode.

Lillooet has a vast area covered with spawning salmon channels.  This buck Mule Deer was cooling off in them. 

A doe Mule Deer was in camp.

Song Sparrow at Fountain Lake collecting insect specimens.

Spotted Sandpiper at Fountain Lake. 

This Spotted Sandpiper at Fountain Lake had 4 other little ones.

We heard Veerys but it wasn't until the last day that we finally saw one at our campsite.

We have come to the conclusion that Veerys are difficult to photograph as they are skittish and stay in dark undergrowth.  Veerys sing at sundown and this was evident at the campsite.  We heard them every evening so we knew they were there but we couldn't find any. This one finally appeared the morning before we left.

The wind blew the feathers of this Vesper Sparrow to reveal the chestnut patch.  At Diamond Ranch.

Warbling Vireo at Fountain Lake

Western Meadowlark Diamond's Ranch

We spotted some people in a field on a drive to Goldbridge.  So we stopped and saw this sign.

It was a group of archeologists excavating  an ancient native village.  We will have to take the tour the next time we visit.

We thought we would visit Lillooet again and see what we missed the first visit but we just found more things to see and do.  One of the things is to drive the whole route from Pavillion to Clinton.  That is my kind of country.

End of this blog.  Scroll down for previous blog.

BC Hydro Campground, Seton Lake, Lillooet, British Columbia Part 3 of 3 June 5 and 6, 2016

This is the final blog of our 3 campsite trip.  Seton Lake Campground is run by BC Hydro and it is free!!  This is a great spot with an overflow if the sites are full.  Being at a lower altitude than Green Lake and Tunkwa the temperature was much higher.  In fact it was 36 celsius in the afternoon when we were there.  The campground was well maintained and had water.  

The entrance to the campground.

The route from our previous campsite at Green Lake. (previous blog)

Here is the entire route we took during the 8 days.

One evening while sitting at a picnic table we saw this bear high on the mountain side digging for something.

Just above the bear was this Mountain Sheep.

Above the Sheep were these 2 Mountain Goats.  We spotted 7 Mountain Goats and 2 other Sheep on the cliff side.  A local resident joined us and said there were also plenty of Cougars in area.  We didn't spot any.

Not sure what this recent fledgling is.  It could scramble across the ground pretty fast.

From the campsite at sunset.

Lazuli Bunting In Lillooet

The Old Bridge in Lillooet was built in the early 1900's to replace a ferry over the Fraser River that was used to transport gold miners to the Cariboo Goldrush around 1860.

The Fraser River from the bridge looking towards Lillooet on the right.

The Fraser looking north from the Old Bridge.

Yellow Warbler around the campsite.

I was taking pictures of the sunset looking west and turned around to find some color in the east.

Some of the campsites will accommodate a pretty good sized rig.

A Gray Catbird popped up as we watched the Goats and Sheep.

Sunset over Seaton Lake.  This lake provides the water for a BC Hydro power project.

All the wildlife in this blog (except for the Lazuli Bunting) were photographed at a picnic site across the road from the campsite.  We have decided we have to return here soon, as we missed a $10 train ride to Seaton Portage, a great museum and a visit to Goldbridge; an historic mining town.  This inaugural extended trip with our new Escape has reinforced our decision that the trailer is going to provide some great camping experiences.

End of this blog.  Scroll down for previous blogs and go to "older posts". 

Green Lake Provincial Park, B.C., Sunset Campground, June 2,3,4 2016 Part 2

This blog is the second of a 3 part series concerning our first extended trip with our new trailer.  We headed north from Tunkwa to Green Lake where the camping fee was $18.00.  No electricity, only water and well maintained.  Green Lake is in the Cariboo District of British Columbia

Here is the route from Tunkwa to Green Lake.

We rarely see Calliope Hummingbirds in the Vancouver area but they are common here.

This campground can be notorious for mosquitos but my fire building capabilities can be a deterrent for them.

Clay-Colored Sparrows are another bird we don't see very often at home.

Clay-Colored Sparrow.

Dian at the Lake.  Our campsite backed onto this little beach and we went swimming; something I haven't done for a few years.

Northern Rough-winged Swallows were busy building nests.

They dig holes in dirt banks and build their nest inside.

A Red-naped Sapsucker visited his wells of sap.

Dian's brother Neil and his wife Wilma joined with their trailer.  Watching the sun set.

About 4 years ago we visited here and these Red-necked Grebes were nesting in the same spot.  We were surprised to see them again.

"I got you babe"

Neil and Wilma's rig.

This Sandhill Crane was very agitated as we came across it, his mate and at least one colt.  We saw a mother moose and calf in the same meadow the night before.  Sorry no picture as we immediately retreated.

Sundown at the campsite.

Great weather here for the 3 days.  This campsite is reservable but we found many of the sites were empty at this time of year.   The next stop was BC Hydro Seton Lake Campground.  That blog will be ready in a few days.

Scroll down for previous blog (Tunkwa).