Memories of Charlie Lake, Canada

In June-2005, I first visited Beatton Provincial Park at Charlie Lake near Fort Saint John, in British Columbia for a few days. I was traveling to Alaska at the time with two other people, and I caught a virus that took some of the wind out of my sails. Still, there were birds there I found time to chase. I met my first White-Throated Sparrow there.

On June 5, 2022, and traveling solo, I returned to the region. On reaching the boat ramp at the south end of the lake, I didn’t see much in the way of bird-life. A few Red-Winged Blackbirds, a Mallard, and a pair of American Wigeons were loafing or foraging the near shoreline. More interesting, was a Common Loon working the waters just off-shore. I watched the bird, and sometimes its long dives brought him or her to the surface rather far from the shore, while other times much closer to my position.

After spending enough time to gather waterfowl images, I drove ten minutes north to Beatton Provincial Park, where I had camped 17 years ago. I found my way to the boat-launch, and memories began flooding in. I set out on the trail that followed the shore and enjoyed the company of the singing birds I found. Some of them played nice and were more cooperative than others, so I could not get everyone’s photograph.

One bird that gave me some decent looks was the Spotted Sandpiper. I found a pair in charge of the shoreline at a grassy picnic area, and one bird took exception to my presence, and told me so in no uncertain terms. I assume this was the female, for she rules the roost in this species. Like phalaropes, she will take on a sequence of multiple partners. Once she lays her eggs, she searches for a new mate, while the father takes on all the parental duties. The female might have 3 or 4 broods, and after she delivers her last clutch, she may remain with her last mate, or else she leaves the breeding grounds and begins her southern migration.

On June 27, 2022, after driving the Alcan Highway to Whitehorse, Yukon, I returned to Charlie Lake once more. I drove north to Beatton Provincial Park on Charlie Lake from Fort Saint John for what would be my third visit. 

Bouts of rain, interspersed with sunshine accompanied me on this, my third visit. When the sun blessed us, the birds were active at the park, especially the Ovenbirds. However, they were masters of frustration. They sang their boisterous songs from hidden perches and never provided me with an opportunity to capture an image. Happily, not all the bird species I met here were as shy as the Ovenbirds. Swainson’s Thrushes shared their songs freely and occasionally their images. Perhaps my most enjoyable meeting for the day was with Western Tanagers. I am rather familiar with this species on my southern California turf, where they both pass through in migration, but also breed in our inland mountains.

These dense, moist Boreal Forests play host not only to a wide variety of birds but less enjoyably to mosquitos. I use a chemical defense called Picaridin against these miniature vampires. Its effectiveness does not come at the cost of a foul distillery smell, and it will not dissolve plastics. The trick is to apply sufficient quantities in those hard to reach places. But I found a solution! Before I don my long-sleeve shirt, I lay it out and thoroughly spray a dose over the entire garment before putting it on. Then I treat my face, head, and hands, put on the shirt, spray my pants and shoes, and I am good to go for a few hours. The literature claims 12 hours of protection, but in my experience, the effect begins diminishing after three or four hours, but that’s enough for my needs.

I finished my time with the birds at Charlie Lake and returned to nearby Fort Saint John for the night. I prepared for the road ahead and a second visit to Turner Landing, and then to Dawson Creek, where the Alaska highway begins.