Autumn Colors of October

Virginia Creeper

The autumn colors of October first caught my attention in our back yard when our vines were turning their predominantly red colors.  This hasn't always happened, often in the past it seemed they preferred to just die and fall off so this was very welcomed.  This is a Virginia creeper, part of the grape family with fruit the birds can enjoy.

Thompson River

The Thompson River, seen here just down from where the North and South Thompson Rivers meet, flows past MacArthur Park where views of the south side show wide sandy beaches. 

Xeriscape Garden

The xeriscape garden is a peaceful stop if you're out walking MacArthur Park.  It is a great example of plants easily grown in the Kamloops area, which only gets about 250mm (under 10 inches for us older folk) precipitation annually.  Xeriscape means "water conservation through creative landscaping" so works very well for our climate.

MacArthur Island Loop

This shows part of the MacArthur Island Loop which is a total of 3.1 km (2 mi) or shorter if not all of it is walked.  It circles around the outside perimeter of the park and gives access to everything there.  Room for walkers, runners, bicycles and skateboards, too.

Sunny day with fall colors

A playground was recently added near the Soccer Association Clubhouse, I didn't get a photo but it had so many families there whenever we were nearby.  MacArthur Park has almost anything one might be looking for whether it be for sports as a spectator or participant.    A park our city can be proud of.

Canada Geese

While taking a drive out to Cinnamon Ridge to drop off the last of our Hallowe'en pumpkins, we saw fields and fields of Canada Geese.  This was the largest crowd in one field but there were thousands of them in fields along the roadway.  It is common to see flocks of Canada Geese in Kamloops but we've never seen such large flocks before.

Pipeline work

The construction of the pipeline has been ongoing for awhile now.  This is the hill seen above the airport.  The grade is very steep but thankfully we've not had any snow yet up to this point, the beginning of November.  

An up close view of the grade the pipeline is following doesn't look quite as steep in this photo but it was IMHO.  It was a beautiful day for a drive November 2, 2021 with blue sky and sunshine. 

There is just no place like home! 

Autumn Colors ~ Deer ~ McArthur Park ~ Kamloops, BC

Another sunny autumn day suggests another walk through the park.  I cannot go without my camera, even though we did this a week ago, there may be something different in McArthur Park.

Mt.Paul and Mt.Peter

It is amazing what a difference one week can make during this season of changing colors.  We have visited this park several times during other autumn seasons but I have never seen the colors quite like this.  The McArthur Park Slough with Mt. Paul and Peter in the background is a beautiful sight today.

McArthur Park greeters

We met some park greeters!  These ducks headed straight towards us as we crossed the footbridge over the slough, fully expecting us to have some treats for them.  We did not so they soon went on their way.  The little tree hugger was pretty curious but soon knew we had nothing for him, either.

Autumn colors

We followed the footpath that loops around the McArthur Island Golf Course and enjoyed the colors of the leaves of the trees on the golf course.  There were several different colors which aren’t part of the indigenous tree colors.

Grazing deer

Lush green grass, beautiful colors and no golfers.  What we do see are several deer, including a deer family enjoying that lush green grass!  This is exactly why I could never leave my camera behind.  One just never knows what they may see.

Deer playtime

Two deer were playing up under the big tree.  It is difficult to see the antlers through the tree branches but we were able to see them on one of the deer when they separated.  This wrestle only lasted a moment, time for three quick photos and they were back to grazing.

Beautiful deer buck

This buck was oblivious to the playing going on and stayed closer to the doe and the young one.  We moved to another opening through the fence and using my other lens, I was able to take photos that looked like we were right up close, but we were far enough away, they didn’t even notice.

Deer family

We saw six deer altogether on the course, two of them are just over the crest of the hill taking a rest and their heads are barely seen from here.  There may have been others, this seems to be a permanent home to them as we’ve seen some on golfing visits, too.

Colors of McArthur Park Golf Course

More trees, more autumn colors to enjoy but no deer in sight as we near the end of the path that encircles the golf course.  We do see some golfers that will soon be surprised to see what is ahead of them.

Kamloops across the Thompson River

The golf course is a great example of a local park for all to enjoy, even if you are not a golfer, but more so if you are.  The quiet walk in the park includes a pretty view of the Thompson River and the city of Kamloops in the distance.

Other than the deer, ducks and squirrels we saw here today, there are other residents to enjoy. Canada Geese find the park a perfect winter home and are often seen and heard flying overhead.  These large geese appear to avoid the golf course but spend most of their time in other parts of the park and add quite a lot of high quality phosphate to the grounds!

Canada Geese ~ McArthur Park ~ Kamloops, BC

We were driving through McArthur Park on a cold but sunny winter day when I spotted a flock of Canada Geese all having their afternoon rest in the waning sunshine.  We drove past so as not to disturb them then pulled over so I could get photos of the resting flock.

Canada Geese enjoying the sunshine

I quietly stepped down the grassy slope to begin taking photos when a few of them jumped up and started walking but what surprised me was that they were coming over my way.

They think I have food!

It wasn’t long and there were several following and before I knew it, they were all on their way.   I am quietly telling them I have no goodies for them but that didn’t seem to matter, they kept coming.

Getting closer

I stayed in place and they came within just a few feet of me as I continued talking to them.  They were pretty curious but at least they didn’t come right up to me, I would have been backing away if that had happened but they showed no aggression, so I stood my ground.

Settled in to find food in grass

They arrived, checked me out then all sat down, picking at the grass, I suspect, hoping they were going to find that I really did bring something for them to eat!  I admit that I did feel badly that they were looking for food and I had none, but I don’t think feeding them is the right thing to do although it appears other must, for them to come running as they did.

No food but more resting

The Canada Geese was near extinction in the 1950’s but there was a small flock discovered in Minnesota in 1962.  From this flock, a good production and restoration program began and by the end of 1981, more than 6,000 had been released at 83 sites in North Dakota.    The population in 2000 was said to be between 4 and 5 million in North America.

Canada Geese on McArthur Park Soccer Fields

The growing population of Canada Geese does create some problems for us, especially that they don’t all migrate further south anymore.  Some do but we seem to have plenty at all our parks and golf courses over the winter time as well as during the warmer seasons.

Thompson River at sunset

They were once protected from being hunted but the laws changed in June 2011 and that is no longer the case so that it is legal to hunt the Canada Geese, within hunting regulations, of course.  I am not an advocate of hunting and shooting any birds or animals but can understand the growing population is causing a serious problem in many places.  Culling is done in parts of the United States.

Ice flows in the Thompson River

The sun had slid down behind the hills but gave some final reflections on the river as the ice chunks flowed by.  So although I would rather all those Canada Geese were not leaving their mess in our park, I sure can understand why they would stay.  Winter or not, we offer such a beautiful location, how could they say ‘no’?

We love Kamloops, there is just no place like home!

McArthur Island Park ~ Autumn ~ Kamloops, BC

The frost was definitely on the pumpkin this morning but with that came the crisp autumn air and bright sunshine in a beautiful blue sky!  What a perfect morning for a walk and photos, can't leave home without my camera.  So we headed down to McArthur Island Park, a great place to do some walking and enjoy Mother Nature's autumn treasures.

The Great Blue Heron stands quietly at the waters' edge

On this fall morning, there is not much activity in the park like there is in the summer months, but there are plenty of our feathered friends there on our visit today. We saw some ducks down by the boat launch with one lonely great blue heron sharing the water.

A lone runner on McArthur Island path

There is a 3.1km paved walkway around the perimeter of the park and we followed that with many stops and diversions.  We passed a lone runner and several walkers who find this a great place for their morning exercise routine. Summertime there are a lot more walkers and lots of roller bladers enjoying the park walkway, too.

The gulls on the Thompson River

The gulls congregate along the edges of the sandy beach, barely visible here.  The morning sun casts some great shadows and shapes on the hillside on the south side of the Thompson River.  The clear blue sky and hills are reflected in the water, which doesn't appear to be moving too quickly until we watched a duck floating in the middle of the river at a pretty fast pace.

The last of the  cottonwood leaves

The last of the leaves are still hanging onto a few of the cottonwoods and brighten up from the sunshine on this gorgeous morning. This view is across the Thompson River to the sandbar that isn't visible in the early springtime when the river is high. This location offers beaches when the river is at its' summer levels but not as much as it shows now.

Canada Geese on the soccer field at McArthur Island Park

There was a time that Canada Geese were expected to fly south for the winter but it seems that in recent years, some have decided that Kamloops is far enough south and many of them stay here for the winter.  There is no one using any of the soccer fields at this time of year so I guess the geese feel they can.  I do believe some of them will decide to leave once winter gets in full swing... or will they?

McArthur Island Park pathway

The path is visible from the parking areas for most of the perimeter of the park but there is a portion that is behind the McArthur Island golf course and today we are out on a nature walk away from the bustle of the city.  The park has much to offer including the Gregson Butterfly Garden and a xeriscape garden at other locations in the park.  More info on them by clicking on their names.

Squirrel stands to get a better view

The squirrels are busy collecting their winter food supply and seem to think that we may have something for them.  They may find treats from the many people who do use the park whether it is for golf, soccer, football or baseball, there are thousands of people who frequent this beautiful park every year.

Squirrel hoping for some treats

These little guys are quite brave and one came within an arms length from me while I was taking some pictures, he didn't appear to fear me being so close. This photo was taken at the seating area near the footbridge over the Slough where there is usually much going on for us and the little critters in the area.

McArthur Park has much to offer with the Sports and Events Centre for year round use and the McArthur Island Youth Centre for youth activities and is home for the Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops. The Kamloops Skatepark is a great place for the kids and their skateboards which sees lots of activity during the summer months. The Norbrock Stadium and the Lawn Bowling are quiet at this time of year but offer lots during the summer months, too. We are very fortunate to have such a great center for all to use and enjoy... and so are the Canada Geese.