Botanical Glossary - Home

Thomas Lake showing the telltale white bleaching of alkali on the trees and shrubs at water's edge - Commonage Road, between Okanagan Center and Vernon BC - October 04, 2009.

Traveling along the dirt backroad between Okanagan Center and Vernon on a small motorcycle can be slow and tedious but rewarding. The need to travel at slow speeds to avoid potholes and sections of washboard does have benefits - There are opportunities to see wildlife, although not necessarily be able to shoot quick enough to capture it, and opportunities to take a well deserved break to marvel at the beauty of nature as I so much enjoy.

Commanage Road starts as a well marked turn off Carrs Landing Road in Cedar Grove and travels north east along the piece of land that separates Kalamalka Lake and Okanagan Lake, all the way to Vernon. Thomas Lake is about half way between the turn off to Commonage and Vernon and rests between hills that could be considered by some as small mountains.

Thomas Lake is a shallow alkaline body of water that attracts a few Barrow's Goldeneyes, Redheads, and Mallards during the summer and a sizeable flock of America Wigeons during the spring. Also look for Howard Road at this point, a paved road heading about 2 kms through the dry Douglas-fir forest. Right at the corner of Commonage and Howard Roads is an excellent spot to look for Cassin's Finches, White-breasted Nuthatches, and Hairy Woodpeckers drawn to bird feeders in the yard of one of the property owners. Howard Road is always worth a look. In summer a brood of Blue Grouse may appear walking along the road, kinglets occur in the firs and in migration, raptors may pass overhead. Common rodents include Red Squirrels and Yellow-pine Chipmunks.

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