Snow Buntings - winter acrobats...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) are sparrow-sized and acrobatically swirl over snowy winter fields in small or large flocks.   No other songbird, except McKay's Bunting, shows so much white in its feathering.   In summer, in the arctic, the male has a black back, contrasting with its white head and underparts.   

It is a common, hardy breeder of far northern tundras in Alaska and Canada.  In winter its ranges through Canada and the central United States, south to the Carolinas and Oregon.

For me, they can be a joyful sight in any sunny winter setting.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Natural hot spots for many species...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

I have just written, a day or so ago, about updating my birding life list to 4,150 species.   The photos pictured here, which I took several years ago on Cozumel, off the east coast of Mexico, show just how many species of birds can occur in one spot at any given time.   In this case many species of wading birds, in particular, occured together in one place at the same time, adding substantially to my life list.

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BarrytheBirder

   

Updating my birding life list...

 

Photo by Pat Cromie

Life list now at 4,150 species

I have recently counted the number of bird species I have seen, over the years, in my 32-year old copy of A World Checklist of Birds by Burt L. Monroe Jr. and Charles G Sibley.   It is the first time I have updated this list in decades.

My number of species is now 4,150.   This is quite a change from the number normally seen at the the top of this blog each day.   That low number dates back to the last time I did a count back in the early 1990s.   Now, if I could just figure out how to change that number on my computer!   One of my talented daughters will do that for me maybe.

I did notice as I was counting those 4,150 species, that the oldest bird sighting I recorded in the checklist was a Bald Eagle, which I sighted in Vancouver in July, 1961.   That occurred while I was hitchhiking from Ontario in central Canada to British Columbia on the Pacific coast, and back again.

My copy of Monroe and Sibley's A World Checklist of Birds was first published in 1990 and revised in 1993.   It lists a total 9,702 species.  Remarkably in this day and age, most checklists list double that many species.   

At 83 years age, and not be as mobile as I once was, and no longer having a  car driver's license, I don't see me adding to my life list much more.  Moreover, my days of vacationing and birdwatching in dozens of Caribbean islands and Mexican spots like the Yucatan and Cozumel, as well as American states likes like Florida and Arizona won't be repeated.

My last entry is my checklist was for a western American Swainson's Hawk, seen nearby last summer and again this winter.   At this time of year, this bird would normally have migrated to South America!

With a life list now at 4,150 species officially, I'm going to finally describe myself as a 'Birder', not a birdwatcher.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry the Birder

Cornell Cornell Lab 2025 Great Backyard Bird Count underway...

 

Photo courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornitholgy

The photo above shows a Costa's Hummingbird, one of the 7,305 species identified in the first two days of the worldwide Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2025 Great Backyard Bird Count.   700,000 birding enthusiasts worldwide are halfway through the 4-day event.  The Costa's Hummingbird breeds in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

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BarrytheBirde

Snowy Owl photo...

This wonderful photo showing the amazing wingspan (49 to 51") of the Snowy Owl is to be found introducing the online SnowyOwls.ca website.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

2024 Canadian Wildlife Federation Photo Contest...

Focus On Fauna Category

"Gannet delight"

2024 Winner Marie- Josee D'Amour

Longueuil, Quebec

To see all 25 of the 2024 category winning photos, visit

https://blog.cwf-fcf.org/index.php/en/winners-of-the2024

-reflections-of-nature-photo-contest/

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

 

Message to TRUMP...

 

United States

of  CANADA

...OVER MY DEAD BODY!

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Trumpeter Swans on Vancouver Island...

Photos of Trumpeter Swans taken by Dave Kemp

 near Comox on the east side of Vancouver Island.

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BarrytheBirder

Screech Owl (Megaqscops asio) in Aurora backyard...

 

                                                                Photo by Lissa Dwyer

The photo above of a Screech Owl was taken in the Aurora, Ontario, backyard of the daughter of my good friend and co-resident Patricia at Delmanor Retirement Residence, also in Aurora.   The wee 10" owl, with its eyes closed, was perched above a backyard winter birdfeeder.   It did fly off a short distance into a hedge after getting its picture taken.   

Screech Owls, like even smaller 7" Saw-whet Owls, are fearless in defense of their nests and will often strike humans on the head passing by at night.  During the day, they often freeze in an upright position, depending on their coloration to escape being detected.   Amazingly, they can sometimes even be touched gently when motionless and closed-eyed, although this is never recommended.

Screech Owls occur in two main color phases, either rufous or gray, and sometimes in brownish phases.   The two main color phases vary in proportion geographically, and are not based on sex, age or season.   They are found along the southern Canadian border, parts of coastal British Columbia and throughout the United States (excluding Alaska).

I personally think of this little owl, with the slightly over-sized yellow eyes, as being 'avuncular' (uncle-like) and  wise looking beyond its tiny size.   Although I have seen a Saw-whet Owl, I have never seen s Screech Owl in all my decades as a birdwatcher.   

Great sighting and photo Lissa.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

BLACK VULTURE spotted at Niagara...

Photo - Wikipedia

A report on the Ontario Rare Bird Alert says a Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) was spotted on February 6, 2025, at the Locust Grove Picnic Area at Niagara, Ontario.  The sighting was confirmed by Sid Wood.

This bird is normally found in the mid-south-eastern United States and Mexico as far as the Yucatan Peninsula, but its range is expanding in the northeast and is can be found north casually to Ontario and the Maritimes.

This bird shows large white patches at base of primaries and its tail is shorter than the Turkey Vulture.   It is less efficient also than the Turkey Vulture at spotting carrion.   It often scavenges in garbage dumps.

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BarrytheBirder

Eurasian Eagle Owl!

                                                       Photo courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornitholgy

Here's something a little different for me.   It caught my eye in an email I got from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and was about the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo).  First of all, I didn't know that there was such as thing as an 'Eagle Owl'.   Well, the Eurasian Eagle Owl is a species of horned owl found in much of Asia and Europe.

It is a large and powerful bird with an amazing wingspan of up to 138-200 cm  and measures 58 to 75 cm long.   I has a strong direct flight.   Females (the larger of the two sexes) weigh up to 4.2 kg (9.4 lbs) and males weigh up to 3.2 kg (7 lbs).   

It feeds mainly on small mammals, but will kill prey up to the size of foxes and young deer, if taken by surprise.

The size, orange eyes, and ear tufts make it distinctive.   It is mainly nocturnal and is found in mountains and forests with rocky areas, usually nesting on cliff ledges.   

Eurasian Eagle Owls live for around 20 years, and can live up to 60 years in captivity.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder 

   

2024 and start of 2025 mildest winters in years...

 

                                                                                                 Photo by BarrytheBirder

A new published report is saying that 1924 and early 2025 are the warmest in the past 50 years, in Canada.   My observation is that this winter so far has produced very little snow here in south-central Ontario, but that early February temperatures are suddenly taking a noticeable dip.   If local birdfeeders are kept well-stocked, our resident winter birds, like the Cardinal, pictured above, will be well-served.   Nevertheless, if you've never put up a bird feeder in the winter before, it's not too late to start, and usually a simple process.   Seed is available for purchase everywhere and a simple hanging feeder can be put out just about anywhere, and ideally near a window for easy viewing inside.   Go on...give it a whirl.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

2024 Birds Canada annual fundraiser...

 

Photo by Tara Hurley

Birds Canada has given a big shout-out to the top fundraiser in its 2004 annual Birdathon,   The top team was David Love and the Lovebirds, from King Township, Ontario, who have been participating in Birdathon for 18 years, particularing in The King Ridge Area of the Oak Ridges Moraine, north of Toronto, Ontario.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry the Birder   

Recumbent Canada Goose...

     Photo by BarrytheBirder

I don't recall photographing this Canada Goose at any time during a February month, but whenever  and wherever it was, this bird certainly looks relaxed.  Canada Geese are found throughout North America.

They have also been introduced to France, the United Kingdom. Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, New Zealand, Japan, Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Discovering the Quaker Parrot...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

I took the photo above of a section of wallpaper in the Raju Dining Room at The Delmanor Retirement Residence on Yonge Street in Aurora, Ontario, where I live.   The bird portrayed intrigued me.   It appeared to be a parrot with colouring I was unfamiliar with, i.e. white and pale blue.   I went looking online and discovered the Quaker Parrot, a predominately green parrot in the wild, but now also a beautiful blue mutation that was developed in the early 2000s.  It seems to be a case of art quickly catching up with evolution.

This parrot is 11 to 12 inches long and is destined to live for 20 to 30 years.  The Quaker Parrot is also known as the Monk Parrot (Myiopsitta monachus).   It is a true parrot in the family Psittacidae.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder 

A February look back at Cozumel birds...

                                                                                       All photos by BarrytheBider

The photos reprinted here are meant only to take a bit of the cold edge off the first  day of February, 2005.   They were taken a few years ago on a trip to Mexico.   I hope you enjoy them and they warm you a bit.

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Barry

the

Birder

Part of my bird carvings collection...

                                                                    Photo by BarrytheBirder

Photo above shows carvings of Ruddy Duck by Jim Harkness, shorebird by F. Smith, Loon by Ron Sadler, Puffin by Dale Davies, Western Grebe by Liza Chin. 

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BarrytheBirder

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

Female Downy Woodpecker photo by BarrytheBirder

This small (17 cm.) but favourite backyard bird is widespread and abundant across Canada and the U.S.A.    Most northern of the species move south in the winter.   It is found in most woodland habitats, suburban areas, parklands and orchards. It readily visits feeders non-stop and often joins mixed winter flocks of Chickadees and Nuthatches.   The male of the species has a small read patch on its nape which is lacking on the female.

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BarrytheBirder

Boreal Chickadee ( Parus hudsonicus)

The Boreal Chickadee

Photos - Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology

The Boreal Chickadee pales in comparison, literally, to its well-known cousin, the Black-capped Chickadee.

Adults, pictured here, are brownish or dusky brown, with a dark cap, rufous sides and flanks, black bib, dirty white breast and central belly.   They are brown-backed, with a grayish area around the ears and small whitish cheek patches.   

The Boreal Chickadee  is found in the great spruce forests of  Canada,, stretching from Alaska to Newfoundland.   

Its call is a wheezy, husky chipping sound, very unlike the clear whistled sound of a Black-capped  Chickadee.

I do not have a large life species list of birds, but I'm surprised after watching birds in many places in Canada, I have never this sweet little bird to me list.

Please comment if you wish.

Barrythebirder

Northern Shrike...

 Photo by BarrytheBirder

I took this photo of a Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor), also known as a Great Grey Shrike, in late December, 30 years ago, northwest of Toronto at Mount Wolfe, Ontario.   It is 10" long (larger by 1" than the Loggerhead Shrike).   It has a pale head and back, underparts lightly barred and a whitish rump.   Its mask is narrower than on the Loggerhead but its bill is longer, with a more distinct hook.   It has an uncommon range and numbers on the wintering grounds are unpredictable from year to year.

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BarrytheBirder

Turkey Vulture - spectacular on the wing!

Photos by BarrytheBirder

A couple of days ago, I included the photo above, in a blog I wrote on January 24th.   Someone then commented that the Turkey Vulture photo was the most impressive of all the photos I included in that blog.   I have to agree with the commentator's feelings about how impressive this bird can be 'on the wing'.   It's not a handsome bird.   After all, it is a vulture!   But on the wing, it is very impressive.   Below are a few other Turkey Vulture photos I have taken over the years.   As a matter of interest, the Turkey Vulture's wingspan is 72" (1.8 m) and it is approximately Eagle-sized!   It is a resident of the southern Canadian provinces from British Columbia, eastwards to southern Ontario.

 

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BarrytheBirder

Another of my favourite 'Winter Warriors'

The DARK-EYED JUNCO

The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) is my most favourite small bird in North America, especially at the feeders in winter.   

It is immediately recognizable with its pink bill, white belly, dark eyes, and white outer tail feathers in flight.   

In my part of Canada, just north of Toronto, on the north shore of Lake Ontario, it is the "Slate-coloured" Junco that I see all the time.

It's not just its appearance and behaviour that gets to me, but its personality always wins me over.   It's what I like to call a 'winter warrior' (see photos immediately below).

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BarrytheBirder

Of all the creatures in the world...

 Oh to be one that flies above all the rest

Northern Harrier  

Great Blue Heron

Killdear

Kingfisher

Merlin

Osprey

Caspian Tern

Turkey Vulture

All photos by BarrytheBirder

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder