BARRY the BIRDER
BIRD LIFE LIST NOW AT 425 SPECIES
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Oct 22, 2024
Oct 16, 2024
Sep 17, 2024
Swainson's Hawk still here in Aurora...
Photo by Barry the Birder
The Swainson's Hawk (Buteo Swainsoni) that has been around Aurora, Ontario, most of the summer, is still here in early September. It is normally found in Canada's lower western provinces, the America western states and northern Mexico, and will likely head south soon to Florida, before heading chiefly to South America. A beautiful raptor especially those with those white wing lings and long white breast to the tip of this tail. It feeds mainly on insects, on the ground.
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BarrytheBirder
Sep 9, 2024
Rare Idaho Cassia Crossbills in BC...
Dave Kemp photo - Vancouver Island
Dave Kemp Photo - Vancouver Island
My Vancouver Island birder friend Dave Kemp has discovered Sassia Crossbills on the B.C. island, and they are far from their usual and normal territory in Idaho, USA. Shown above, and at top, are photos by Dave, while the photo at left is an online photo by Zach Pohlen from the Macauley Library at the Cornell lab of Ornithology. This is especially coincidental as I have recently shown a photo of a Swainson's Hawk (see below right) which has shown up in my town of Aurora, in southern Ontario. The Swainson's Hawk normally is found in the central and western USA and in Mexico, but somehow has found itself blown of course into southern Ontario. Both of the species are very unusual in the locations in which they find themselves. The Cassia Crossbills (Loxia sinesciurus) normally occur only in the Lodgepole Pine forests in the south hills and Albion Mountains in Idaho USA. Male Sassia Crossbills are dull red or orange with brown and grey highlights. Females are dull olive-yellow. The Swainson's Hawk was around all summer but now seems to have moved elsewhere.
BarrytheBirder photo
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BarrytheBirder
Sep 6, 2024
Hummingbirds stayed 98 days this year...
'Hummers' stayed 94 days this summer
Pat Cromie of Delmanor Retirement Residence in Aurora, Ontario, has taken down our Ruby-throated hummingbird feeders after 98 days this summer (May 28 to Sept. 3). The last 'hummer' to leave, on the last day, was a first-year youngster. At the height of the season there were 60 to 70 visits a day at the feeders, lasting everywhere from 15 seconds to 2 minutes each time.
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BarrytheBirder
Sep 5, 2024
Last of the hummingbirds leaves Delmanor in Aurora...
The first Hummingbird of this year arrived at Pat Cromie's balcony, at the Delmanor Retirement Residence in Aurora, on Tuesday, May 28th. The last 'hummer', above, was seen on Tuesday, September 3rd of this year. That's a 94-day season for these jewels of the birding world, and they raised a batch of young 'hummers', before heading south. The males of this small flock headed back south during the first week of August, while females left a week later. But the new youngsters took a whole month to fatten up before heading south. God-speed wee feathered friends.
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BarrytheBirder
Sep 1, 2024
Aug 26, 2024
Aug 24, 2024
Aug 22, 2024
Aug 18, 2024
Aug 8, 2024
Aurora, Ontario, on the Oak Ridges Moraine...
Photo by BarrytheBirder
Summer 'hummer'
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
(Archilochus colubris)
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Photo by Barry Wallace
Aug 6, 2024
Now that's a mouthful...
Hooded Merganser (Female)
Vancouver Island, British Columbia
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BarrytheBirder
Aug 3, 2024
24 hours on Lake Muskoka with friends...
Explanation
This blog was meant to appear elsewhere in another blogsite I write called "Camera on King&Aurora".
I have decided not to switch the blog to its originally intended location, in the interest of spending less time explaining how it happened and how much is involved in getting things sorted out. I appreciate your understanding.
Regards, Barry
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Barry Wallace
Aug 2, 2024
More Turkey Vulture...
A vulture carrying two dead raccoons boards an airplane.
The stewardess looks at him and says; "I'm sorry sir,
only one carrion per passenger".
With apologies by BarrytheBirder
Aug 1, 2024
Jul 30, 2024
Swainson's Hawk has been around all summer
Photo submitted by Kyle Grant / Delmanor
Swainson's Hawk
The Swainson's Hawk (Buteo Swainsoni) that has been spending the summer near the Aurora, Ontario retirement residence in which I live, continues to attract attention. Especially when it enters the foyer of the building in pursuit of some small rodent A Delmanor resident helped the big bird from western Canada find its way out, but not before getting this photograph in the main entrance. It will be very interesting to see if this hawk will head back out west and then south as part of its winter migration.
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BarrytheBirder
Jul 8, 2024
Kingfisher identification...
I have a birdwatching friend that claims
the bird on the left is the male.
Hmmmm...maybe.
Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder
Jul 7, 2024
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