Swainson's Hawks around and about...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

It looks like the Town of Aurora, just north of Toronto, Ontario, will be playing host again this summer to a group of Swainson's Hawks that have inhabited the forests around the town for the past two summers.   In the past two weeks, five of the raptors have been seen circling over tall fir trees in the southwest part of town, where some were observed nesting last summer.   These birds as big as Red-tailed Hawks and seem quite comfortable circling close together  high overhead.   IO am seeing these birds often flying above the Delmanor Retirement Residence on Butternut Ridge Trail in southwest Aurora, west of Yonge Street.

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BarrytheBirder

Vancouver Island hummingbird...

 
Photo by Dave Kemp

My friend from British Columbia, Dave Kemp, sent me the photo above, of what I believe is a female Rufous Hummingbird (or Allen's Hummingbird), which he recently photographed on Vancouver Island.

This bird is common on the U.S. west coast and in lower British Columbia, and is the most widespread western 'hummer'.   Small numbers appear each winter in Texas and Louisiana.  It even reaches south-east Alaska in summer.   They are normally found in gardens, meadows, woodlands and wetlands.

They breed from southern Alaska to southern Oregon and western Montana.   They winter in Mexico and occasionally in southern California.    

The male's wings  make a slight trilling sound in flight.

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BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks spotted mating...

 
Photos by BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks mating over Aurora

Two of the half dozen Swainson's Hawks seen last year flying and mating over the town of Aurora, in York Region, north of Toronto on the north shore of Lake Ontario, appear to have recently returned and are seen above mating in tall fir trees yesterday, above the Oak Ridges Moraine in southwest Aurora, Ontario.  These Swainson's Hawks would seem to be part of a family of Swainson's that inhabited this same spot last year when four young hawks were produced.  Photos below are of the hawks raised last year in a nest on Butternut Ridge Trail, west of Yonge Street.

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BarrytheBirder

Akmost time for my favourite warbler...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis)

It's almost the end of March and time for the Canada Warbler to show up here in southern Ontario.   I love its black and yellow appearance, especially the necklace of sharp black stripes, and particularly its song: a fast musical jumble of notes.   It will be returning from South America and some will even stop and nest in Georgia.   The black necklace is most obvious on adult males, but its bold eye-ring is also distinctive.   For me, it is a true spring harbinger.

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BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks have returned to Aurora...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Five  Swainson's Hawks appeared over Aurora on Tuesday of this week.   In my opinion, they are all members of the same family that were here all last summer and fall in the southwest end of town, in the forests west of Butternut Ridge Trail and north of Wyatt Lane.   These hawks may have spent the winter as far south as Argentina.

 

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BarrytheBirder

Most colourful pest?

                                                                                Photo by Phil Roth

Recently published Starling photo by Phil Roth in Alberta, Canada, of which he wonders if this bird is not the most colourful pest.

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BarrytheBirder

A true harbinger of spring...the American Robin

                                                                           Photo by BarrytheBirder

                                 damp morning

                                 a gray yard

                                 before the morning

                                                                       -- Marian Clarke

                     Worms pulled out of earth

                     Like garlic during harvest

                     Robins slurp their feast

                                                            -- Justin Farley

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BarrytheBirder

It's not spring 'til the Goldfinch returns...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Goldfinch grasps his branch

Perched above, his melody

enchants mere mortals

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BarrytheBirder

How many Western hemisphere warblers?

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Canada Warbler

(Wilsonia Canadensis)

There are approximately 115 to 120  species of New World warblers  (wood warblers) in the family Parulidae. These small, migratory birds are found exclusively in the Western Hemisphere, primarily north, Central and South America.   About half of the numerous species occur in in North America.

While they span the Americas, the highest diversity is found in Central America.  Most warbler species are medium to long-distance migrants, breeding in North America and wintering in the Neotropics.  

The Neotropics covers all of South America, Central America, the Caribbean Islands and south North America - specifically southern Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula and southern Florida.   The whole region is one of the earth's eight major biogeographic realms, defined by unique plant and animal species.

Wilsons Warbler

Wilsonia pusilla

Orange-crowned Warbler

Vermivora celata

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas

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BarrytheBirder

Finally...a Snowy Owl

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Finally, after waiting the entire winter to see a Snowy Owl, one passed by this morning over Aurora, Ontario, north of Toronto, Ontario.   Many have been reported this past winter hereabouts, but not by me.   For the past couple of years I have had luck spotting them in the northern reaches of the Holland Marsh, at the southern end of Lake Simcoe, near Keswick, Ontario, on the Ravenshoe Sideroad. (see photos above and below).

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BarrytheBirder

I've been publishing this blog for 20 years...

 

I began publishing this daily blog in 2006.  Over the course of 20 years, I have had almost 2 million hits on the site -  It's been a wonderful journey but it's more and more of a challenge to keep it up every day of the year, especially since I'm now in my 85th year and no longer drive.

Nevertheless, maybe just a few more weeks...especially since spring is upon us.

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BarrytheBirder   

More Sabiston's Hawk activity...

The Swainson's Hawk pictured above was recently passed along to my partner Pat by a friend of hers in Barrie, Ontario, north of Toronto, Ontario.

This bird has probably just finished a winter migration from perhaps Alaska or Yukon to Argentina and back up again, a trip possibly of 20,000 kms!  Swainson's Hawks are noted for the longest migrations of any raptor in North and South America.

I have spotted them in Aurora, Ontario for the past two years and except to see them again this year.

More to come shortly, I hope...

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BarrytheBirder

Evening Grosbeaks declining...

 

Male / Photo by Bellmare Celine / Macauley Library

Female / Photo by BarrytheBirder

                                                                                                  Image - Birds Canada

Birds Canada has selected the Evening Grosbeak as its 2026 Avian Ambassador.   83% of the Evening Grosbeak population has been declining across its range in lower Canada and the U.S.A. since the 1970s.   Go to Birds Canada for more information.

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BarrytheBirder

Brant Geese heading to northern Canada...

Airforce Beach - Comox, Vancouver Island

Photos by Dave Kemp

Brant Geese  are seen returning to Kye Bay/Airforce Beach, near Comox, Vancouver Island.   The Brants are in search of their favourite foods: eelgrass and sea lettuce.   These geese are heading north to their summer breeding grounds in northern Canada, as well as northern Greenland and Russia.

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BarrytheBirder

American Crow (Corrus Brachyrynchos)

                                                                                                  Photos by BarrytheBirder

There are approximately 40 to 50 known species of crows and ravens in the world, all of which belong to the genus Corvus within the Corvidae family.  The term 'crow' often refers to smaller, black species, but this genus this genus also includes larger, glossy blackbirds known as ravens, rooks and jackdaws, covering more than 45 species overall.

Crows are found worldwide, inhabiting different regions of North America, parts of South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.   They are not found in the high Arctic or Antarctica.

America Crow, Fish Crow, Hooded Crow, Carrion Crow, and Large-billed Crow are common examples of the species.

The American Crow is a large bird L 24" (61cm), with a large head and long heavy bill.   It is common throughout most of its normal range in a broad variety of habitats.   Its normal range is from north-central British Columbia across Canada to Newfoundland. south to California, east Texas and Florida.

Common Crows winter in southern Canada and across most of the U.S.A.

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                                                                                                             BarrytheBirder

Doves and pigeons in North America...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Mourning Dove

There are three pigeons and four doves to be found in lower Canada, the U.S.A, Mexico and central America.   One pigeon and one dove are most notable: the Rock Pigeon and the Mourning Dove.   I have no affection for Rock Doves, but I am very partial to the Mourning Dove, and have been so ever since first becoming aware of them.

The Mourning Dove has a trim body and a long tail that tapers to a point.   It has black spots on the upper-wings wings and a pinkish wash below.   In flight, they show white tips on their outer tail feathers.

The Mourning Dove's call is a mournful 'oowoo - woo - woo - woo', and its wings produce a fluttering whistle as the bird takes flight.

It is a abundant and widespread dove, found in a wide variety of habitats.

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Barry the Birder

Bald Eagles on Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Photos by Dave Kemp

Flowers at Filburg Park, Vancouver Island

Above and below

Snowdrops

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BarrytheBirder

Eagles on Vancouver Island...

 Photos by Dave Kemp

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle Immature

Full B.C. moon

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Barry Wallace

My first Barred Owl photos...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Hereabout then are some of the first photos I ever took of a Barred Owl, near to where I lived in King City, Ontario, just north of Toronto, Ontario.   It was on November 30 of 2018, and I published them shortly thereafter in this blog space.   

Barred Owls (Strix varia) are seen only by those who seek them out in their dark retreats, usually thick groves of trees in lowland forests.   They rest quietly during the day, coming out at night to feed on rodents, birds, frogs, and crayfish.   If disturbed, they will fly easily from one grove of trees to another.

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BarrytheBirder