Turkey Vulture visits village...

                                                                                                               Photos by BarrytheBirder

This big, bold Turkey Vulture came into the village on Monday and perched on the roof of a nearby house on Warren Road, at the east end of Bennet Drive.   It let me get close enough to take these photos and  stayed on when I left.

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if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

One of my favourite Jamaica photographs...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Great Kiskadee

(Pitangus sulphuratus)

The Kiskadee is my favourite bird from Mexico and the southern islands of the Caribbean.   It is also found in several countries in the north of South America.   It was introduced to Bermuda in the 1950s.   There are prettier birds in to be found in southern climes, but the Kiskadee is like to an ambassador for me, to places like Jamaica, where I photgraphed the one pictured above.   They are regular dining companions at any patio table.   Some would say too much so, but not me.
Below, is a Kiskadee photo I took in Antigua a few years ago.   Note the unnatural crossed tip of the bill in this picture.

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BarrytheBirder

A birding poem by Ogden Nash...

Common Towhee - Photo by BarrytheBirder

YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE

by Ogden Nash

Birdwatchers top my honours list.

I aimed to be one, but I missed.

Since I'm both myopic and astigmatic,

My aim turned out to be erratic, 

And I, bespectacled and binocular, 

Exposed myself to comment jocular.

We don't need too much birdlore, do we,

To tell a flamingo from a towhee;

Yet I cannot, and never will,

Unless the silly birds stand still.

And there's no enlightenment in a tour

Of ornithological literature.

Is yon strange creature a common chickadee,

Or a migrant alouette from Picardy?

You can rush to consult your nature guide

And inspect the gallery inside,

But a bird in the open never looks

Like its picture in the birdie books-

Or if it once did, it has changed its plumage,

And plunges you back into ignorant gloomage.

That is why I sit here growing old by inches,

Watching a clock instead of finches,

But I sometimes visualize in my gin

The Audubon that I audubin.

I came across this witty Nash poem, 
in a blog called Mountain Plover 
written by Leslie Holzmann back in 2009.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Juncos getting ready to migrate north...

 Photos by BarrytheBirder

One of my favourite backyard birds, at the feeders in winter, is the Dark-eyed Junco.   These specials creatures are getting ready to leave and head north to their summer breeding grounds.   Depending on where in North America they start their migration will dictate the timing of their departure.   They can head north anytime between mid-March and the end of April.   I'll hate to see these brave winter warriors leave.   Their singing is often not noticed but they have a musical trilling sound with a tinkling quality, plus a soft twittering.   Charming, indeed, to its listeners.

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BarrytheBirder

Migrating Trumpeter Swans visit Carrying Place Golf & Country Club...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Mute Swans play hosts to Trumpeter Swans

The resident Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) at the Carrying Place Golf and Country Club on Weston Road, welcomed ten Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) to the small lake in front of the clubhouse this past weekend.   Their were four adult trumpeters and six juveniles.   In the photo above  the two Mute Swans are readily identified by their orange beaks.  

The photo above shows an adult Trumpeter Swan with three juveniles which still have their grey feathers.   The youngsters' grey feathers last through the fall, winter and spring before turning completely white in their second year.  In the photo below, the two resident Mute Swans are swimming quite contentedly with one of the adult Trumpeters.

Two of the Trumpeter Swans (right)  are displaying identification tags on their wings.   The tags are part of a long-standing re-introduction program of the swan breed to this part of Canada, where they had disappeared many years ago.The program has been very successful.



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if you wish. 

BarrytheBirder

Mourning Doves nesting...

Photo by Barry Wallace

A male Mourning Dove (left) continues to bring material for the nest, which the female has already occupied for egg-laying.   Incubation takes 14 to 15 days, after which the young doves stay in the nest for another two weeks before leaving the nest.   I am watching these two pretty birds, outside my home office window, as I write this blog entry.
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BarrytheBirder

Trumpeter Swans stop-over in Holland Marsh...

                                                                                                         Photos by BarrytheBirder

35 swans land in flooded marsh field

A 'ballet' of almost three dozen Trumpeter Swans dropped into the Holland Marsh on Monday of this week.   They settled into a large field that was covered in snow-melt water between Hwy. 400., Canal Bank Road, Holancin Road and 2nd Concession.   It was a real treat for anyone who has never seen a 'Trumpeter' before.   This is the largest and heaviest of the world's six swan species and its call sounds like a trumpet.

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BarrytheBirder

First bluebird of the spring...

                                                                                                 Photo by BarrytheBirder

I saw my first Eastern Bluebird of the spring on March 21, as I drove along a local country road. It flew in a roller-coaster kind of fashion along the roadside treeline.  A little further along I spotted my first female Red-breasted Merganser on a small local pond.   I decided to visit the Cold Creek Conservation Area to see if I might spot some early bluebirds there.   They have been first-nesters at Cold Creek many times over the years but are always intimidated by later-arriving Tree Swallows.   The Tree Swallows force the bluebirds from the nest boxes and take them over for themselves.   The bluebirds are regulated to nesting in local shrubs which they do not like.   Bluebirds like to be situated in an exposed setting where they can see all around.   They are wary and timid at best, when it comes to other birds.   A clear view of their surroundings is added protection.

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BarrytheBirder

The Trumpeter comeback story continues...

                                                                                                      Photo by Barry Wallace

The 2019 Audubon Christmas Bird Count, held three months ago on December 14th, by the Richmond Hill Naturalists club, showed what I think is a an important ranking of the Trumpeter Swan in its tally of birds.   The top seven of the 45 species recorded were:

Mallard Duck                        826
Canada Goose                     582
Rock Pigeon (feral)              396
Black-capped Chickadee     366
Ring-billed Gull                     217
Mourning Dove                     202            
Trumpeter Swan                 125

The number for the Trumpeter Swan is remarkable considering the Trumpeter Swan almost disappeared from eastern Canada 200 years ago, due to hunting and habitat loss.   A provincial re-introduction program started by Harry Lumsden of Aurora, Ontario,  in the early 1980s, and assisted by the Wye Marsh Nature Centre in Midland, has returned the magnificent Trumpeter Swan to remarkable viability in Ontario and beyond.

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BarrytheBirder

Red-winged Blackbird / Starling cross?

Pictured below are photos of a Red-wing Blackbird (top).... a mystery bird (middle).... and a Starling (bottom).   I believe the mystery bird is a cross between a Red-winged Blackbird and a Starling.  Anyone have an opinion?

                                                                                        All photos by BarrytheBirder

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BarrytheBirder

Dark-eyed ("Slate-coloured") Junco

Photo by BarrytheBirder

"Look me in the eye and tell me:

are you the guy who's supposed

to be keeping this feeder full?"

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BarrytheBirder

Three of winter's regular small birds at the feeder...

Photo by Barry Wallace

House Finch ~  Redpoll ~ Junco

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BarrytheBirder

Tundra Swans at Aylmer, Ontario...

Photos by Patrick O'Kelly

Tundra Swans
(Cygnus columbianus) 

My brother-in-law Patrick O'Kelly of London, Ontario, sent me two photos he recently took of approximately 2,000 Tundra Swans, at the Aylmer Wildlife Management Area, about 5 kms. north of Lake Erie.   These huge birds are migrating north to their breeding grounds around Hudson Bay and even farther north.   Their call is a loud, high-pitched whooping or yodeling.   Their presence in Ontario is only for a short time during a narrow migration passage but they are an impressive show when they are spotted.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

1,000 vultures poisoned in Africa...

Photo: Andre Botha / Vulture Conservation Foundation / The Guardian

Nearly 1,000 Hooded Vultures have died in a mass poisoning in Guinea-Bissau, pushing the endangered species towards the brink of extinction in Africa, according to conservationists.

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BarrytheBirder

Black Hornbill colouring is striking...

Photo by EPA / The Guardian

A Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros Malayanus) enjoys a banana near Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in the Morigaon district of Assam,  in north-east India.

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BarrytheBirder

First White-throated Sparrow returns...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

The year's first returning White-throated Sparrow showed up on March 15th.   It shows itself as one of two  polymorphic versions of the species with brown and tan head stripes.

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BarrytheBirder

"My, what big eyes you have"

Photo by BarrytheBirder

GREAT HORNED OWL

Bubo virginianus

I photographed this Great Horned Owl at the opening of a nearby Wild Birds Unlimited store in Newmarket recently and a few people commented on the size of its eyes.   I have since discovered that Great Horned Owls have the largest eyes of any North American bird, and among the largest of any terrestrial vertebrate.   If a Great Horned was as large as a human being, its eyes would be the size of oranges!
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BarrytheBirder

Trumpeters Swans (Cygnus buccinator) ~ Dufferin Street

Photo by BarrytheBirder

        wintering swans

enduring all seasons

                         together

Haiku by Wendy l. MacDonald

Please comment if you wish.

Barrythebirder

Goldfinches galore...

 Photos by BarrytheBirder

A collective noun may be a fluke,

an inspiration,  

a happenstance, whatever...

but one of my favourites is 

'a charm of goldfinches'

Please comment 

if you wish.

Barry

theBirder

Grackles return to backyard feeders...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Big black grackles returned to the feeders in the backyard on Monday of this week,   much to the dismay of the Starlings.  The Grackle above was one of four which showed up looking for seed, after being missing in action for the last two months or so.   Spring is almost here.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder 

First Trumpeter Swans flew over on Sunday...

                                                                                                       Photo by BarrytheBirder

I was on the telephone on Sunday with my daughter who lives nearby and she interrupted our conversation to blurt out that Trumpeter Swans were flying over her house and honking loudly.   She counted five of them.   The Trumpeter photo above is not one of the swans that Allison saw and heard on Sunday, but one that I photographed two years ago.   The orange colouring of some of its feathers is from spending a great deal of time in water with a high iron content.    It is one of my favourite photos.   You may have seen it before in this space.   What magnificent creatures.   May you see one soon.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

   

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

Photo and haiku by BarrytheBirder

my inspiration

for getting through the winter

 the spunky junco

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Do American Robins predict spring?

 Photo by BarrytheBirder

An old folk-tale (some say from Minnesota) states that: "Three snows must fall on the robin's tail before spring is here".   Well, I haven't seen the first robin yet, here in southern Ontario, but I will be keeping an eye peeled soon to see just how accurate this old wives' tale might be.   I'll do an update as events unfold. 

Please comment

if you wish.

Barry

the 

Birder

Ruddy Turnstones in Antigua...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Ruddy Turnstone

(Arenaria interpres)

This is another favourite bird of mine when I have been in the Caribbean islands.  I see them in Canada as they migrate through the Great Lakes, but they are not easy to get close to.   In the Caribbean island they are over-wintering and not so skittish at all.   You can get close to them and although they are not as distinctive as they are in breeding plumage in the far north, they are still very distinctive and attractive, especially those bright orange legs.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

   

Seeing no birds at Humber Trails...

                                                                                            Photos by BarrytheBirder 

I heard chickadees and crows and a Pileated Woodpecker but no sightings of birds on my Thursday afternoon visit to Humber Trails in southern King Topwnship.   It was quiet and peaceful otherwise, and I noticed the birdbox above with interest.   It is one of the newer style boxes with a second hole on the side, which allows a bird inside the box to escape if a creature is trying to breach the front opening.   The main hole has been enlarged to the point where the box may have lost its usefulness to most birds.

Quite close to the birdhouse above, were several cattails (right) from a year or two earlier that will continue to provide soft material to line bird nests and boxes in the coming season.

While the main pond (above) near the front entrance to Humber Trails is still frozen over, the nearby Humber River (see below) has thawed and is running wide open.

At right, is the main trail through Humber Trails, which many decades ago was a two-lane paved roadway, upon which I drove many times and even pushed a baby carriage along several times.   There were interior parking lots also.  New visitors here, unless told, would have idea of what once was in place here. Most oldtimers and naturalists say it is a better place with no automobiles.


Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula)

Photo by BarrytheBirder

As described in 1906 by Chester A. Reed

I have published a few blogs recently about the the Northern Hawk Owl in the nearby community of Schomberg, Ontario.  As a change of pace, I'm reprinting the American Hawk Owl entry in a book I own, originally published 114 years ago, in Worcester, Massachusetts. 

   "Tail long and rounded; plumage mottled black, white and gray, with little, if any, brownish tinge; heavily barred with black.   These owls, curiously resembling a hawk in build, and more so in flight, are very active and hunt more during the daytime than after dark.   They feed largely upon small rodents and lemmings which are abundant in its summer home, and also kill a great many small birds.   They seem to be impartial to wooded districts, or open marshes and low lands, where they may be seen skimming about close to the ground.   Nest. Either of sticks in the tops of trees, or in hollow cavities.   The eggs are white, as are those of all owls, and nearly globular in shape (1.40 x 1.25).   Range. Breeds from Newfoundland and Manitoba northward, and possibly farther south on the mountains.   Winters south to Northern United States, rarely in New York and Illinois".
Not surprisingly, this seems fairly equivalent to field guide descriptions in the early 21st century.   I, for one, did not know that all owl eggs are typically white and spherical in shape.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

American State Birds...

Carving by D. Phillips (Green River, Ontario) Photo by BarrytheBirder

Northern Cardinal is most popular US. state bird

I recently featured Canada's official provincial birds (none of which are the same) in this space.   Now I am noting some items concerning American state birds which may be of interest.   The Northern Cardinal (pictured above) is the top choice of seven states as official bird.   The Western Meadowlark is the pick of six other states and the Northern Mockingbird is the official bird of five other American states.  There are 27 other common birds that are the choice of the 32 remaining states.   And yes, the Baltimore Oriole is the official bird of Maryland.  Some American territories also have official birds but are not included here.
Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder