16th Sideroad ~ east of of Jane Street

                                                                               Photo by BarrytheBirder

Sometimes it doesn't have to be real.

A sculpture can fly.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

The BIRD WAY

Above is the first new bird book I have purchased this year.   It has been critically reviewed and is highly touted (by reviewers or birders?).  After reading it, I shall express my own opinion of the book, in this space.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

More of Dave Kemp's west coast photos...

                                                                                               Photos by Dave Kemp

Pictured above is a pair of male Wood Ducks and below, left, is a male and female Blue-winged Teal.

Below is a beautiful photo of a flower that Dave identifies as  a California Poppy.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

British Columbia bird photos from Dave Kemp...

                                                                                                  Photos by Dave Kemp

Here are some photos from British Columbia by my birding acquaintance, Dave Kemp, who has been sharing his bird photos for a few years now.   It's always a nice surprise get Dave's pictures from the west coast.   Pictured above is a Common Yellowthroat and below, part of a flock of American White Pelicans

Above is a female Mallard with some of her ducklings, while below is a Cedar Waxwing, and at the bottom a bullfrog.

                                   more photos from B.C. tomorrow...

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures...

                                                                                     Flicker Photo by Dave Govoni

In my blog of yesterday, I mentioned both Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures.   Above is an internet Flicker photo of both vultures by Dave Govoni.   The Turkey Vulture is on the left and the Black Vulture is on the right. The most significant differences are the different coloured heads and overall feather colours (brown vs. black).

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder 

Turkey Vultures nest in Bob and Carol Field's barn...

                                                                                       Photos by BarrytheBirder

Carol Field, who lives on Keele Street, north of King City, called last Sunday to let me know that she and husband Bob had Turkey Vultures living in an old barn of their farm.   The vultures appear to have raised two youngsters in a nest inside the barn, which the vultures accessed via a couple of missing barn boards.   I have to say that the photos appearing here are not of the 'Carol and Bobs' vultures, but are Turkey Vultures that I had photographed elsewhere in King Township.   Carol and I had agreed that these birds have huge wingspans and the photos I have included here, certainly show those massive wings quite well.   This is the first time I have heard of a report of nesting Turkey Vultures in King Township.   I commented to Carol that not only are Turkey Vultures quite common in Ontario now, because of global warming/climate change, but Black Vultures from the U.S.A. are now starting to show up in southern Ontario also.  Indeed, the times they are a-changin'.

 

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Troglodytes aedon

                                                                                           Photos by BarrytheBirder

HOUSE WREN

The House Wren is the most widely distributed wren in the Americas, occurring from Canada to the bottom of Argentina.  It is one of 88 true wren species that are found predominately in the new world.   Only the Eurasian Wren occurs in the old world.   There are other bird species in the world called wrens, such as in Australia and New Zealand, but they are not true wren species.   I took these photos, a few years ago, when a pair of House Wrens nested in a birdbox in my garden that is usually home to Black-capped Chickadees.   It was the only time it ever happened in almost 30 years. 

Red-bellied Woodpecker

                                                                                        Photo by BarrytheBirder

Red-bellied Woodpecker

(Melanerpes carolinus)

I spotted my first Red Bellied-Woodpecker in 1996 in Niagara-On-The-Lake.   My only sightings since have been on my old friend Ted Bird's backyard deck in Schomberg, Ontario.   My most recent sighting there was this past Saturday.   This woodpecker's red belly is often difficult to see.   They grow up to 10.5 inches long and are a striking sight.   They are often called the "Zebraback".   Other common names are 'flag bird', 'jelly coat', 'patriotic bird' and 'shirttail bird'.   The southern Great Lakes are now the northern limit of their regular range.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Hummingbird feeders...

I have purchased many different types of hummingbird feeders over the years and I have decided that feeders, like the Hummzinger feeder (pictured above) are my favourites.  There are several manufacturers of this type.   They feature a flat platform style with a nectar container underneath.   As my numerous 'hummer' feeders need replacing, I will ultimately switch to this flat style completely.   The 'hummers' like them and they are easy to use, clean and refill.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

On being a Mourning Dove...

                                                                                                Photo by BarrytheBirder

I have observed Mourning Dove countless times over the years, and there are a couple of things about them on which I have to comment.   Unlike all other birds in the backyard, either at the feeders or on the ground, the Mourning Doves will take time to close their eyes and bury their beaks in their feathers for extended periods of time (see photos above and below).   It's as if they are sleeping: but exposed, in broad daylight?!?   Other times they will spread their wings while on the ground, or perched, apparently to let the sun drive bugs from their feathers; again for seemingly long periods of time.  Mourning Doves are usually very aware of their surroundings, and will take flight as quickly as most other birds if there is some alarm.   Other times, they seem to be the last of the many birds near the feeders to react to warnings.   They are, by far, the birds species most often taken by fierce, fast-flying Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shipped Hawks.   It's a fact of life, but I hate to see the doves taken as frequently as they are.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Retirement gift included falcon image...

                                                                            Photos by Barry theBirder

When I retired many years ago, I received some gifts

from work colleagues which included the canoe paddle pictured above.   It featured a splendid painting of a Peregrine Falcon, by artist Geoffrey Duck.   It now hangs as part of my paddle collection.   I don't use these paddles anymore, but they do remind me of some good times.  Some of them have scruff marks and scratches, but they are all still quite useable.   I hope my grandchildren use them some day soon.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Lake Wilcox ~ Richmond Hill

                                                                                      

Canada Goose goslings

                                                                                     

                                                                                           Photos by BarrytheBirder

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Dufferin Marsh, Schomberg...full of birds

                                                                      Photo by BarrytheBirder

Dufferin Marsh, off Dr. Kay Drive, in Schomberg is full of birds, including many Tree Swallows like the one pictured above.   All the blackbirds are here, as well as a resident Kingfisher, and many species of songbirds.   It's a great spot to introduce children to birdwatching, as well as adults wanting to take up the hobby.   It's also close to Main Street, with its intriguing streetscape and amenities. 

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Linda's favourite bird species...

                                                                        Oriole photos by BarrytheBirder

My late wife Linda had an affinity for all creatures, great and small.   When it came to birds, I don't recall her saying she had a favourite.   But if forced, I think she would have picked the Baltimore Oriole.   For Linda, spring was never spring until a Baltimore Oriole showed up.   And when they did make their appearance, she never stopped enthusing about them, especially for

 their joyful colour.   It took a few years to get the hang of attracting them and keeping them coming.   But it was worth it, including all those bags of sugar.   I  mention the sugar because we had so many feeders  to keep full.   I remember we had as many as 12 one year.  My Linda may be gone, but I think of her every day when I see the 'hummers' hovering.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

My favourite sparrow species...

                                                                                Photos by BarrytheBirder

FOX SPARROW

(Passerella iliaca)

There are 140 species of sparrows in the world.   35 of those sparrow species are to be found in North America.   My favourite North American species is the Fox Sparrow.   I think of the Fox Sparrow as the "red" sparrow, because of the reddish colouring of its feathers on its rump, tail, wings, and central breast.   It is one the four largest sparrows in North America (7"), along with the White-crowned, White-throated and Golden-crowned Sparrows.   It is not that common in my part of the world but I see two or three each year in my backyard or near my home in southern Ontario.   They are so easy to spot because of their foxy colour and large size.   Once seen, they are never forgotten.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Large pond - Aurora Arboretum

Photos by BarrytheBirder

"BOTTOMS UP"

There are four storm-water retention ponds at the Aurora Arboretum.  These photos were taken at the largest of four ponds, close to the Aurora Municipal Offices on John West Way, north of Wellington Street East and east of the GOTrain tracks.   In addition to numerous songbirds, Canada Geese, and Great Blue Herons, there is even a resident Trumpeter Swan (photo below).

There are numerous nesting boxes occupied by many Tree Swallows (above) at the arboretum and Great Blue Herons (photo below) are to be found also.  However, the 'Great Blues' have to take a back seat to the Trumpeter Swan which has a 14" longer body and as much as a 26" wider wingspan!

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Such a blue bird...

                                                                Photo and verse by BarrytheBirder

INDIGO BUNTING

                                  If only I lived in the forest

                                  And could see this unique bird each day.

                                  What prompted the Indigo Bunting

                                  To be so blue in a green, green world?

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

At Seneca College...

                                                                             Photo by BarrytheBirder

These Canada Goose goslings are still so small they almost disappear in the un-mowed long grass at the King campus of the college.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Keeping that red breast looking fresh...

                                                                                                                    Photos by BarrytheBirder

Robin in one of the backyard birdbaths

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Female Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)...

                                                                                      Photo by BarrytheBirder

They don't get much plainer than this.

The number of bird species in the world is presently estimated to be somewhere between 10,000 and 11,000, although many reputable sources now say that there could be as many as 18,000!   However many species there are, I'll go out on a limb and state that I believe the female Brown-headed Cowbird in my southern Ontario backyard (see feeder photo above) just has to be one of the top ten plainest looking birds in the world.   Any challengers?   

Please comment if you wish.

Barrythebirder

White-breasted Nuthatch...

                                                                                        Photo by BarrytheBirder

"...His escalades will carry him

From bole to bough to outer limb

And all the while around he'll wind

Above, before, below, behind -

No tree-climber's quite as stellar

As this spry no-hands rapeller..."

                                            - From White-breasted Nuthatch by Francis Stella

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)

                                                                                    Photos by BarrytheBirder

Wingspan

6 feet

All-white sub-subspecies 'occidentalis'

from southern Florida and locally in Caribbean, was formerly considered a separate species "Great White Heron",

and may be designated as a separate species once again.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder