White Raven in British Columbia...

Photos by North Island Recovery Centre/Debbie McAmmond/CHEK News

Bird fights for survival

An extremely rare and injured blue-eyed, white Raven is being cared for at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre on Vancouver Island.   The bird was discovered at the beginning of June.   It is one of a few White Ravens discovered on the eastern coast of central Vancouver over more than three decades.   It is thought that these leucistic birds do not survive into their second year, because of their rare genealogical origin.

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BarrytheBirder

Former Walmart store going to the birds...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

A former Walmart Supercentre Store at the northwest corner of Hwy. 400 and Hwy. 7 in Vaughan, has received a new coat of paint and some huge graphic art images.  Within the art project are the three massive and colourful bird images you see here.   I'm not sure about the bird species depicted here, but Kingfishers and Kookaburras come to mind.   What a wonderful presentation!

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BarrytheBird

East shore of Vancouver Island...

Photo by Dave Kemp

Common Mergansers

The Common Merganser is the largest of the three merganser species in North America.   This large fish-eater is common and widespread in central and northern North America.   It uses its serrated bill to catch fish underwater, particularly trout and salmon, but also catfish and carp, frogs, small mammals, birds, aquatic invertebrates and plants.   It is found from the Atlantic to Pacific coasts.

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BarrytheBirder

 

Bald Eagle steals seal's meal...

Photos by Dave Kemp

My Canadian west coast birding acquaintance, Dave Kemp from Comox, Vancouver Island, has just shared three great photos of a Bald Eagle swooping down and stealing what appears to be a sea bird from the mouth of what looks like a Harbour Seal.   The more I learn about eagles, they strike me as being bold, opportunistic, daring and indefatigable.   Thanks for sharing these super photos Dave!   

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BarrytheBirder

East side of Vancouver Island...

Photo by Dave Kemp

Bald Eagles share a perch

Oh to be able to take a picture like this 

whenever you want.   

Many thanks for sharing this photograph, Dave.

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BarrytheBirder

 

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

 

                    Photo by BarrytheBirder                          

Eastern Bluebirds are partially migratory and while mostly at home in the south-eastern United States, they will move over the southern Canadian border during summer.

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BarrytheBirder

Eagles locking talons into a cartwheel...

Photo by Dave Kemp

Eagles lock talons and spiral downward

My Vancouver Island friend Dave Kemp  photographed these two young Bald Eagles locking talons and 'cartwheeling' or 'spiralling' downward.   All eagles, males, female, juveniles, will do this occasionally and for reasons not really known.   On occasion, unlucky pairs, unable to release their grip on each other, have been known to plummet to earth or into the ocean with fatal results.  Otherwise the spectacle is awe-inspiring to observers.

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BarrytheBirder

Vancouver Island ~ between Comox and Courtney...

 

Photos by Dave Kemp

Bald Eagle 

Turkey Vulture

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BarrytheBirder

Hmmmm, what if....

 

Photo by BarrytheBarry

I wonder what bird a Grackle would choose if it could change its species?

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BarrytheBirder

House Sparrows still feeding full-grown off-spring...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

The three juvenile House Sparrows (pictured above) have reached their full adult size but are still completely dependent on their mother for food (see photo below).   The male adult House Sparrow was absent throughout this unending feeding frenzy. I suppose there are human adult parents who might say it's no different with their adult-sized children. C'est le vie.

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BarrytheBirder

The iridescent blue Tree Swallow...

Photo by Barry Wallace

...on NEST POOP PATROL

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BarrytheBirder

Forget what a Savannah Sparrow looks like?

Photos by Barry Wallace

Look for the iyellowi eyebrow

The Savannah Sparrow feeds on the ground, nests on the ground, and runs along the ground.   My Stokes Field Guide says it " ...runs along the ground like a small vole to avoid possible danger and, when flying, stays close to grass tops". 

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BarrytheBirder

Young Downy Woodpeckers learn by experience...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Two different Downy Woodpeckers, pictured above,  are learning that a hummingbird feeder (top) and an oriole feeder (lower) are not designed to feed woodpeckers...even small Downys.   Learning such things are all part of life's rich pageant - even for woodpeckers.   This is not to say that a Downy won't drink nectar from a feeder if the conditions are right.   In fact, there are four other woodpecker species that will eat nectar: the Red-bellied, the Gila, the Acorn and the Ladder-backed. 

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BarrytheBirder

The loudspeaker in the garden...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Blue Jay

(Cyanocitta cristata)

My DK BIRDS OF EASTERN CANADA describes the voice of the Blue Jay as a 'harsh, screaming jay! jay!'.   It is native to all eastern woodlands but is also at home in suburban vegetation...extensively in backyards.   It eats just about anything including insects, acorns, small vertebrates, such as lizards, rodents, bird eggs, birds, tree frogs, fruits and seeds.  It is also an excellent imitator of other birds' calls.

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BarrytheBirder

Last week's weather reminded me of Mexico...

 

Photo by Barry the Birder

. . . on Cozumel

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BarrytheBirder

Some favourite Goldfinch photos...

                                                                                                    Photos by BarrytheBirder

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comment

if you wish.

Barry

the

Birder

Love this bird...love this photo

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Red-tailed Hawk

(Buteo jamaicensis)

The temperature outside on June 6th had reached 34C and that was a bit too hot for me to be out and about photographing local birds.   I decided therefore to re-run one of my favourite photos of the most common buteo hawk in North America: the Red-tailed Hawk.   Whenever I hear a harsh, descending 'keeeeer' call, I know I am about to look up and see a big 'Red-tail'.

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BarrytheBirder 

South pond / Seneca College - in King Township

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Great Blue Heron

(Ardea horodias)

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BarrytheBirder

Snively Wetlands - Oak Ridges

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

GREAT BLUE HERON

(Ardea Herodias)

This is my favourite of the big herons, unless I am in the southern states and the Caribbean, and then my favourite heron would be the Great White Heron.    They are both among the four largest herons in the world and endlessly fascinating in their feeding and nesting behaviours.   When in flight, there are few birds in the world that provide such a deliberate, majestic flight and are such a wonderful sight to behold.   The Snively wetlands in Oak Ridges are only a few kilometres from my urban home, and there are deer to be found there, surrounded by urban development.

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BarrytheBirder

Getting rid of mites...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Hot sun helps dove rid itself of bugs

This Mourning Dove spent 15 minutes spread-eagled (no pun intended) on a hot shed roof recently as a way to convince any buggy hitchhikers to abandon its handsome feathers.

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BarrytheBirder

Reluctant Hummingbirds...

    Photos by BarrytheBirder

I've now had three visits by a Bluebird(s) this spring, but the first two only lasted a few seconds.   The third one (above and left) lasted almost an hour, but who knows when the next visit will happen.   I'll just keep filling the feeders and maybe one day it will be a daily visitor.

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BarrytheBirder

Last Dave Kemp photos for a while...

 

Photos by Dave Kemp

     Above: Red-breasted Sapsucker

     Below: Common Merganser (female)

       Bottom: Song Sparrow

Dave Kemp has advised me that his output of birding photos will be greatly reduced as he settles into his new home on Vancouver Island.   Thanks Dave for sharing your great photos over the past several months, and best wishes.

Barry Wallace

Kingsnorth Drive ~ King City

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Sunday morning snooze

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BarrytheBirder

Other photos by West Coast birder Dave Kemp...

 

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BarrytheBirder

Photos by Dave Kemp from Vancouver Island...

 

Photos by Dave Kemp

Cedar Waxwing

Dave Kemp, my British Columbia birding acquaintance, has treated me with more terrific photos from his new home near Comox on the eastern shores of Vancouver Island.

Common Yellowthroat

Common Mergansers

Female Mallard

Spotted Sandpiper

Nearby birder's bonus...a seal

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Barry Wallace