Favourite bird feeder...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Even without a hummingbird hovering at this bird feeder, I really like looking at its red glass beauty.   For whatever reason, I haven't had as many hummingbirds this year.   I can't help but wonder if the broiling high temperatures we have had over the last month, have deterred the wee birds from nectar that is just too hot to consume.   But the feeders would be cool in the early morning, right?    I do hope there is no repeat of this next year, but who knows in this age of global warming?

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BarrytheBirder 

Bare-headed Cardinal...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

I've seen my share of bald-headed birds, but this cardinal, which I featured in this space five weeks ago, doesn't show any signs of growing its head feathers back.   And who knows how long he had been without head feathers before I took the picture.   And his head shows no sign of new feathers sprouting.   I'll keep a eye on him and update his status in September.

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BarrytheBirder

  

First autumn migrating warbler in backyard...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Black-throated Green Warbler

(Dendroica virens)

Here's the the first autumn migrant warbler I've seen perched in my backyard cedar hedge.   It will soon be heading to its wintering grounds in Texas, Florida or perhaps even down to Colombia.

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BarrytheBirder

The differing appearances of European Starlings...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Pictured above are two distinct starling stages 

Above, at top on the feeder, is a non-breeding adult in its Sept.-Feb. plumage.  Below it is a moulting juvenile in its July-Sept. plumage.   Other plumages (not shown here) are the juvenile (May-Aug. plumage) and the breeding adult (Dec.-Aug.)

The pale gray head of the moulting juvenile (above) is retaining only briefly.

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BarrytheBirder

Seal shares a fish with her youngsters

Photos by Dave Kemp

A seal, presumably a mother seal, catches a big fish in the Courtney River off the east coast of Vancouver Island and proceeds to share it with two seal pups.   The photos were taken and shared  by my friend Dave Kemp whose bird photos I frequently show in this space.   In the bottom photo, it appears that the mother seal secured half the fish for herself.   

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BarrytheBirder

Shy, early-morning Common Mergansers on Vancouver Island...

Photos by Dave Kemp

My Vancouver Island acquaintance Dave Kemp photographed these Common Mergansers before 8.30 a.m. on a recent morning, but the camera-shy birds, for whatever reason, are seen hastily heading in the opposite direction.   It made a good photo nevertheless.   One wonders where all the male mergansers were.

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BarrytheBirder  

King-Vaughan Line ~ between Kipling Ave. and East Humber River

Wild Turkeys forage

in newly mown

field.

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if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Big birds squabble over perch at McKenzie Marsh...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

A Great Egret (above) is displaced from its perch in Aurora's McKenzie Marsh, by an incoming Great Blue Heron (below).   The Great Egret gives way and move to another perch.   In the third photo, in the bottom left corner, one can see a Green Heron watching the encounter of the much bigger birds.  Finally, new perches are established and the marsh is silent again.

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BarrytheBirder

First new bird in 15 years for my lifelist...

Photo by Christy Hand / South Carolina Dept. of Natural resources

Black Rail in the Aurora's McKenzie Wetlands

It seems like it has taken forever, but the total number of birds on my life list has just climbed from 425 to 426.   Last Friday I spotted a juvenile Black Rail squeezing between thick cattails at the west side of Aurora's McKenzie Wetlands.  It was alongside the boardwalk and it scurried underneath both sides of the boardwalk, but gave many quick views of itself.  Because is was so small and almost totally black, it had to be a juvenile.   Just as my many field guides describe it, it was quite difficult to flush and glimpse, but I persisted.   Black Rails, both adults and juveniles, are  dark little birds, secretive, stealthy.   They never give good views of themselves, which they achieve by sticking to damp areas in dense grass and reeds.   But I persisted to the point that I was 95% sure of what I was seeing.   It was hard to see, but unlike anything I had ever seen before.   And as it was what I believe to be a juvenile, adults or siblings might also be about.  As I am a few months from turning 80 years old, I hope it's not another 15 years before I see my next lifer!

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BarrytheBirder

The second most ubiquitous, wee backyard bird...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

American Goldfinch

(Spinus tristis)

A harbinger of 12 twelve months of delightful birding

Female  (above and below)

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BarrytheBirder

This wee bird owns the backyard...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Chickadee, do not flee.

Take a seed; they're all on me.

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BarrytheBirder

Sidewalk sculptures on Main Street in Orangeville...

 Photo by BarrytheBirder

These excellent, life-size, wood carvings of pelicans are one of several artistic endeavours that can be seen on the edges of Orangeville's main Street, from one end to the other, this summer.  These birds seem to have expressions of stern regard for passersby.  Don't be poking your fingers too near those beaks.

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BarrytheBirder

Richmond Hill Millpond...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

 

Private neighbouring garden next to millpond

 Lunchtime siesta for female Mallards only

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BarrytheBirder

Bathurst Street and Mill Road...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Wings a-fraying

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BarrytheBirder

Shorebirds have already started to head south...

 

Photo by Barry Wallace

Pictured above four shorebirds that were part of a group of about 30 shorebirds, representing 3-4 different species, on a small and shrinking, ephemeral rainwater pond in King Township, north of Toronto.   Shorebirds in this area, including the many sandpiper species, start to migrate south in early to mid-July.   Their colours and markings are more subdued in fall compared to the spring, and that adds a bit of extra effort in identifying them.

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BarrytheBirder

McKenzie Wetlands - St. John's Sideroad, Aurora

Female Mallard and Midland Painted Turtle share a perch

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Great Egret

More Midlands

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comment

if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Young Green Herons...

Photo above and below by Kenneth Cole Schneidner

I came across these two photos this week of a Green Heron with youngsters in a nest, taken by Kenneth Cole Schneidner in Florida.   What charming scenes.   I've never had an opportunity to take a similar photo, but I have taken a few shots of adult birds.   The bottom three photos were ones I took  of a Green Heron in the Dufferin Marsh, at Schomberg, Ontario, a year or so ago. 

    Photos below by BarrytheBirder

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BarrytheBirder