First flight at about 3 weeks...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

There are over 330 species of 'hummers' and they are mostly found south of the U.S.A., and only in the Western Hemisphere.   However, east of the Great Plains in North America, there is only the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.  Almost all leave North America in the fall, wintering from Mexico to Costa Rica or Panama.   Some may cross the Gulf of Mexico, but most go around the Gulf, concentrated along the Texas coast.

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BarrytheBirder

Snively Pond ~ Paradelle Drive ~ Oak Ridges...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Great Blue Heron

 

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In the flat Holland Marsh...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Killdeer

(Charadrius vociferus)

The Killdeer is very distinctive and it is the largest of the ringed plovers, and is typically found in inland pools and grasslands.  It typically breeds in agricultural lands, mainly in lowlands.   Its voice is exceptionally loud and its shrill calls are usually given repeatedly and quickly.

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BarrytheBirder

Vancouver Island butterfly and bugs by Dave Kemp...

 

    Brown Clipper

  

    Rose Weevils

   Floral flush

    Leaf Hopper

Close encounter (too close maybe)

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Barry the Birder

Trumpeter Swans at Aurora Arboretum (large pond)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

First there were 2...then 1...now 3

It's difficult keeping up with then number of Trumpeter Swans on the large pond in the Aurora Arboretum.   And I'm not sure if the eggs on the floating nesting pad are Trumpeter Swan eggs or Canada Geese eggs.   Time will tell.

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BarrytheBirder

Richmond Hill Millpond - Canada Geese and goslings - and ducks

Photos by Barry Wallace

Several of the many adult Canada Geese at the millpond have one or two legs banded as seen in the photos above and below.   When, where, why and by whom, I do not know.

Sleeping and preening (above and below)

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BarrytheBirder

Favourite Bird Pictures...

                                                                                                     Photos by BarrytheBirder

Male Junco (above)

(Junco Hyemalis) 

Female Junco (below

 For many years I have tried to decide on my favourite bird picture of all the ones I have photographed.   This week, for no particular reason,   I chose the two photos above of  a male and female Dark-eyed Junco, as my all-time favourites.   I am unable to say why these two photos capture my heart and imagination so, but they truly do.  Oh how I wish these lovely creatures were here year-around, but they do move up in spring and summer, to mid-northern Canada to breed.

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BarrytheBirder

European Blackbird?

                               Photo by Beth O'Kelly                                                   

 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

My sister-in-law, Beth O'Kelly, took this photo  on a recent tour to Britain.   It could be a blackbird of some sort, but I'm not sure.   I does have a bold look with that big beak and those shiny black feathers.

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BarrytheBirder

At the Aurora Arboretum...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

I was only able to find one of the two Trumpeter Swans this Monday morning, at the big pond in the Aurora Arboretum.  Hopefully, its mate was just stretching its wings, on a bit of a fly-about.

Meanwhile, elsewhere

on the pond, Canada Geese goslings were doing what they do best...feeding and growing.

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BarrytheBirder

Aurora Arboretum - big pond

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Trumpeter Swan

"You're getting too close, buddy"

Female Red-wing Blackbird

Canada Geese goslings

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Richmond Hill Millpond...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Chilly but tranquil morning on the millpond

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BarrytheBirder

Yellow-shafted Flicker from Vancouver Island...by Dave Kemp

 

Photo by Dave Kemp

Northern Flicker

(Colaptes auratus)

A big brown woodpecker that often feeds on the ground, seeking ants.   When in the air, it flashes bright colours under its wings and tail , as well as a white rump.   Two distinct forms, eastern/northern "Yellow-shafted Flicker" and western "Red-shafted Flicker (pictured above) are named for colour of feather shafts in the wings.   The Yellow-shafted form has bright yellow under wings and tail, red crescent on back of head, tan face, grey crown; male has black mustache stripe.  The Red-shafted (pictured above) has salmon-pink under the wings and tail, gray face, brown crown; male has a red mustache stripe.   There are many intermediates where the two forms interbreed in southwestern Canada and the western Great Plains.

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BarrytheBirder   

Ravenshoe Sideroad ~ west of Leslie Street in York Region

Photo by BarrytheBirder

OSPREY

Pictured above is one of two Ospreys nesting on a light tower, above the baseball diamond on the Ravenshoe Sideroad in south-west Keswick.   This big fish-eater has a wingspan of 63 cm. (64"), 16" wider than a Red-tailed Hawk and 15" narrower than a Bald Eagle.   Osprey were dramatically endangered in the mid-20th century, by the effects of pesticides.   After DDT and other pesticides were banned in 1972, Ospreys made a notable comeback in many parts of North America, especially in Canada.

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BarrytheBirder

British Columbia Birds by Dave Kemp...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Violet Green Swallow

(Tachycineta thalassina)

Kingfisher with a meal

Bank Swallow

(Riparia riparia)

Vancouver

Island

flowers

by

Dave Kemp

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Barry the Birder