Waste not...want not

Photos by Dave Kemp

Vancouver Island photographer and naturalist Dave Kemp captured this Bald Eagle recycling a salmon spine which appears to offer very little in the way of edible parts.   

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BarrytheBirder

Strength plus intent...a mighty combination...

Video, by Mark Smith Photography, captures a tremendous effort by an Osprey to capture a meal.

Barry the Birder

Raptor close encounter...

My new birding buddy and friend Pat passed along this terrific video of a raptor executing a tight squeeze.   I have no idea where this originated, but it is a compelling piece of video.   Enlarge to full screen for best effect.

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BarrytheBirder

Aquarium in the lobby of Delmanor Retirement Residence in Aurora

 Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Barr

Barry Walla

Counting Chimney Swifts...

 

Photos above and below by BarrytheBirder

These Aurora, Ontario, ladies are Chimney Swift counters, faithfully keeping track of the many Chimney Swifts that roost in a large chimney, atop an older residential building in the centre of the York Region town.   On this recent nightly occasion they counted a record 144 Chimney Swifts making an evening entrance into the residential property's chimney. 

 

Vancouver Island birds by Dave Kemp...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Cormorant

Spotted Sandpiper

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BarrytheBirder

Trumpeter Swans at Aurora Arboretum pond...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

A pair of Trumpeter Swans are seen above, resting at the east end of the Aurora Arboretum pond.   Meanwhile, below, a pair of Mallard Ducks seem to be keeping an eye on, and guarding, two large Trumpeter Swan eggs on a wildlife raft at the west end of the same pond.   The outcome remains to be seen over the next week or so.

 

Additionally, a Red-wing Blackbird (right) keeps a noisy overlook of all the activity on the arboretum pond site.

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BarrytheBirder 

 

Immature Golden Eagle - Vancouver Island

Photo by Dave Kemp

This photo by Dave Kemp of an immature Golden Eagle, seen in flight from below, on Vancouver Island, displays well-defined white patches at the base of the primaries and a white tail with distinct dark terminal band.   The Golden Eagle often soars with wings slightly uplifted, and inhabits mountainous or hilly terrain where it nests on cliffs or ridges.   It hunts over open country for small mammals, snakes, birds and carrion.   It is fairly common in the western U.S.A. and Canada, but is uncommon to rare in the east..

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BarrytheBirder

Gray Jay still has several names...

Gray Jay

These Gray Jay photos were sent to me by my niece, April Dawn Georgekish Gull, from her homelands on the Quebec shore of James Bay, near to her Cree village of Wemindji.  The Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) is also known as the Canada Jay, Grey Jay, Whiskey Jack, Camp Robber, Whiskeychan (Cree language spelling), Venison Hawk, Lumberjack, Moose Bird, Meat Bird, Wisakedjak (anglicized to Whiskey Jack).   The loose Gray Jay feather pictured below belonged to the Gray Jay pictured above.   The Gray Jay was called the Canada Jay for decades, but the American Ornithological Society has now designated the bird the Gray Jay, but the name is still not official in Canada.

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Barry the Birder