Red Crossbills on Vancouver Island...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Red Crossbill (male)

(Loxia curvirostra))

Red Crossbill (female)

Naturalist and photographer Dave Kemp has photographed a male and female Red Crossbill on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia.   This bird species is found in a narrow band of territory right across Canada, but is particularly widespread in British Columbia and Alberta.   All Crossbills are plump, have long tails and large heads, crossed bill tips and notched tails.

Red Crossbills are also found south in parts of the United States depending on the time of year.   They inhabit coniferous woods and are highly irregular in their wanderings, and very dependent upon cone crops.

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BarrytheBirder

Winning photo

 

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

2005 BirdSpotter Photo Contest Winner

GRAND PRIZE

 California Quail by Gavin Howard

(Chosen from over 43,000 votes cast)

"I never thought I would be a birder but after a work contract as a wildlife biologist, I was hooked.   I oved watching birds, listening to them, and learning their unique behaviours.   Photography came soon after as I found it was equally rewarding capturing them".  -- Gavin Howard

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Turkey Vultures show up in late March...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

They're back.   I spotted 5 Turkeys Vultures overhead during the last week ofMarch, above the Oak Ridges Moraine, north of Toronto.   

I remember many years ago seeing Turkey Vultures in Ontario only during the summer months.   These days I'm seeing them throughout the spring, summer and fall.   They seem to be appearing as soon as the snow melts in late winter and don't disappear until the first snow falls in early winter.

I have mixed feelings about these big birds.   I have no interest at all in seeing them eat dead carcasses on the sides of nearby roads.   But when they are on the wing, I am fascinated by amazing soaring abilities (see photo below).

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BarrytheBirder

Warbler life list stands at 26 species ...

                                                                                          All Photos by BarrytheBirder

Yellow-rumped Warbler

My personal warbler life list stands at 26 species, and includes:

1. Tennessee Warbler                                    14. Yellow-throated Warbler

2. Orange-crowned Warbler                          15. Adelaide's Warbler

3. Nashville Warbler                                       16. Prairie Warbler

4. Northern Parula                                          17. Palm Warbler

5. Yellow Warbler                                            18. Bay-breasted Warbler

6. Chestnut-sided Warbler                             19. Blackpoll Warbler

7. Magnolia Warbler                                        20. Black-and-white Warbler

8. Cape May Warbler                                       21. American Redstart

9. Black-throated Blue Warbler                      22. Ovenbird

10. Yellow-rumped Warbler                            23. Louisiana Waterthrush

11. Black-throated Grey Warbler                   24. Common Yellowthroat

12. Black-throated Green Warbler                 25. Wilson's Warbler

13. Blackburnian Warbler                               26. Canada Warbler

A found all of these warblers in Ontario, with the exception of two which I spotted in St. Lucia and Cozumel.   Several of the others I found in the world-famous hotspot of Pt. Pelee, on Lake Erie, in Ontario.

Wilson's Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

Pine Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

American Redstart

Common Yellowthroat

Canada Warbler

Spring is just around the corner and I can hardly wait to see more of these beauties.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder