BarrytheBirder blog started Dec. 31, 2006

 

'BarrytheBirder' blogsite records 1,500,000 hits!

After 18 years of publishing this online blogsite (4,582 entries), the number of respondents has just gone over 1,500,000.   At 83 years of age, I'm going to continue with the blog for a while longer.   Who knows where it will end up.  Thanks to you all for continuing to view this site.   And good birding!

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

 
Photos by BarrytheBirder

Ready for take-off

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

One of my favourite bird carvings...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Common Loon (Gavia Immer)

Shown here are two photos of a wooden Common Loon by carver Ron Sadler which he created in 1983 and which I purchased many years ago.  

The Common Loon is a log-bodied diver, native to North America and inhabiting coastal waters and the large southern lakes.   They are considered  by many to be an ultimate symbol of wilderness.   Ron Sadler, born in Essex County, southern Ontario, after a formal education, was drawn into wood carving and sculpture, establishing his company The Decorative Decoy in 1984.   

  This example is dated 1983 and is considered to be one his earliest works.    It appears the company suffered to the Canadian Recession in 1998/1990. He moved to Delhi, Ontario, in 2008, where he continued as Ron Sadler Woodcarving, Delhi.   Ron Sadler died in 2020.

I very much like this carving because of Mr. Sadler's sculpting skills and artistry, but it is especially appealing to me because of my own fascination with the Common Loon itself. His company suffered due to the Canadian Recession of 1989/1990 and it appears he moved to Delhi, Ontario, in 2008, where he continued as Ron Sadler Woodcarving, Delhi.   Ron Sadler died in 2020.

 For years, as a young canoeing enthusiast and canoe tripper throughout southern Ontario, in places like Algonquin Park and the Haliburton highlands, I became enraptured with the call of the Common Loon.   To this day, I believe the Common Loon should be Canada's national bird. 

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Shorebirds are starting southern migration...

                                                                                                      Photos by BarrytheBirder

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous)

Shorebirds such as the Killdeer are beginning their movement southward at this time of year.   Killdeers are among among the approximately 50 species of shorebirds in eastern Canada that are preparing to make this migration.

Sandy and rocky beaches, sewage lagoons, mudflats, river banks, farm fields, and salt marshes are all places to spot common shorebirds during August and September migrations.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder 

Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly spotted in Toronto's High Park...

 
First One spotted in over 100 years!

Here's a change of pace for me.   After writing about birds in this blog for almost 18 years, I am today writing about a butterfly.   It is because of the rarity of this species (the Zebra Swallowtail) in this part of the world in this day and age.   Details are from a report posted by Vyusti Magan Shroff of CBC News on August 20, 2025.

The rare butterfly was spotted by Crystal Byrne, a butterfly enthusiast, when she was visiting Toronto's High Park to catch a glimpse of the different species that appear at this time of year.

"This stunning black and white butterfly came out and I was like, that's a  Zebra Swallowtail", said Byrne.   "Never did I think that I was going to see one there."

The species was last spotted back in 1896 (129 years ago) Bob Yukich, a member of the Toronto Entomologist's Association told CBC Radio's Metro Morning.

Byrne, who spent days maintaining the black oak savannah - an endangered ecosystem in High Park - felt "very lucky" to be the one to spot the rare Zebra Swallowtail.   Around 74 butterfly species have been found in High Park since the 1840s, according to the High Park Nature Centre.

The Zebra Swallowtail was common in southwestern Ontario, around Windsor, in the early 1900s.   With development and cutting down woods in the area, the Pawpaw (the Zebra's preferred food source) started to disappear.

Ontario's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act classifies the Zebra Swallowtail as a "specially protected" species.   It is illegal to harm. capture, transport or kill the butterfly.

Yukich says it is special to see a species like this after hearing about their habitat loss for decades.   "Butterflies are declining and when you get something like that, it's returning and not disappearing.   It's fascinating," Yikich said.

Thanks to Joan Hanesiak for alerting me to this story.   

Well...back to writing about birds again...tomorrow.

BarrytheBirder

 
                                                                                             Photos by BarrytheBirder

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

The Tree Swallow is a dark, glossy metallic blue, slightly duller in female, greenish in fall plumage; white below.   Its white cheek patch does not extend above its eye.   It is found throughout Canada and the United States.

It is common in wooded habitats near water, and where dead trees provide nest boxes.   It also uses man-made nest boxes.   They migrate in large flocks and go north earlier in spring and linger farther north than other swallows in the the fall.   Feeding on bayberries allows it to winter farther north than other swallows.

They gather in huge flocks along the east and west coasts in the fall, where they circles in big clouds like leaves caught in swirling winds.   Their voices are series of liquid twitters.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

An introduced Eurasion species from 135 years ago...

                                                                                               Photos by BarrytheBirder

  European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America says this Eurasian species was introduced in New York in 1890-91 and it soon spread across the continent and is found in a wide variety of human-altered habitats.   It is bold, abundant and aggressive and often competes very successfully with native bird species for nest holes.                                   

Outside of the nesting season, they are usually seen in quite large flocks, sometimes mixed with other blackbird species.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Decoy artwork...

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)

                                                                                      Photos by BarrytheBirder

"Ready for your close-up!"  -  Part 2

         Please comment if you wish.

       BarrytheBirder

Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura)

Photos By BarrytheBirder

"Ready for your close-up!"

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Hummingbirds vs. hornets...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

It's mid-August here in Ontario and that's when the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are most bothered by hornets which are also trying to get at the hanging nectar feeders (see photos attached).   A single 'Hummer' can be harassed by as many as six hornets at one time while it is trying to feed.

It's very annoying for the 'Hummers' but it must be said that many of the unwary hornets that manage to get inside the nectar feeder reservoirs do fall into the nectar and can't escape...meeting their end by drowning.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

American Sparrow (Spizella arborea)

Photos by Rhododendrites ~ Wikipedia

The American Sparrow is a cold-weather sparrow that breeds and nests in northern Canada at the edge of the artic tundra in open areas with scattered trees and brush.

It is seen south of Canada in winter only, when flocks roam about brushy fields, forest edges, marshes, groves of small trees and gardens. It is often found with other sparrows and juncos.

They are noticeable for their grey heads and napes, rufous crowns and rufous stripes behind the eye.   They have grey throats and breasts, with a dark central spot and rufous patches at the sides of their breasts.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Female feeding youngster

The house Sparrow is an introduced species now found throughout southern Canada and all of the United States.   It is native to Eurasia and North Africa and has been introduced on all continents and many islands.

According to the Audubon Society the entire North American population is descended from a few birds released in Central Park, New York City, in 1850, and then spread to many towns and farms in the settled parts of the country, and quickly multiplied.

They are common in most populated areas and are gregarious - living in flocks, especially in winter.   They are also known as the English Sparrow.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

The Chipping Sparrow is a small bird found in summer backyards in many areas, hopping on lawns and nesting in hedges.   Normal habitats include gardens, lawns, city parks, brushy pastures, and grassy woodland edges, where they are a familiar songbird.   Winter flocks appear to forage around woodland edges and thickets.

They breed from across Canada, south to Florida, Nicaragua and Baja California.

The Audubon Society says this bird's habit of lining its nest with hair has nick-named it the "Hairbird".    The birds once used horsehair, but with fewer use of horses, any hair will do...even strands from the coats of sleeping dogs.

Their food food consists mainly of seeds, but in summer, adults as well as young will feed on insects.

 

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

White-throated Sparrow (Zenothrichia albicillois)

 
Photos by BarrytheBirder

The White-throated Sparrow ranges from Alberta to Newfoundland, south to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Dakota.   It is a very common sparrow and is known as a winter visitor and a migrant.   Flocks of these birds haunt undergrowth of woods, parks, and gardens in the winter, often foraging with other sparrows and juncos on the ground.   

Very common in the east and scarce in the west, they summer in northern forests.  Their song is a clear whistled 'oh, sweet, canada-canada-canada'.

During colder months hedgerows and thickets seem to be filled with White-throated Sparrows, while on warm days their plaintive calls can easily be heard.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

The White-crowned Sparrow is very common in western North America and uncommon in the east.   In Canada, they are found in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, British Columbia, the northern prairie provinces, northern Ontario and Quebec and Labrador. and the western United States.

The White-crowned Sparrow is known as winter visitor and a migrant.   Flocks in winterlive in thickets, woodland edges, deserts, and may sing in rambling chorus from bush tops on warm winter days.   They usually spend summer in the far north or mountains.   Some live year-long on the Pacific coast.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

                                                                                             Photos by BarrytheBirder

Savannah Sparrows are found from Alaska, across Canada to Newfoundland and Labrador, and south to New Jersey, Missouri and northern Mexico.

They are regularly found sitting in the open around fields, marshes or beaches.   They are widespread and common, often in small, loose flocks.

They are heavily streaked on the chest, have a strong face pattern and a narrow white central crown stripe, and usually show yellow in front of their eyes.

According the Audubon Society Field Guide to North America Birds (Eastern Region), this abundant and familiar grass sparrow is an able runner.   Once discovered, they drop into the grass and dart away.

In the fall they migrate southward in huge numbers and may be found almost anywhere - even in city parks.

Please

comment

if you wish.

Barry the Birder

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

                                                                     Photos by BarrytheBirder

This sparrow is named for its 'foxy' colouring and is found on the ground under dense thickets.   It is larger and longer-tailed than the House Sparrow.  It scratches in the leaf-litter with its feet for food.   It is found coast-to-coast in Canada but is not frequently seen in the southern parts of the Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario Quebec and Maritime provinces.   They have a rich, melodious song.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

As many as 24 to 25 recognized sub-species...some say possibly as many as 52 subspecies have been named.

The Song Sparrow is one of the most geographically variable bird species in North America.   It is found in the Aleutians, Alaska, and Newfoundland south to the Carolinas, North Dakota and Mexico.   

It winters from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast and Mexico.  It is found everywhere in North America and is best known of all its native sparrows.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Merlin ((Falco columbarius)

The Merlin was formerly called the "Pigeon Hawk".   The Merlin preys on birds, caught in flight, usually from a sudden, dashing burst of speed rather than by diving.  They also eat eat large insects and small rodents.

It is best known in Canada, as a migrant along larger rivers and coastal marshes.  Somewhat uncommon, they are seen as scattered singles, but sometimes seen in fair numbers along coastlines during migration.   It is very abundant during migrations of shorebirds, warblers, sparrows and other small birds upon which it feeds.

Many individuals in the Canadian prairie provinces do not migrate but concentrate near or in cities in winter.

This small falcon is aggressive and swift, harassing larger hawks ands gulls and attacking intruders near its nest.

Please  

comment 

if you wish.

BarrytheBirder