South African birds by Dave Kemp

 Photos by Dave Kemp

Secretarybird

(Sagittarius Serpantarius)

Southern Red Bishop

(Euplectes orix)

Southern Double-coloured Sunbird

(Cinnyris chalybeus)

Pin-Tailed Whydah

(Vidua macroura)

My special thanks to birder-Photographer Dave Kemp, of British Columbia, for sharing the photographs above, which he shot on vacation in South Africa in 2009.   Dave and his wife visited Capetown and surrounding areas at the time.

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BarrytheBirder

At the feeders...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

House Finch and Pine Siskin

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BarrytheBirder

Charming bird photos by Dave Kemp in B.C.

Photos by Dave Kemp 

Pied-Billed Grebe

(Podilymbus podiceps)

American Coot

(Fulica americana)

Northern Flicker

(Colaptes auratus)

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BarrytheBirder

House Finches, Pine Siskins & Goldfinches

Photos by BarrytheBirder 

House Finch

Pine Siskin

Goldfinch

For years I've been accustomed to always having dozens of American Goldfinches at my backyard feeders every winter.  This year for the first time ever, things have changed noticeably. Now I have dozens of House Finches and dozens of Pine Finches flocking to my winter feeders.   The Goldfinches have been pushed to the rear.   The House Finches are number 1 and the Pine Siskins are number 2.   I'm sure there are a few good reasons for this, but I'm always amazed how Mother Nature can alter what seem to be consistent behaviours.

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BarrytheBirder

Eye-catching photos from British Columbia - by Dave Kemp

Photos by Dave Kemp

 Gadwall (male and female)

Bald Eagle (Juvenile)

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BarrytheBirder

February flock of American Robins in Holland Landing...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Not all American Robins go south for the winter.   My friend Doreen from Holland Landing spotted a flock of them in her backyard this week.   They are among hundreds of robins in York Region that over-winter here, feeding mostly on tree and shrub berries, as well as assorted offerings at residential winter bird feeders.  They also need open water to drink wherever they can find it.  Global warming seems to be prompting more of these traditional spring birds to flock together  in the winter along the American/Canadian border particularly in the Great Lakes region.

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BarrytheBirder

Secretary Bird declining rapidly...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Pictured above is me with one of my Covid 19 masks, which feature bird species.   The mask shown above features an African Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius).  This bird is a raptor, famed for its unmistakable head feathers resembling 'a secretary with quills tucked behind their ear'.  Sadly, the Secretary bird has recently had its status uplisted  to 'Endangered'  by Birdlife International's 2020 Red List.   The bird is now thought to face a very high risk of extinction.  Causes include habitat loss and degradation, poisoning, poaching and physical disturbance.

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BarrytheBirder

Red-tailed Hawk soars over Holland Marsh...

 

                                                                                        Photos by BarrytheBirder

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BarrytheBirder

-13C chills the birds...

Photo by Barry Wallace

     COLD STARLINGS 

   CATCH SOME RAYS

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if you wish

BarrytheBirder

North of Queensville on Leslie Street West...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

I took this photo of a big beautiful and calm female (or juvenile) Snowy Owl on the Ravenshoe Sideroad, north of Queensville, this past Saturday morning.  There were five vehicles parked on the side of the road, directly underneath its perch on a hydro pole.  The owl was totally nonplussed and the birders took lots of photos.

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BarrytheBirder

Dave Kemp photos from Canada's west coast...

All photos by Dave Kemp

Marsh Wren

 

Northern Harrier

Pied-billed Grebe

Common Snipe

(Above and below)

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BarrytheBirder

On the Kell Farm ~ Keele Street & 16th Sideroad...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Barred Owl 

This owl is chiefly nocturnal and its daytime roost is well hidden.  However, it is more likely than most owls to be heard in the daytime.   Its distinctive call is: "who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all".   It usually is found in dense coniferous or mixed woods.

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BarrytheBirder

Northern Jay (Cyanocitta cristatta)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

54 jay species

in the world

Only 5 species of jays in the world have crests like  Canada's Northern Jay.   One of the other four is also  found in Canada: the Steller's Jay.  However, it is the Northern Jay that shows up on many of the world's top 10, 12, 20 or 25 most beautiful birds lists.  Northern Jays (Blue Jays) are expert mimics, especially of raptors such as the Red-tailed Hawk and the Red-shouldered Hawk.  Moreover, owls are especially disliked by Northern Jays.   For birdwatchers who have bird feeders in their backyards, Northern Jays can be nuisance because they storm the bird feeders and scare away all the smaller winter birds, but we take the bad with good, don't we.

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BarrytheBirder 

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

  "EVEN ITS BEAK 

IS RED"

The Northern Cardinal's bright colouration is from the ingestion of foods that contain  carotinoid pigments, such as many seeds, wild fruit and berries. 

It ranges from southern

Canada to the Gulf Coast, including Mexico

and Belize.   It is said that is was named for the

red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals.   Males feed females up to four times per minute through egg-laying and incubation. They are often wary of people, but males are often aggressive with their own reflections in windows.

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BarrytheBirder

Resplendent starling...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

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comment 

if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Red-breasted Mergansers ~ Richmond, B.C.

Photos by Dave Kemp

Red-breasted Mergansers ~ Terra Nova Park

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BarrytheBirder

Mergansers at Terra Nova Park, Richmond B.C. by Dave Kemp

Red-breasted Merganser (male)

Red-breasted Merganser (female)

Male and Female in flight

Above are three recent photographs of Red-breasted Mergansers taken by my British Columbia birding acquaintance and avid photographer Dave Kemp.  The photos were taken at Terra Nova Park, west of Richmond B.C., on the southern shore of the southern branch of the Fraser River, which empties into the Salish Sea.  The park is right across the river from Vancouver International Airport.   The north branch of the Fraser also empties into the Salish Sea on the north side of the airport.   Tomorrow's blog entry will feature three more merganser photos from Terra Nova.   Many thanks to Dave Kemp for sharing these photos.

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BarrytheBirder

Snowy Owl populations in decline...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Pictured above is a Barred Owl, not a Snowy Owl.   Let me explain.   I was reading about the declining number of Snowy Owls in North America, on a Cornell Lab of Ornithology website and there was a list of causes for  Snowy owls deaths.   It listed a number of causes such as shootings, hit by motor vehicles, found dead on highways, collisions with towers or wires, caught in traps not intended for birds, hit by aircraft, and 'ENTANGLED'.  Yes, owls can become entangled in tree branches or  vines, etc.   The number is small and a mere percentage of the total number of deaths.    But I was instantly reminded of the Barred Owl pictured above.   I spotted in on the 16th Sideroad of King Township  near the Pine Orchard Cafe.  When I first saw it, it was ensnared in the branches of a small tree.   I watched it for several minutes and finally it extricated itself.   It had never occurred to me that such an encounter could cost a bird its life.   

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BarrytheBirder

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

I was looking for Snowy Owls in the Holland Marsh last Thursday but I had to settle for this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk.   It was very overcast and the bird was on a high powerline.   What is notable however on this juvenile is the white patch at the throat and the heavily streaked and spotted brown belly below, that will fade as it reaches maturity.

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BarrytheBirder

More birds from B.C. by Dave Kemp...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Northern Harrier (female)

Great Blue Heron

All Dave Kemp's photos are from Canada's west coast, which is seen in its grandeur in the photo above.   I wished I was there Dave.

Thanks Dave for sharing these photos.

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BarrytheBirder

Dave Kemp sends more bird photos from Canada's west coast...

Photos by Dave Kemp

                    American Widgeon (male)

 Red-breasted Merganser (male)

Bald Eagle ( juvenile)

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BarrytheBirder