First White-crowned Sparrows arrive...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Three White-crowned Sparrows and two White-throated Sparrows appeared in the backyard this past weekend.   The White-crowned pictured above, with the head feathers erect, appeared to be rather agitated.   David Love, out on the 7th of King, tells me a Bluebird has arrived there.   Pictured below is a photo I took two years ago of a White-crowned and a White Throated Sparrow side-by-side.

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BarrytheBirder

16th Sideroad of King Township...

 

Photo by Barry Wallace

Eastern WILD TURKEY

Female

(Meleagris gallopavo)

The Eastern Wild Turkey is found throughout eastern North American and now numbers about six million birds.   The female lays 10 to 12 eggs.   Hunting of these birds is widespread and occurs in the spring and the fall.

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BarrytheBirder

Turkey Vultures atop Bennet Drive home in King City

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comment

if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Great Blue Heron...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Well camouflaged

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BarrytheBirder

In the garden...

 

Photo by Barry Wallace

Thinking of Linda and her peonies

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Barry Wallace

Near to Schomberg...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

PITY THE CROW & RAVEN

Why is it that crows and ravens, when artistically presented, are so often made to have a look of malice or menace.   Artistry aside, the roadside creature pictured above looks very foreboding.   Oh well, everyone to their own taste, said my grandmother, as she kissed her cow's behind.

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BarrytheBirder 

Mourning Dove...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Drying off after the rain

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BarrytheBirder

Turkey Vulture finds a morsel...

 

   ...and then departs the scene

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BarrytheBirder

   

Richmond Hill Millpond...

There used to be

two Mute Swans

at the 

Richmond Hill

Millpond.

Now there is but one.

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if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

 

Cormorants return to Mill Pond in Richmond Hill

Photos by BarrytheBirder

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BarrytheBirder

In Schomberg...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

These Canada Geese have selected tall beaver lodges to mount their nests upon, giving them a high goose's-eye view of surrounding marsh lands.

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BarrytheBirder

Weston Road...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Wild Turkey Crossing

At no time did its feet touch the ground!

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BarrytheBirder

Wandering around Pine Farms Orchard...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

I've been dropping into Pine Farms Orchard, on the 16th of King, north of King City, between Keele and Jane Streets, every day or two for the past couple of weeks, hoping to get some photos of the eye-catching resident ducks.   I finally caught up to them last Thursday.   They were meandering about pecking up anything that caught their eyes.  In the photo immediately below, one of the big birds is seen sampling a grapevine bud, while its companion looks askance at it, with a bulging eye.

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BarrytheBirder

Some favourite duck photos I have taken...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

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BarrytheBirder

Turkey Vultures don't share with crows...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Four Turkey Vultures landed in a meadow at a rural King Township butchery  hoping, I suppose, for a few scraps of sheep offal but had to keep crows from joining them.  The pickings looked slim from what I could see.

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BarrytheBirder

Wood Ducks and Mallards

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

A pair of Wood Ducks is seen above in a roadside ditch on the 18th Sideroad of King Township.   In the photo below, the Wood Ducks appear to be sharing their small pool of water with a pair of Mallards.

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BarrytheBirder

Male and female Red-winged Blackbird

Photos by BarrytheBirder

I happened to show someone photos of male and female Red-winged Blackbirds a few days ago, and the person had no idea what the female looked like and was completely surprised at its image.   Females are so often hidden in bull-rushes that unless you get close (not easy) or happen to see one at a feeder in the spring, a lot of people may be in the same boat.

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BarrytheBirder

Holland Marsh Chickens...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

The rich black soil of the Holland Marsh seems as suitable for raising chickens as it does for growing vegetables.   More and more of the market vegetable crop-lands seem to be setting aside small plots for chickens.

Please comment

if you wish.

Barry

the Birder