White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows migrating...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

White-throated Sparrow - above

White-crowned Sparrow - below

These two different, but common sparrows are migrating currently from most of Canada to most of the United States.   Yet many of them will stop near Lake Ontario and Lake Erie to spend the winter.   The overall total (although slightly different) range of the two species stretches from Alaska in the north, to Mexico in the south.   Both of these common sparrows are known as winter visitors and migrants.   Much of the feeding of White-crowns is done on the ground but, like White-throats, they will respond to a squeaking sound, by an observer by popping up to the top of a bush.

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BarrytheBirder

Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Wee winter warrior

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BarrytheBirder

Green Heron

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

When I was young, I admired clever people.

Now that I am old, I admire kind people.

- Abraham Heshel

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BarrytheBirder

A tricky catch...

Photo by Dave Kemp

Common Merganser with a beak-full

Naturalist and photographer Dave Kemp of Vancouver Island has photographed a female Common Merganser trying to kill its prey: a Bullhead.   The Bullhead is a species of catfish with barbels around its mouth and unless the fish its dead, and its barbels are collapsed, birds like the merganser, are often prevented from swallowing it...not exactly an easy meal.

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BarrytheBirder

 

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)...

Male

Photos by Barry Wallace

Dark-eyed Juncos returning . . .

Dark-eyed Juncos spend summers in forest openings in the northern parts of North America and in forested mountains in the West.   In winter they move south into most of the USA, but also into Southern Ontario where they are a common feeder birder in winter, starting in October.   Total North American numbers for Juncos are estimated to be 630 million and they are a favourite of birdwatchers from coast-to-coast.

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BarrytheBirder

  

Female

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BarrytheBirder

Great Blue Heron

Photo by BarrytheBirder

I always prefer to believe the best of everybody.

It saves so much trouble.

                                                     - Rudyard Kipling

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Barry Wallace

Birds on the east side of James Bay in Quebec...

Pictured above and below is my niece April Dawn in Wemindji, Quebec, on the east side of James Bay.    April is especially enamored of the local wildlife in the place where she was born.   Above and below, she is seen with a Canada Jay, which get very close when offered nuts.   Squirrels (further down) are equally eager when food is offered.

Above and below, a Northern Saw-whet Owl arrives to visit April Dawn.

Below are some striking photos of April's homeland on James Bay.

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BarrytheBirder

American Eagle

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Love your enemies.

It will confuse them greatly.

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BarrytheBirder

A fairy went a-marketing...

 

A fairy went a-marketing -

She bought a coloured bird;

It sang the sweetest, shrillest song

That ever she had heard.

She sat beside its painted cage

And listened half the day,

And then she opened wide the door

And let it fly away.

                                         -- Rose Fyleman

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Barry the Birder

East coast of Vancouver Island at Singing Sands...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Blue-winged Northern Scoters

Double-crested Cormorant

Pacific Loons

Pigeon Guillemot

Grebe

Seal

Rusted Spike

Learning lessons at the beach

Light as a feather

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BarrytheBirder 

Some favourite Canada Goose photos.

     

Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry

the Birder

Cooper's Hawk

                                                                                                                       Photo by BarrytheBirder

It's nice to be important

but it's more important to be nice.

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BarrytheBirder

 

Brown-headed Cowbird

Photo by Barry Wallace

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.

It might be the only sunshine she or he sees all day.

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BarrytheBirder

Common Cormorant

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.

It might be the only sunshine he or she sees all day.

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BarrytheBirder

Chilly morning...

Red-winged Blackbird ~ cold breath

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BarrytheBirder

Double-crested Cormorant

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

It's nice to be important

but it's more important to be nice.

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BarrytheBirder

Harlequin Ducks ~ Photos by Dave Kemp

Harlequin Ducks ~ Vancouver Island

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BarrytheBirder

Richmond Hill Millpond

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Sunning Cormorants

Millpond

Fisherman

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BarrytheBirder

Dave Kemp photos from Singing Sands on Vancouver Island...

                                                                                                                              Photos by Dave Kemp

Harlequin Ducks

                                             (Histrionicus histrionicus)

Western Grebe

(Aechmophorus occidentalis)

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BarrytheBirder

Sexual dimorphism...

Photos by Barry Wallace

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus)

(female above ~ male below)

I came across a photo of a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak recently (at top) which I had taken several years ago and barely recognized it.   I am much more familiar with photos of male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (above) that I have taken.  Many, many bird species show this remarkable difference in plumage between males and females.   It is a phenomenon known as sexual dimorphism.   Females are almost always more subdued in their colours and patterns and are harder to spot and be recognized.   Predation of these females by other creatures is greatly reduced by their protective colouring and patterning.   The differences in appearance of the two birds pictured above are striking, but not exceptional. Many other species show similar contrasts. 

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BarrytheBirder