Waste not...want not

Photos by Dave Kemp

Vancouver Island photographer and naturalist Dave Kemp captured this Bald Eagle recycling a salmon spine which appears to offer very little in the way of edible parts.   

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BarrytheBirder

Strength plus intent...a mighty combination...

Video, by Mark Smith Photography, captures a tremendous effort by an Osprey to capture a meal.

Barry the Birder

Raptor close encounter...

My new birding buddy and friend Pat passed along this terrific video of a raptor executing a tight squeeze.   I have no idea where this originated, but it is a compelling piece of video.   Enlarge to full screen for best effect.

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BarrytheBirder

Aquarium in the lobby of Delmanor Retirement Residence in Aurora

 Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Barr

Barry Walla

Counting Chimney Swifts...

 

Photos above and below by BarrytheBirder

These Aurora, Ontario, ladies are Chimney Swift counters, faithfully keeping track of the many Chimney Swifts that roost in a large chimney, atop an older residential building in the centre of the York Region town.   On this recent nightly occasion they counted a record 144 Chimney Swifts making an evening entrance into the residential property's chimney. 

 

Vancouver Island birds by Dave Kemp...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Cormorant

Spotted Sandpiper

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BarrytheBirder

Trumpeter Swans at Aurora Arboretum pond...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

A pair of Trumpeter Swans are seen above, resting at the east end of the Aurora Arboretum pond.   Meanwhile, below, a pair of Mallard Ducks seem to be keeping an eye on, and guarding, two large Trumpeter Swan eggs on a wildlife raft at the west end of the same pond.   The outcome remains to be seen over the next week or so.

 

Additionally, a Red-wing Blackbird (right) keeps a noisy overlook of all the activity on the arboretum pond site.

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BarrytheBirder 

 

Immature Golden Eagle - Vancouver Island

Photo by Dave Kemp

This photo by Dave Kemp of an immature Golden Eagle, seen in flight from below, on Vancouver Island, displays well-defined white patches at the base of the primaries and a white tail with distinct dark terminal band.   The Golden Eagle often soars with wings slightly uplifted, and inhabits mountainous or hilly terrain where it nests on cliffs or ridges.   It hunts over open country for small mammals, snakes, birds and carrion.   It is fairly common in the western U.S.A. and Canada, but is uncommon to rare in the east..

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BarrytheBirder

Gray Jay still has several names...

Gray Jay

These Gray Jay photos were sent to me by my niece, April Dawn Georgekish Gull, from her homelands on the Quebec shore of James Bay, near to her Cree village of Wemindji.  The Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) is also known as the Canada Jay, Grey Jay, Whiskey Jack, Camp Robber, Whiskeychan (Cree language spelling), Venison Hawk, Lumberjack, Moose Bird, Meat Bird, Wisakedjak (anglicized to Whiskey Jack).   The loose Gray Jay feather pictured below belonged to the Gray Jay pictured above.   The Gray Jay was called the Canada Jay for decades, but the American Ornithological Society has now designated the bird the Gray Jay, but the name is still not official in Canada.

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Barry the Birder

Feeding a Grey Jay on the Quebec side of James Bay...

My sister Denise's daughter, Amber Dawn Georgekish Gull, who lives in Wemindji, on James Bay in Quebec, loves to feed the wild local critters.   In this case it is a Grey Jay (Perisorius  canadensis), also known as the Whiskey Jack.

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BarrytheBirder

Warbler hits a window...is knocked senseless...but survives

Photos by the Miller Family

My King City friend and neighbour, Ed Miller has passed along some photos of a spring warbler, which I have guessed is either a female MacGillivray's Warbler or a female Mourning Warbler.      This wee creature  hit a window and was knocked senseless.   When it came to, it fluttered onto one of the Miller family's knees and eventually switched to a pant leg where it rested until it felt it could fly again.  What a charming outcome!

Thanks to Ed and his family for sharing this delightful backyard birdwatching moment.

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BarrytheBirder

McKenzie Marsh - Aurora

Photo by Barry Wallace

Grackle

Canada Geese Family

Red winged Blackbird

Painted Turtle

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BarrytheBirder

Trumpeter Swan at Aurora's McKenzie Marsh sends geese packing...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

'Begone geese!'

'...and don't come back!'

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BarrytheBirder

McKenzie Marsh - Aurora

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Common Grackle

(Quiscalus quiscula)

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BarrytheBirder

Vancouver Island insects by naturalist/photographer Dave Kemp

Photos by Dave Kemp

Ruby Meadowheart

Above and below

Jumping Spider

Water Boatman

Mayfly

Water Frog

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BarrytheBirder

Tinted feathers...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

The orange colour on the neck and head of this Trumpeter Swam comes about because of the iron in the water of the large pond  at the Aurora Arboretum, behind the Aurora town offices on John West Parkway.

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BarrytheBirder

Swan

19th Sideroad of King Township

 

Photo by Barry Wallace

Dog Tales Sanctuary

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Barry Wallace

On Vancouver Island...

 

Photo by Dave Kemp

Bald Eagle

(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

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BarrytheBirder

Violet-green Swallow on Vancouver Island by Dave Kemp

Photos by Dave Kemp

Violet-green Swallow

(Tachycineta thalassina) 

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comment

if you wish.

BarrytheBirder
 

Pine Farms Orchard ~ 16th Sideroad of King - west of Keele

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

The ducks have welcomed spring...

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BarrytheBirder