800 Whooping Cranes in North America...

                                                            U.S. Department of Agriculture photo by John Noll

My latest email of the December, 2019, issue of the Eastern Crane Bulletin tells me there is "...a total global Whooping Crane population of more than 800 birds".  The most whoopers (431 birds) show up in the Aransas-Wood Buffalo population which breeds in Canada and winters in Texas, another 163 birds in active reintroduced populations, and 201 birds held in captivity, for a total of 800 birds.  60-70 years ago the population was down to about two dozen.   May they continue to flourish.
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BarrytheBirder

A couple more photos of the Hawk Owl sighting in Schomberg

 Photos by BarrytheBirder

Where there's a will...there's a way

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Barry Wallace

Hawk Owl seen by many at Schomberg's Dufferin Marsh

Photos by BarrytheBirder

NORTHERN HAWK OWL

(Surnia ulula)

My friend, neighbour and birder extraordinaire, Gerry Binsfeld called today to alert me to the presence of a Hawk Owl, pictured above, in the nearby village of Schomberg, at the Dufferin Marsh on Dr. Kay Drive.   There were already dozens of birders there when I arrived (see photo below) and they all seemed to have cameras with telephoto lens the size of shoulder rocket-launchers.

 

  

The northern Hawk Owl is a medium-sized, day-flying owl, with completely barred underparts (see photos) and black sideburns on each side of its pale face.   Birdwatchers at Schomberg were able to get close to this impressive looking bird.   Its normal range is the boreal forests of North America but some years it sporadically irrupts and appears south of its normal range.   This is only the second time I have ever seen a Hawk Owl up close and personal.   The first time was just over 23 years ago on Dec. 7, 1996, at Nashville, south of Bolton, Ontario.   On that day, I was looking up and down a road but could see no Hawk Owl.   My wife Linda asked me "What's that bird directly above you at the top of that tree?"  Sure enough it was a Hawk Owl.

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BarrytheBirder   

Blessed are the nest-builders...

Anna's Hummingbird photo by Dave Kemp

A bird's nest.   Mark it well, within, without,

No tool had he that wrought, no knife to cut,

No nail to fix, no bodkin to insert,

No glue to join; his little beak was all.

And yet how neatly finish'd!   What nice hand,

With every implement and means of art,

And twenty years' apprenticeship to boot

Could make me such another?

                                           - Hurdis

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BarrytheBirder

Cedar Waxwing was known as the 'Cedar-bird' 100 years ago

                                                                                            Photo by BarrytheBirder

"There is no bird so well groomed as the waxwing, which takes scrupulous care so that there is never a feather out of place ... or a spot of dirt to be found anywhere on its velvety coat".

So said A. Radclyyfe Dugmore in his book "Bird Homes" published in Toronto, Ontario, in 1900.   The 'Cedar-bird' is of course the Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedorum).   A group of Cedar Waxwings is called and "ear-full" or a "museum" of waxwings.   Cedar Waxwings are named for the waxy red tips of their secondary wings feathers, but the purpose of these waxy secretions is officially unknown.   They like to nest in cedar trees or fruit-bearing trees, where in winter they can feed on abundant berries of many kinds.   They are common in all seasons here in southern Ontario.

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BarrytheBirder

Winter's American Goldfinches...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

December...and every perch is occupied

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BarrytheBirder

One of my favourite birds in December - the Slate-coloured Junco

Photo by BarrytheBirder

There are 12 subspecies of Juncos in North America.  The "Slate-coloured" Junco is the most widespread and the the only form found regularly in eastern North America.   It does however breed from Alaska to Newfoundland, up through the boreal forest and down through the Appalachias to Georgia.   It is a ground feeder normally and goes voraciously through a lot of expensive Niger seed in my backyard.   When the Niger seed is gone, it will consume other seeds from the hanging feeders.

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BarrytheBirder

Mill Pond Lake - Richmond Hill

 Photos by BarrytheBirder

Mute Swans in their winter pens

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if you wish.

Barry

theBirder

Female Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

Photo by BarrytheBirder

As the field guides always say, in their understated way...

"Comes to suet feeders."

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BarrytheBirder

Winter's Wild Turkeys...

                                                                                                  Photo by BarrytheBirder

...foraging row upon row of cut corn stalks

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BarrytheBirder

My birding buddy has passed away...

                                                                                                Photo by BarrytheBirder

My dear wife Linda passed away three and half weeks ago of inoperable cancer.   I am slowly coming to grips with the loss of her.  The photo above is a personal favourite of mine, as it shows Linda feeding the wintertime ducks at nearby Lake Wilcox.   Oh, how she loved to do this.

BarrytheBirder   

Open water at Seneca for Canada Geese...

 Photos by BarrytheBirder

Cold temperatures are covering most of the open water in King Township, but a few spots are still open and Canada Geese are taking advantage of spots like Lake Seneca at Seneca College that has some open water.

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BarrytheBirder

Sunset at Sauble Beach...

                                                                                 Photo by BarrytheBirder

Strollers and seagull

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BarrytheBirder

Slim pickins for bird photos in the Holland Marsh

Photo by BarrytheBirder

I went up to the Holland Marsh on Wednesday to take some bird pictures, but completely struck out.   The best I could do was the photo above, which doesn't really count, does it?   Oh well, maybe tomorrow.

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BarrytheBirder

King's 15th Sideroad ~ between Weston Road and Concession 7

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Doves on a wire

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BarrytheBirder

Seeds and sleet...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Female Northern Cardinal

(Cardinalis cardinalis)

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BarrytheBirder

Freezing rain and sleet begin...

 Photos by BarrytheBirder

Saturday, December 1st, began with freezing rain, then sleet, and then snow, but the Mourning Doves were not concerned at all as long as I kept the feeders full.

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BarrytheBirder

Hummingbird at James Bay, Northern Quebec...

Photo April Dawn Georgekish-Gull

This decorative hummingbird is to be found hanging by the house of a niece of mine in the Cree village of Wemindji. Her name is April and she has created an interesting artistic juxtaposition of a hummingbird in her snowy village on the eastern shore of James Bay, in northern Quebec.   The most northernly limit in central-Canada of real Ruby-throated Hummingbirds is approximately 465 kilometres south of my neice's native village.   So the ornate 'hummer' pictured above is the best hummingbird she can expect to see up her way.
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BarrytheBirder

Favourite bird photo from Jamaica trip...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Bananaquit

(Coereba flaveola)

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BarrytheBirder

Chowing down at Dog Tales Sanctuary...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace