BARRY the BIRDER

Dec 13, 2020

Popular visitor last winter in Schomberg...

Photos by Barry Wallace

HAWK OWL

Surnia lula

Pictured here is the Hawk Owl that spent many weeks in the Dufferin Marsh area of Schomberg last winter. It is a species that is normally found across the northern North American forests, but is sometimes nomadic in winter and can been seen in southern Canada and the northern American states. This one was observed and photographed by hundreds of birders.

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BarrytheBirder

Dec 12, 2020

Ducks and Geese at Lake Wilcox

Photos by BarrytheBirder

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BarrytheBirder

Dec 11, 2020

More British Columbia eagles by Dave Kemp...

Photos by Dave Kemp

My peripatetic bird-watching friend and photographer, Dave Kemp, from British Columbia continues to thrill me with his photographs from Canada's west coast. This time it's with Bald Eagle photographs. In his email message to me he points out: "How to to tell the eagles apart is their size...females are usually a third of the size larger than the males". This is apparent in the photo below. Many thanks, Dave.

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BarrytheBirder

Dec 10, 2020

A few Redpolls have shown up already...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

I've had very few Redpolls at the winter feeders for the last several years, but a half dozen have shown up already this winter, beginning at the end of November/early December. They are a small northern bird and irrupt into southern Canada in the winter, when the food supply in the north is not plentiful. The photograph below, from about 10 years ago, shows a mass of redpolls and sparrows at my backyard feeders. The scene was like this for most of that winter. Maybe we're about to have another winter like that one.

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BarrytheBirder

Dec 9, 2020

Feeding Chickadees at the Cathraw Mulock Nature Reserve

Photos by BarrytheBirder

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BarrytheBirder

Dec 8, 2020

Here are some west coast birds by Dave Kemp...

Photos by Dave Kemp

These two photos were sent to me by my B.C. friend Dave Kemp. Above is an American Robin at Garry Point Park in south-west B.C., at the mouth of the Fraser River. In southern Ontario, robins have been long-gone since mid-November. Below are Snow Geese, in the same location at Garry Point Park. Snow Geese are now estimated to number 15 million birds in their native North America.

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BarrytheBirder

Dec 7, 2020

Photo by Allison Bailey

Wineglasses for the birder's birthday

Yesterday, on Sunday, December 6th, I had a birthday. I have now entered my 80th year. Amazingly, I hardly feel a day over 79. My daughter Allison gifted me with a pair of wineglasses that have been decorated with colourful wild birds. I love them. Meanwhile, my daughter Auralee gifted me with a bright red CSIS polo shirt. That's CSIS, as in Canadian Security Intelligence Service. I guess if you live up Ottawa-way, you can find such things. Thanks, ladies. Luv ya!

Barry Wallace

Dec 6, 2020

A few more of my favourite bird photos...

Photos by BarrytheBirder...

Green Heron

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Mourning Dove

Turkey Vulture

Towhee

Starling

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Canada Geese

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BarrytheBirder

Dec 5, 2020

B.C. beaver

Photo by Dave Kemp

My friend Dave Kemp, in British Columbia, who often sends me bird photos from Canada's west coast, surprised me yesterday with a photo of a beaver from Garry Point Park, in Steveston, B.C., a historical salmon fishing and canning hub. Many thanks, Dave.

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Barry Wallace

Dec 4, 2020

Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Hand-feeding Chickadees and Nuthatches

An influx of nature-watchers at the considerably upgraded Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve on the west side of Bathurst Street, just north of the Green Lane West, on the boundary between King Township and Newmarket, has been introduced to a wonderful nature experience. See several pictures of the vastly improved area in my Camera on King blogsite On December 5.

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BarrytheBirder

Some of my favourite bird photos...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

House Wren

Turkey Vulture

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Trumpeter Swan

Blue Jay

Great Blue Heron

Mallard Duck

Double-crested Cormorant

...more on another day

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BarrytheBirder

Dec 3, 2020

Chickadees are really quick...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

I don't have many close-up photos of chickadees in my files because they are so darned quick and don't stay in one spot for very long. They zoom in ..... grab a seed ...... and zoom out ..... hello, thanks and goodbye. Herewith are two of my favourite shots. They are lovely little creatures aren't they? I must try to get some more, but I'm not holding my breath.

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BarrytheBirder

Dec 2, 2020

American Goldfinch ~ Spinus tristis

Photo and limerick by BarrytheBirder

The goldfinch is a summery yellow,

But in winter it's colour's more mellow.

It's with us year 'round.

We love its sweet sound,

And we think he's a jolly good fellow.

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BarrytheBirder

Dec 1, 2020

Weston Road ~ just north of the Lloydtown-Aurora Road

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Close to 500 Canada Geese

on Carrying Place Golf Club pond

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BarrytheBirder

Nov 30, 2020

Mallards in McKenzie Marsh ~ Aurora

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Bottoms up!

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BarrytheBirder

Nov 29, 2020

Trumpeter Swans still around and about...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Southward migrating Trumpeter Swans can still be found on local ponds. These photos were taken of a group of five of the big birds on the main pond at Cardinal Golf Club on Weston Road, north of the Lloydtown-Aurora Road.