Love this bird...love this photo

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Red-tailed Hawk

(Buteo jamaicensis)

The temperature outside on June 6th had reached 34C and that was a bit too hot for me to be out and about photographing local birds.   I decided therefore to re-run one of my favourite photos of the most common buteo hawk in North America: the Red-tailed Hawk.   Whenever I hear a harsh, descending 'keeeeer' call, I know I am about to look up and see a big 'Red-tail'.

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BarrytheBirder 

South pond / Seneca College - in King Township

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Great Blue Heron

(Ardea horodias)

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BarrytheBirder

Snively Wetlands - Oak Ridges

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

GREAT BLUE HERON

(Ardea Herodias)

This is my favourite of the big herons, unless I am in the southern states and the Caribbean, and then my favourite heron would be the Great White Heron.    They are both among the four largest herons in the world and endlessly fascinating in their feeding and nesting behaviours.   When in flight, there are few birds in the world that provide such a deliberate, majestic flight and are such a wonderful sight to behold.   The Snively wetlands in Oak Ridges are only a few kilometres from my urban home, and there are deer to be found there, surrounded by urban development.

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BarrytheBirder

Getting rid of mites...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Hot sun helps dove rid itself of bugs

This Mourning Dove spent 15 minutes spread-eagled (no pun intended) on a hot shed roof recently as a way to convince any buggy hitchhikers to abandon its handsome feathers.

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BarrytheBirder

Reluctant Hummingbirds...

    Photos by BarrytheBirder

I've now had three visits by a Bluebird(s) this spring, but the first two only lasted a few seconds.   The third one (above and left) lasted almost an hour, but who knows when the next visit will happen.   I'll just keep filling the feeders and maybe one day it will be a daily visitor.

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BarrytheBirder

Last Dave Kemp photos for a while...

 

Photos by Dave Kemp

     Above: Red-breasted Sapsucker

     Below: Common Merganser (female)

       Bottom: Song Sparrow

Dave Kemp has advised me that his output of birding photos will be greatly reduced as he settles into his new home on Vancouver Island.   Thanks Dave for sharing your great photos over the past several months, and best wishes.

Barry Wallace

Kingsnorth Drive ~ King City

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Sunday morning snooze

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BarrytheBirder

Other photos by West Coast birder Dave Kemp...

 

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BarrytheBirder

Photos by Dave Kemp from Vancouver Island...

 

Photos by Dave Kemp

Cedar Waxwing

Dave Kemp, my British Columbia birding acquaintance, has treated me with more terrific photos from his new home near Comox on the eastern shores of Vancouver Island.

Common Yellowthroat

Common Mergansers

Female Mallard

Spotted Sandpiper

Nearby birder's bonus...a seal

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Barry Wallace

Young Starlings in the rain...

 

Photos by Barry Wallace

The dozen or so juvenile Starlings in my spring backyard are having to adjust to some firsts in there hitherto young lives.   In the picture immediately above, two of the wet youngsters have taken shelter under the rolled-up water hose attached to a wall.

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BarrytheBirder

At the backyard feeders...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Male Cowbirds on a rainy perch

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BarrytheBirder

Great Blue Heron...

 

Photo by Barry Wallace

Well camouflaged

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BarrytheBirder

Canada Geese thriving at Seneca College...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Seneca College has everything Canada Geese need

Wide open spaces ~ lots of green grass

plenty of open water ~ what more could they ask, crosswalks?

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Mourning Dove...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Drying off after the rain

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BarrytheBirder

Carrying Place Golf and Country Club

 

Photo by Barry Wallace

Mute Swans

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Barry Wallace

They never sing to me like this...

 

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BarrytheBirder

Photos by Dave Kemp from British Columbia...

 

    Photos by Dave Kemp

A mature Bald Eagle

catches a flounder and brings it ashore in the Courtney Estuary  on the east coast of Vancouver Island.   The flounder (a flatfish) is in the eagles talons underwater in these top photos.

Out of the water (above) and on to shore (below)

Love your photos and thanks for sharing Dave

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Hummingbirds disappear again...

 

Photo by Barry Wallace

For a second time this spring, Hummingbirds have appeared and then disappeared at my backyard feeders.  I am surprised and dismayed.   Is our Spring season becoming so changeable that nature's timing is flummoxed?   Pity.   Wherever they wound up, I'll miss them dearly.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

At Seneca College...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Birds do it, bees do it...

I know, I know, bees are not birds, but I didn't have a bird photo for today's blog, so a bee photo will have to do.  The bees above burst forth from there hives along the main entrance to Seneca College in King, on this past holiday weekend.   The buzz is... they're welcome back.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder   

Trumpeter Swans abandon Aurora nest...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

 No swan eggs on arboretum nest 

The pair of Trumpeter Swans that nested on the large pond of the Aurora Arboretum appear to have abandoned their nest.   The female appeared to be nesting, but nothing seemed to happen.   Aurora set up barricades to keep people from getting too close to the pond-side nest, but either there were no eggs laid or if there were any they disappeared.   Pity, but perhaps predictable. 

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder