Six Ospreys on Ravenshoe Sideroad - north of Queensville

Adult Male (above left) Adult Female (above right)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

 

Below on nest ~ Adult female 

Osprey wingspan can be up to 6' (183 cm.)

Perched Male

Adult Female (carrying partially eaten fish)

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BarrytheBirder

Dragonflies today from Vancouver Island...

Photos by Dave Kemp

 

According to British Columbia's environmental ministries, the province is home to 87 dragonfly species, of which 23 are considered rare or potentially at risk.   B.C. species account for approximately 40% of all species in Canada.

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BarrytheBirder

Do ducks eat fish???

Photo by Dave Kemp

Yes...ducks do eat fish!

Ducks do eat fish, usually small fish...fingerlings.   The duck pictured above has caught a fish that is probably too big for it to swallow.   The smaller the fish, the more likely a duck will eat it, and ducks will eat a lot of fish if they are available.   For some ducks, particularly ducks close to seashores, the largest part of their diet may be fish.   But ducks will eat just about anything because they are omnivorous.   Ducks eat small fish and fish eggs, plus snails, worms, slugs, mollusks, small crustaceans such as crayfish, frogs, tadpoles, salamanders and other amphibians, insects, grass leaves, weeds, algae, aquatic plants and roots, seeds and grains, small berries, fruit and nuts.   Anecdotally, Mallards are the most likely of ducks to be fish-eaters.   Thanks to my Vancouver Island friend, Dave, Kemp, for the photo above.

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BarrytheBirder

Voice of the Killdeer: a clear "kill-DEEE" - repeated not-stop

Photos by Dave Kemp

KKILLDEERR

(Charadrius vociferous)

Not only is the Killdeer conspicuous and abundant, and its call grabs our attention, but it is probably our most familiar shorebird.   It is found in Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia, and south to the Caribbean, Mexico and Peru.  When a nest is neared, adults feign injury, stumbling along as if a wing is badly injured.   Having lured a possible predator away from its nesting area with this tactic, the Killdeer suddenly recovers and loudly flies off.   The tactic always seems to work well.   The photos here were taken by photographer Dave Kemp on Vancouver Island.

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Barry Wallace

White Raven in British Columbia...

Photos by North Island Recovery Centre/Debbie McAmmond/CHEK News

Bird fights for survival

An extremely rare and injured blue-eyed, white Raven is being cared for at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre on Vancouver Island.   The bird was discovered at the beginning of June.   It is one of a few White Ravens discovered on the eastern coast of central Vancouver over more than three decades.   It is thought that these leucistic birds do not survive into their second year, because of their rare genealogical origin.

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BarrytheBirder

Former Walmart store going to the birds...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

A former Walmart Supercentre Store at the northwest corner of Hwy. 400 and Hwy. 7 in Vaughan, has received a new coat of paint and some huge graphic art images.  Within the art project are the three massive and colourful bird images you see here.   I'm not sure about the bird species depicted here, but Kingfishers and Kookaburras come to mind.   What a wonderful presentation!

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BarrytheBird

East shore of Vancouver Island...

Photo by Dave Kemp

Common Mergansers

The Common Merganser is the largest of the three merganser species in North America.   This large fish-eater is common and widespread in central and northern North America.   It uses its serrated bill to catch fish underwater, particularly trout and salmon, but also catfish and carp, frogs, small mammals, birds, aquatic invertebrates and plants.   It is found from the Atlantic to Pacific coasts.

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BarrytheBirder

 

Bald Eagle steals seal's meal...

Photos by Dave Kemp

My Canadian west coast birding acquaintance, Dave Kemp from Comox, Vancouver Island, has just shared three great photos of a Bald Eagle swooping down and stealing what appears to be a sea bird from the mouth of what looks like a Harbour Seal.   The more I learn about eagles, they strike me as being bold, opportunistic, daring and indefatigable.   Thanks for sharing these super photos Dave!   

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BarrytheBirder

East side of Vancouver Island...

Photo by Dave Kemp

Bald Eagles share a perch

Oh to be able to take a picture like this 

whenever you want.   

Many thanks for sharing this photograph, Dave.

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BarrytheBirder

 

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

 

                    Photo by BarrytheBirder                          

Eastern Bluebirds are partially migratory and while mostly at home in the south-eastern United States, they will move over the southern Canadian border during summer.

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BarrytheBirder

Eagles locking talons into a cartwheel...

Photo by Dave Kemp

Eagles lock talons and spiral downward

My Vancouver Island friend Dave Kemp  photographed these two young Bald Eagles locking talons and 'cartwheeling' or 'spiralling' downward.   All eagles, males, female, juveniles, will do this occasionally and for reasons not really known.   On occasion, unlucky pairs, unable to release their grip on each other, have been known to plummet to earth or into the ocean with fatal results.  Otherwise the spectacle is awe-inspiring to observers.

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BarrytheBirder

Vancouver Island ~ between Comox and Courtney...

 

Photos by Dave Kemp

Bald Eagle 

Turkey Vulture

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BarrytheBirder

Hmmmm, what if....

 

Photo by BarrytheBarry

I wonder what bird a Grackle would choose if it could change its species?

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BarrytheBirder

House Sparrows still feeding full-grown off-spring...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

The three juvenile House Sparrows (pictured above) have reached their full adult size but are still completely dependent on their mother for food (see photo below).   The male adult House Sparrow was absent throughout this unending feeding frenzy. I suppose there are human adult parents who might say it's no different with their adult-sized children. C'est le vie.

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BarrytheBirder

The iridescent blue Tree Swallow...

Photo by Barry Wallace

...on NEST POOP PATROL

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BarrytheBirder

Forget what a Savannah Sparrow looks like?

Photos by Barry Wallace

Look for the iyellowi eyebrow

The Savannah Sparrow feeds on the ground, nests on the ground, and runs along the ground.   My Stokes Field Guide says it " ...runs along the ground like a small vole to avoid possible danger and, when flying, stays close to grass tops". 

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BarrytheBirder

Young Downy Woodpeckers learn by experience...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Two different Downy Woodpeckers, pictured above,  are learning that a hummingbird feeder (top) and an oriole feeder (lower) are not designed to feed woodpeckers...even small Downys.   Learning such things are all part of life's rich pageant - even for woodpeckers.   This is not to say that a Downy won't drink nectar from a feeder if the conditions are right.   In fact, there are four other woodpecker species that will eat nectar: the Red-bellied, the Gila, the Acorn and the Ladder-backed. 

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BarrytheBirder

The loudspeaker in the garden...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Blue Jay

(Cyanocitta cristata)

My DK BIRDS OF EASTERN CANADA describes the voice of the Blue Jay as a 'harsh, screaming jay! jay!'.   It is native to all eastern woodlands but is also at home in suburban vegetation...extensively in backyards.   It eats just about anything including insects, acorns, small vertebrates, such as lizards, rodents, bird eggs, birds, tree frogs, fruits and seeds.  It is also an excellent imitator of other birds' calls.

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BarrytheBirder

Last week's weather reminded me of Mexico...

 

Photo by Barry the Birder

. . . on Cozumel

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BarrytheBirder

Some favourite Goldfinch photos...

                                                                                                    Photos by BarrytheBirder

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comment

if you wish.

Barry

the

Birder