Looking for Eastern Bluebirds...

 

Photos by Barry Wallace

I dropped by Cold Creek Conservation Area on the 11th Concession of King last Wednesday to see if there were any Eastern Bluebirds using any of the nesting boxes.   I checked several boxes but didn't see any signs of bluebirds.   I asked the the young gentleman in charge of Cold Creek and he said he hadn't seen any bluebirds this year or last year.   I'd seen them using one or two boxes over the years but the Tree Swallows constantly harassed them and took over most of the boxes. I had to content myself with seen a Wild Turkey (picture below) near the road as I left Cold Creek.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Temperanceville Pond ~ west of Dufferin Street

Photos by BarrytheBirder

GREAT

BLUE 

HERON

(Ardea Herodias)

This bird is one of the six or seven largest herons in the world.  The others are located in Eurasia and South America.

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BarrytheBirder

McKenzie Marsh - early March morning in Aurora...

Photos by Barry Wallace

Above - early morning light turns green algae white

More 

marsh

photos

tomorrow

Photos

by

BarrytheBirder

Early morning at Richmond Hill Millpond...

Flat Canada Goose soaks up sun's rays 

                       Photos by BarrytheBirder                         

                                           

Mute Swan

Great Blue Heron

Large catfish (cruising just under the surface)

Peanut breakfast

Please comment if you with.

BarrytheBirder

Roseate Spoonbills move north to nest...

Photos by Jami Linder

First successful nests ever in Arkansas

Naturalists and state wetlands managers have discovered and photographed Roseate Spoonbills nesting and raising young birds in Arkansas for the first time ever.   Is it climate change?  Is it global warming?  Habitat restoration?   Will they move further north to nest into Missouri, and then Illinois, Indiana and southern Ontario.   White-faced Ibis have also joined the Spoonbills by nesting in Arkansas for the first time ever.   It is becoming more and more evident that North American bird migration patterns are changing in numerous ways.   The new northern nesters will still easily winter in the Caribbean, is it a new future for all living things.   We shall see what we shall see.   

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Wheresoe'er the Ruby-throated Hummingbird?

Photos by BarrytheBirder

I've accepted that somehow I have failed, for the first time in 20 years, I think, to have have hummingbirds at my backyard feeders.   Somehow I misjudged their return and did not prepare properly or in a timely fashion.   Next year, I will be living in a new town and will try again.   Once you've had 'hummers' in your garden, they just have to return each year!  Wish me well and thank you dear birders.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

 

Wild Turkey in Holland Marsh...

A Wild Turkey would normally be found on a regular farm field or in a hardwood bush, but this one appeared in the Holland Marsh, scouting around marsh buildings and equipment on the edge of black soil  produce fields.

Please comment 

if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

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)

Please comment if you wish.

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.

Please comment if you wish.

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.

Please comment if you wish.

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.

Please comment if you wish.

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.

Please comment if you wish.

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!

Please comment if you wish.

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.

Please comment if you wish.

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!   

Please comment if you wish.

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.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder