Last of the hummingbirds leaves Delmanor in Aurora...

                     

  Photo by BarrytheBirder

The first Hummingbird of this year arrived at Pat Cromie's balcony, at the Delmanor Retirement Residence in Aurora, on Tuesday, May 28th.    The last 'hummer', above, was seen on Tuesday, September 3rd of this year.   That's a 94-day season for these jewels of the birding world, and they raised a batch of young 'hummers', before heading south. The males of this small flock headed back south during the first week of August, while females left a week later.  But the new youngsters took a whole month to fatten up before heading south.   God-speed wee feathered friends. 

 Please comment if you wish.

 BarrytheBirder   

West coast swallow by Dave Kemp...

 

                                                                                                                       Photo by Dave Kemp

 Tree Swallow 

Tachycineta bicolour

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Interesting Blue Jays...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Hummingbirds at dusk...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Trumpeter Swans in York Region...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Please comment if you wish...

Barry the Birder

Vancouver Island Kingfishers - Photos by Dave Kemp

Dave Kemp photos

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Aurora, Ontario, on the Oak Ridges Moraine...

Photo by BarrytheBirder 

Summer 'hummer'

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

(Archilochus colubris)

Please comment if you wish.

Photo by Barry Wallace

Now that's a mouthful...

                                                                                             Photo by Dave Kemp

Hooded Merganser (Female)

Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

24 hours on Lake Muskoka with friends...

Explanation 

This blog was meant to appear elsewhere in another blogsite I write called "Camera on King&Aurora".

I have decided not to switch the blog to its originally intended location, in the interest of spending less time explaining how it happened and how much is involved in getting things sorted out.   I appreciate your understanding.

Regards, Barry 

Photos by Barry Wallace

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

More Turkey Vulture...

                                                                                                           Photo by BarrytheBirder

A vulture carrying two dead raccoons boards an airplane.

The stewardess looks at him and says; "I'm sorry sir, 

only one carrion per passenger".

With apologies by BarrytheBirder

Turkey Vulture...

                                                                                                       Photo by BarrytheBirder

Can look ominous so easily...

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawk has been around all summer

Photo submitted by Kyle Grant / Delmanor 

Swainson's Hawk

The Swainson's Hawk (Buteo Swainsoni) that has been spending the summer near the Aurora, Ontario retirement residence in which I live, continues to attract attention.   Especially when it enters the foyer of the building in pursuit of some small rodent   A Delmanor resident helped the big bird from western Canada find its way out, but not before getting this photograph in the main entrance.   It will be very interesting to see if this hawk will head back out west and then south as part of its winter migration.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Deepest diving bird...

 

Emperor Penguin

1,850 feet

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Kingfisher identification...

 I have a birdwatching friend that claims 

the bird on the left is the male.

Hmmmm...maybe.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Belted Kingfisher - Vancouver Island

Megaceryle alcyon

Photo by  Dave Kemp

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Vancouver Island... Greater Yellowlegs

                                                                                                  Photo by Dave Kemp

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Last BARRYtheBIRDER blog....

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawk

(most recent bird added to my life list - #426)

Save the birds and we Save ourselves

Pungent pun

Scientifically, a raven has 17 primary wing feathers, the big ones 

at the end of the wing are called pinion feathers.

A crow has only 16.   Therefore the difference between a raven 

and a crow is only a matter of a pinion.

 "...hope you enjoyed birdwatching with me 

over the last 17 years."  

Please comment if you wish. 

BarrytheBirder

Ducks christen new pool early...

Bailey Family photo

My daughter Allison sent me the above photo which she took this week, of the pool under construction in her backyard in Aurora.   No sooner had things got underway, than a pair of Mallard ducks decided to check it out.  There's still quite a bit of construction to be completed but these ducks may make a repeat visit in a few weeks time.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Delmanor Retirement Residence ~ in flight

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Library Sculpture

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Dave Kemp's West coast shots...

 

Photo by Dave Kemp

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder