BARRY the BIRDER

Aug 10, 2021

Facts that make Common Flickers distinctive...

Photos by Dave Kemp

1.While flickers are called flickers, they are woodpeckers. 2.Flickers are the only woodpeckers in North America that commonly feed on the ground, eating mainly ants. 3.There are three types of flickers: the Yellow-shafted Flicker, the Red-shafted Flicker and the Gilded Flicker. 4.The yellow-shafted and red-shafted flickers are the same species: Colaptes auratus, while the Gilded Flicker is a single species: Colaptes Chrysoides.

The two Northern Flickers pictured here (male above, female below) are Red-shafted or (western) flickers, which are found broadly in the great plains and western part of Canada. The photos were taken by Dave Kemp of Vancouver Island. Meanwhile, the Yellow-shafted Flicker is found in eastern Canada and the Taiga. All-in-all, an attractive bird to watch.

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BarrytheBirder

Aug 9, 2021

Often rests with its tail and body at a 50 degree angle...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Gray Catbird

(Dumetella carolinensis)

Here's another bird I haven't seen in quiet some time. Despite their shy, retiring behaviour and habit of resting in shrubbery, they are often identified by their 'Mew' call, like a small kitten. This one was with another catbird at the waters edge of a large wetland, in Oak Ridges, north of Lake Wilcox. Nearby, resting on an artificial berm (photo below) were a group of Canada Geese. This wetland is west of Bayview Avenue and south of Ballantrae Sideroad.

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BarrytheBirder

Aug 8, 2021

Eastern Towhee population has decreased steadily...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

I took these Eastern Towhee photos several years ago, in my backyard. This towhee is large, colourful New World sparrow and it is normally a shy, if not secretive creature. I have not seen any since. According to Wikipedia, the Eastern Towhee experienced a greater than 1.5% annual population decrease on the Atlantic seaboard and the northern part of its breeding range, between 1966 and 2015 (49 years!). This might explain my not having seen any recently. Needless to say, I am glad I got the few photos I did.

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BarrytheBirder

Aug 7, 2021

Luther Marsh - west of Orangeville...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Found on every continent except Antarctica

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Dozens of these big birds are to be found each summer, between June and September, in Luther Marsh, north of Highway 9, west of Orangeville. They are a wonderful sight to behold.

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Barry

the

Birder

Aug 5, 2021

Osprey at Ravenshoe ballpark...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Ospreys nest on ballpark light towers

The ballpark light tower above, on the Ravenshoe Sideroad, north of Queensville and Newmarket, has hosted Osprey nests for many years. This year it hosted two adults and least two young birds, maybe three. The site is on the Ravenshoe Sideroad, west of Leslie Street.

Pictured above are two of the cottage canals that lead north from the Ravenshoe Sideroad, to the south end of Lake Simcoe.

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BarrytheBirder

Aug 4, 2021

B.C. photos from Dave Kemp...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Wild Turkey numbers have exploded over the last decade in Canada. As they continue to flourish and move north more and more, opportunities for hunters are growing exponentially, from B.C. to Ontario and Quebec. The only other provinces where Wild Turkey hunting is legal in Canada, is in Manitoba (residents only) and Alberta. Turkeys are found in other provinces but are not legal to hunt. Hunters and birdwatchers can thank wildlife restoration and this bird's ability to adjust to new habitats for its amazing comeback. In the photo below, I think Dave Kemp has photographed a Swainson's Hawk, common to the plains and ranges of Canada's western provinces.

Pictured above, near B.C.'s Merrville Townsite Park. Dave captured the bottom photo of some form of a very large spotted sea slug.

Thanks for the

great photos, Dave.

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BarrytheBirder

B.C. photos by Dave Kemp...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Wild Turkey numbers have exploded over the last decade in Canada. As they continue to move north, more and more, opportunities for hunters are growing exponentially, from British Columbia to Ontario and Quebec. The only other provinces where turkey hunting is legal is in Alberta and Manitoba (residents only). Turkeys are found in other provinces but are not legal to hunt. Hunters and birdwatchers can thank wildlife restoration and this bird's ability to adjust to new habitats for the amazing comeback of the bird. In the photo below, I think Dave Kemp has photographed a Swainson's Hawk, common to the plains and ranges of our west Canada.

Pictured above, near to the Merrville Townsite Park, Dave captured the bottom photo of some form of a very large spotted sea slug.

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BarrytheBirder

😊😊😊😊

More views of McKenzie Marsh...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Mallard mother and ducklings

Snail attaches itself to turtle's shell

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BarrytheBirder

Aug 3, 2021

Friday morning in Aurora's McKenzie Marsh...

Photos by Barry Wallace

Early morning light turns green algae white

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BarrytheBirder

Aug 2, 2021

Another bathing robin...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

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BarrytheBirder

Aug 1, 2021

Robins bathe even in the rain...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

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BarrytheBirder

Jul 31, 2021

Daily competition between seals and eagles...

Photos by Dave Kemp

The competition for salmon between eagles and seals, at the K'mocks Estuary on the eastern shore of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, never seems to end. For my friend Dave Kemp, naturalist and photographer, it makes for many great photos. Pictured above and below are bird and seal protaganists, competing at the water's edge.