Barred Owl - near Fergus, Ontario

                                             Photo by Stephanie Asbury Verspagen

My neice Stephanie Asbury Verspagen recently took this Barred Owl photo near her home, close to Fergus, Ontario.   These beautiful owls are not commonly seen and are always a treat to see up close.   They are usually nocturnal and their daytime roosts are generally well hidden,  but they are more likely to be heard in the daytime than other owls.   They are easily flushed and don't tolerate close approach.  Seen at right, is a picture of a 'Barred' that I took near King City Ontario, a few years ago.

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BarrytheBirder

 

Big woodpecker...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Pileated Woodpecker

(Dryocopus pileatus)

16 1/2" long!

This is the largest woodpecker now generally seen across Canada 

and in the eastern United States.   Look for the long rectangular 

or oval holes it excavates.

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BarrytheBirder

American Tree Sparrow

(Spizella arborea)

The American Tree Sparrow winters in weedy fields, marshes and groves of small trees.  Juvenile and winter birds are buffier than in other seasons of the year.   In the winter adults, the rufous crowns are obscured by grey and buff edges, sometimes forming a central stripe.

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Photos by Barry Wallace

Cold Cardinal - hot colour

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

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BarrytheBirder

Vancouver Island eagle...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Challenging wave action

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BarrytheBirder

Year-end on Vancouver Island...

Photos by Dave Kemp

 Trumpeter Swan - ready for take-off

Young Bald Eagle

Vancouver Island sunset

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BarrytheBirder

British Columbia - Vancouver Island - Comox

                                                                                                                        Photos by Dave Kemp

Trumpeter Swans - Eastern shores of Vancouver Island

Common Loon

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BarrytheBirder 

Vancouver Island Trumpeter Swans

Photos by Dave Kemp

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BarrytheBirder

Looking for cranes on Vancouver Island...

Photo by Dave Kemp

My birding friend from Vancouver Island, Dave Kemp, came across these folks looking for Sandhill Cranes.   While they looked one way, the Sandhills came from the opposite direction and casually joined the group...a simple sympatric moment.  Nice shot, Dave.

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BarrytheBirder

Seabirds on Vancouver Island by Dave Kemp...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Oystercatcher

Gull retreating

Common Goldeneye

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BarrytheBirder

Vancouver Island photos by Dave Kemp...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Early morning Teal

Bald Eagles at daybreak

Birdhouses

House of Carved Birds

Royston Shipwrecks breakwater of rusted ships 

at Comox Harbour, Vancouver Island,

showing the 'The Riverdale Windjammer', one of 14 twice-retired ships

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BarrytheBirder

Richmond Hill is officially a Bird friendly City...

 

Cormorant photo by BarrytheBirder

Richmond Hill, Ontario has been recognized for its efforts to support and protect birds with a Bird Friendly City designation from Nature Canada.

From my collection...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Western Grebe

Carved by Liza Chin - Toronto, Ontario

1987

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BarrytheBirder

Recent Dave Kemp photos from Vancouver Island...

 

Photos by Dave Kemp

Bald Eagle

Shrike

Bufflehead

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BarrytheBirder

Tamarack Twig Canada Geese...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Hand-crafted Tamarack Twig

Canada Geese

These charming Canada Geese, handcrafted by native Cree artisans on the Quebec side of James Bay have been in my family for decades.   If not on display year-around at home they always make an appearance around Christmas time.   There are dozens of them in the homes of numerous family members and friends and are greatly admired for their uniquely simple, handcrafted but artistically creative representation.

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BarrytheBirder

Juncos return...

                                                                                                                Photos by BarrytheBirder

Dark-eyed Juncos

(Junco hyemalis)

Dark-eyed Juncos breed and in coniferous or mixed woodlands. In migration and winter they are found in many habitats.   Their song is a musical trill of one pitch often heard in winter.   It is winter that I see them at feeders in York Region, north of Toronto.   These sweet little birds winter mostly in the eastern U.S. and southern Ontario.   I have always found them very friendly around backyard feeders.

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BarrytheBirder

Canada Goose soaks up a few rays of November sunshine...

                                                                                                                          Photo by BarrytheBirder      Please comment if you wish.

  BarrytheBirder

Canada-wide Feederwatch Program...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

The top five birds reported after just two weeks into the 2023-2024 Canada-wide Feederwatch Program are:

1.  Canada Goose-                  15.55

2. Bohemian Waxwing-       9.26

3. Evening Grosbeak-           7.62

4. House Sparrow-                 6.44

5. Wild Turkey-                       5.26

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Barry the Birder

Dave Kemp birding photos - Vancouver Island...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Bald Eagle

Broad-winged Hawk

Green-winged Teal

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BarrytheBirder