Spring just around the corner on lower Vancouver Island...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Black Turnstone

 

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Female Mallard Ducks

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Please

comment

if you wish.

Barry the Birder

So far, It's a short winter in southern Ontario

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Mourning Doves getting early spring start in Southern Ontario

Please comment if you wish. 

BarrytheBirder

Photos by Dave Kemp - Vancouver Island

Trumpeter Swans

Common Mergansers

Common Goldeneye

Long-tailed Duck

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Blue Jay watching its back

Photo by BarrytheBirder

'...wise are the wary'

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Great Backyard Bird Count underway

 

After only two days the 4 day annual global birding event known as The Great Backyard Bird Count has reached 134,101 checklists and 7,073 species have been identified.   Go to Cornell Lab of Ornithology for continuing results.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

  

Vancouver Island Oystercatchers by Dave Kemp

OYSTERCATCHERS

Vancouver Island Glacier

WAXING MOON

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Winter gulls

on farm pond

near the Holland Marsh

in York Region

Ontario

Please comment if you wish

Goldeneyes on Vancouver Island, B.C.

Photos by Dave Kemp

 

Female Goldeneye

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Bald Eagle on Vancouver Island...

 

Photos by Dave Kemp

The Catch by a Bald Eagle

Success

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Some of my favourite Juncos pictures...

 

BarrytheBirder

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Vancouver Island - early February

Common Goldeneyes

Photos by Dave Kemp

Trumpeter Swans

Surf & White-winged Scoters

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Winter Goldfinches - King City, Ontario

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Turkeys on Vancouver Island...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Dave Kemp, who sent me these pictures from Vancouver Island in B.C., identifies these turkeys as tame birds in the process of becoming wild, stream-lined versions of the barnyard birds.   The photo below shows Vancouver Island mountains as a backdrop to the turkey photo.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

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.

Please comment if you wish.

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.

Please comment if you wish.

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.

Please comment if you wish.

Photos by Barry Wallace