portraits of HIS handiwork

Catching Up! - Anastasia National Park, Florida 2022

2023-06-12T19:32:00.005-04:00

And, another catchup post...

We camped at Anastasia National Park again for a relaxing March break with family in 2022. Very soon, a Red-tailed Hawk was in the trees around the camp sites. It was catching lizards and geckos running the tree branch moss.

Red-tailed Hawk

One early morning birding run was pretty successful with some lifers.

male Eastern Towhee (lifer)

female Eastern Towhee (lifer)

Northern Mockingbird

Great Egret

Great Egrets roosting

Anhinga

Anhinga sunning

Eastern Phoebe

Brown Pelican

Great Egret

The Northern Cardinal is not strange to us up north, but their colours seem more vibrant here somehow.

male Northern Cardinal

female Northern Cardinal

Carolina Wren pair

Grey Catbird

A wood stork was along the roadside. It had a fish hook stuck in the fleshy part of it's bill. A couple of us flagged down the park rangers, but they didn't seem too concerned - apparently it's been doing fine with it as it is.

Wood Stork

Red-tailed Hawk

Great Blue Heron

White Ibis

juvenile White Ibis

Brown Pelican

Bottlenose Dolphin

Brown Pelican and Bottlenose Dolphin

Brown Pelican waiting to grab injured fish
from Bottlenose Dolphin

Bottlenose Dolphin

Gopher Tortise

And... Finally! After many times attempting to even get a camera aimed on an osprey diving, I finally at least got a picture of some of the sequence. Although the impact shot would be great, this was part of it and got captured.

Osprey

Osprey with fish

So, this was a pretty exciting scene to see, and get a few distant pictures of. These are cropped shots. An Osprey did the work of finding and catching a fish, but a much bigger Bald Eagle took opportunity to chase and force it to drop the fish. The Eagle caught it in mid air and flew off the victor.

Bald Eagle chasing Osprey with fish

Bald Eagle and Osprey

Bald Eagle with captured fish

Wilson's Plover (lifer)

Great Egrets

pair of Black-crowned Night-Heron

Palm Warbler (lifer)

Ground Dove (lifer)

Black Skimmer (lifer)

A great vacation with lots of time to enjoy His handiwork.

Catching Up! Jacob's Woods 2021

2023-05-26T23:30:00.001-04:00

Here is quick post of some highlights from a walk in a small City Park close by. It's notable since I got a life bird on this trip (Great-crested Flycatcher)

Great-crested Flycatcher

Great-crested Flycatcher (some editing to show with enough lighting)

House Wren pair courting and nesting

House Wren male serenading!

House Wren

One thing I enjoy about going out with the camera is just stopping at times, and waiting, for more than just a minute, to see what you can see or hear. In this case, I my eye caught something that drew my attention. Sure enough, a racoon was dozing in the crotch of a tree. Pretty sure it had heard me and woke up before I saw it... didn't move though.

Racoon

Till next time... enjoy His handiwork!

Catching Up! - Our East Coast Trip 2018

2023-05-26T22:22:00.006-04:00

It has been a while. We recently went on a family trip where I was able to enjoy new sights and see new birds and wildlife for the first time. But when I thought to do another post, I realize I had pictures from way back that I hadn't put up. I realize posting them here doesn't really make them important, but somehow to myself, it seemed like cheating to just post the recent ones. So here they are. I'm not going to give that much commentary. I don't know that people really read my ramblings anyway.

We took just over 2 weeks to travel to some of the east coast in 2018. We bought a trailer (then found out we had to buy a new vehicle to pull it) and left for the longest family vacation I think I've ever done (and highly recommend if you're feeling stressed at work - that length of time un-plugged was really actually more relaxing than I ever new was possible.)

We went to Bar Harbour, Maine, then travelled up the east coast to St. Andrews, NB for whale watching. We saw Minke Whale, a Fin whale which is huge (I think I got a photo, but this long after, I don't want to claim a picture I can't be sure of.

Minke whale

Razorbills

Sooty Sheerwater

Minke Whale

Porpoises

We then headed to Ponderosa Pines Campground before enjoying the tides at Hopewell Rocks at the Bay of Fundy. An early morning walk was a reward of warblers, woodpeckers, and raptors.

Red-eyed Vereo

Blue-headed Vereo

Pileated Woodpecker

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon chasing Raven

From there we headed further east and stayed at Mira River Provincial Park. Another early morning walk I got as close to Bald Eagles as I've ever been and fought the wrong angle with the early morning light.

Bald Eagle

After some sight seeing in that area, we headed to what was my favourite part of the trip and stayed at McLeod's Camp Ground on the west side of Cape Breton Island. The beach, the cape we could just walk to from our camp site, the access to the old Cape Breton trail, and meeting locals was the highlight. We stayed there for three nights for a pause and it was a great time with the kids, sights, and experiences.

If I could choose what I could shoot the most, it would be raptors. But they are hard to capture. If I had had more time, I'd hang out along the cliffs on the ocean. The Bald Eagles and other raptors would soar along the cliff tops, and often be at the same level as a person with a camera eager to get a good shot. I got that chance and saw an exciting life bird - Northern Harrier hawk. Sorry, I've got 4 shots here...

Northern Harrier

I also found a cute couple other new sites...

Boreal Chickadee

Sea Lion

We headed to PEI and enjoyed those sights, but I didn't get any notable birding done there.

After that we headed to Quebec City. I got a few shots there and got another lifer in a Marbled Godwit at the lake at the campground.

juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Hairy Woodpecker

It was a great trip, and I was privileged to add 6 new birds to my life list.

More catching up to follow in another post soon.

Keep enjoying His handiwork where ever you go.

The Fox Kits are Growing Up

2021-06-04T00:10:00.001-04:00

The fox kits are growing up. I haven't popped by to see them very often actually until lately which is a shame. They're pretty cute! They have definitely lost most of their "puppy" look though.

Enjoy the shots below

Red Fox Family

2021-04-27T18:51:00.001-04:00

About a week ago, my younger daughter and I were in our living room and out the window, I saw movement and was quite excited to see it was a little ref fox running through our back yard and then over the road through some back yards of people across the street. It paused long enough for the two of us to admire it, from a distance. I thought it was a nice rare experience for us in town (albeit small town) dwellers.

Then, about a week later, we saw it again, taking the same route route. A day or so later, my wife showed video of a fox having a little show down with the neighbour's large outdoor cat. Nothing came of it more than each doing a little show of force, but the cat ultimately sauntered off first.

Since then, we've been seeing it fairly regularly and soon, the town FB Group reported where the den was located... not more than 200m from our house! Here are some shots I got a day ago.

The den is a combination of driveway culverts not far from our house.

Ahead of the vixen (female fox) is one of the culvert entrnaces.

Nursing her kits. We have counted at least six.

She is obviously nursing!

Fox kit.

Getting a grooming from mom.

They look so smart.

Note I have a large lens and I'm giving them their space. On the other hand they seem pretty comfortable with people around as long as they keep their distance.

We'll see if I can get some other shots over the next days. Hoping they are safe by the road there and that people in Town respect the little creatures. So far it sounds like everyone is enjoying the visitors.

Till next time...keep enjoying His handiwork!

Brian

Backyard Birds

2015-06-14T14:26:00.000-04:00

A few Sundays, the weather was nice for an outing (unlike today's grey and rainy pattern) but I didn't have enough time. So I wandered the backyard and the gardens in the church. Although there wasn't a lot of activity, I still saw a few different visitors.

A Chipping Sparrow has nested for the last year in our neighbour's big spruce tree. It is quite vocal, all through the day. I got a nice close photo of it on a budding tulip tree. Chipping Sparrows look a lot like an American Tree Sparrow, but one distinguishing feature is they have a solid black bill, top and bottom. The American Tree Sparrow's bottom is light yellow.

Chipping Sparrow.

Up in a Lynden tree, a Baltimore Oriole was busily catching bugs which were drinking the nectar from the blossoms. It was making a pretty good catch and was too busy to notice me.

Baltimore Oriole in Lynden Tree blossoms.

In our Crab Apple tree, I notice some movement and got only one or two pictures of what at that time I thought was a Eastern Wood Pewee. But I'm pretty sure this is a Flycatcher. In that case, it is either a Willow or Alder Flycatcher. They are very hard to tell apart, the clearest distinction being their call. Since I didn't hear anything, I don't know. I'd lean to the the Alder given the eye ring: according to this site http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/TraillsFlycatcher.htm that is a feature that can help with IDing. If you don't know, apparently you call it simply by Trail Flycatcher, which is what it was called before they knew there were two species.

Trail's Flycatcher (maybe Alder?)

Till next time....
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

Virginia Rail at Grass Lake

2015-06-10T22:04:00.000-04:00

Back in the later days of April, I headed to Grass Lake, a favourite spot that almost always has something there for me to find and enjoy. I wasn't there long when I heard the familiar, buzzy, two syllable calls of Virginia rails talking one to another. I crawled down the steep slope of the grassy bank towards the newly growing cat tail bull rushes and waited for movement and quick glimpses of this usually concealed bird.

Virginia Rail hiding in the vegetation.

It took a while, but I was rewarded...

As I was heading out, a muskrat left the same area I had been watching. Maybe he had been watching me the whole time too... I hadn't noticed him till I went to leave.

Muskrat

Till next time...

Keep enjoying HIS handiwork.

Florida - Feb 2015

2015-05-23T21:11:00.000-04:00

No, I didn't die, didn't move to where internet doesn't exist.... A combination of busy life, needing to pick priorities, and dealing with some big decisions meant I've hardly done any birding or blogging for a long time. Actually, checking my last post date, it's been exactly 6 months to the day.

Our family went to Florida to vacation for a week with good friends of ours. It was a great time together spent playing lots of games, swimming in the different pools, walking and talking and just spending time together. We rented a huge house together at a gated community in Palm Coast where the grounds had lots of little lakes. The house we were in was right across the road from the ocean. Between walking the grounds and the beach, there were lots of birds to be seen.

I'm not going to give a narrative on my various encounters, but just give a sampling of all the different birds I saw. It's been three months since we were there so I don't remember too many specifics anymore. I added eight birds to my life list including the following:

Anhinga

Forster's Tern

Royal Tern

Glaucous Gull

Northern Gannet

Palm Warbler

White Ibis

Wood Stork

Anhinga (pronounced An-heena) doing its submerged swim.

Anhinga sunning

Bald Eagle

Belted Kingfisher in flight.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in morning sunlight.

Brown Pelican coasting.

Brown Pelican diving.

curious Carolina Wren

pair of Common Gallinule

Common Grackle - Down... then...

... Up.

Eastern Phoebe

Although it was big, I believe this is still a common Eastern Gray Squirrel.
(not big enough for the Eastern Fox Squirrel and has a white tummy)

Forster's Tern in flight.

Forster's Tern

Glaucous Gull - they are big!

Gray Catbird

Great Blue Heron in breeding plumage.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron - I believe a second year bird.

Great Egret

male Greater Scaup

male and female Greater Scaups

Laughing Gull

Little Blue Heron and Anhinga.

Little Blue Heron

Mixed seabirds.

Northern Gannet

Northern Mockingbird

Osprey

Red-shouldered Hawk with Little Blue Heron prey.

Osprey looking on.

Red-shouldered Hawk was not impressed and chased the Osprey off.

Red-shoulder Hawk and Osprey

Red-shouldered Hawk drying off.... Must have gotten wet catching the heron.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Palm Warbler

Pied-billed Grebe

Royal Tern

Royal Terns

Ruddy Turnstone

Sanderlings

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret in early morning light.

White Ibis and Snowy Egret

White Ibis

Willet

Willet landing

Endangered Wood Stork

Hopefully my next post will not take six months to do. I have a few pictures waiting in the queue, so hopefully that will keep me primed and back into posting again.

Until then...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

Costa Rica Bird Book for sale

2014-12-23T10:51:00.001-05:00

Things have been quiet on the blog here... my lens just came back from Sigma where it underwent a warranty covered tuneup. I haven't had a chance to use it yet.

In the mean time, I have a great bird book I bought while on our Costa Rica trip this past winter. It's a well done book and if you or someone you know is planning a trip there and hopes to bird, I'd recommend it. I'm selling it on eBay here.

As mentioned in the ad, the book is in good condition, but the thin plastic film on the front is bubbling.

Hopefully I'll have something to post in the near future - looking forward to getting out again soon.

Till next time...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork.

Rock Lake Lodge

2014-10-26T14:50:00.000-04:00

With this post I will, for the first time in months (likely years), have no more photos on the hard drive waiting to be edited and posted. I've not done any birding since August when our family joined Holly's side at the great family vacation spot up north. Work continues to be very busy and we are in the process of seeing what senior management has planned to improve things. I'm either working through lunches, or too tired/not motivated enough to get out for the lunch hour to my favourite spots local to the office. I've got to change that.

Having said that, I'm planning to send my big lens in for maintenance. Sigma has a 7 year warranty period and I finally tracked down the receipt of the original purchase (I bought it used) to prove the seven years is still in effect. I should have sent it in long ago as then I'd have it back by now. Sigma plans to take a look at why the lens' focus seems to be quite soft on the far end of the zoom. I'm hoping they can improve it a bit, and that it's not just the actual limitation of this lens at it's farthest reaches of the zoom - I know this is an unavoidable limitation of large zoom lenses to some degree.

While up north, I took my usual half day outing by myself earlier in the week and headed out in the morning. I was disappointed on my first stop that there were no signs of the loons on Tait Lake. I did see a young family of Green Herons which I flushed into a nearby Willow Tree. I wish I had seen them earlier to be able to get a picture of about 4 of them all perched on a dead branch over the water... it would have been a great shot.

hatch year Green Heron

Along the same lake shore I was able to slowly approach a Brown Thrasher perched on a stump in the long grasses. It was watching me closely with its bright yellow eye. Finally it flew up into a nearby tree and let me get surprisingly close for some nice pictures in the morning sun!

Brown Thrasher

I headed out to Eagle's Nest trail in Bancroft, but didn't see a lot of birds there. In some sections of the trail it was very quiet and I thought I'd try some bird calls to see if it truly was as devoid of birds as it sounded. I played a Hermit Thrush call briefly, and from not far away, a first year bird came scrambling through the leaf litter on the ground. The poor bird was trembling like crazy so I stopped the bird song as soon as I noticed. But it continued to approach to see where the mystery bird was. I'm not sure what the dynamic of the short bird call on a young bird like this would be. Being late fall, I wouldn't have thought it would be of any more than a curiosity to another bird given it's not breeding season.

hatch year Hermit Thrush

I did manage to see a few other birds busy moving through the higher leaves of the tree tops looking for bugs to eat. I figured they were the most common Yellow-rumped Warblers that I usually see in that location, setting, and time. But, a lesson was learned as I looked at the pictures later and discovered that at least one of the birds was actually a female Cape May Warbler. Who knows what else I missed.

female Cape May Warbler

Later in the week I wandered down the roadway and actually saw the most exciting birds of the week. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was fueling up for its amazing migration south.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Up in the Aspen leaves, there were lots of warblers constantly feeding, also putting on fat for their migration trip. A pair of Red-eyed Vireos (a lifer) were feeding on what bugs and caterpillars they could find under leaves.

Red-eyed Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo
You can actually see the red eye in this picture.

Along the roadside, there was one patch of trees where there was a whole mix of birds slowly moving along gleaning what food they could find. It held a number of different birds and I added a couple more lifers including a Nashville Warbler, a female Magnolia Warbler (which looks somewhat similar with its grey head and white eye ring, but the streaked sides made me keep researching), the beautiful Black-and-white Warbler.

Nashville Warbler

female Magnolia Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

At the same location I saw what I'm pretty sure is a 1st winter Blackburnian Warbler. The only picture I got was this top view shot.

1st Winter Blackburnian Warbler

A female Common Yellowthroat was not shy and checked me out from just the other side of the fence that I was standing on. It was so close I thought I was going to miss a picture while my lens protested at bringing the focus from about 20 meters to 3m.

female Common Yellowthroat

Back by the lodge later that week I saw another female Cape May Warbler with its striped flanks.

female Cape May Warbler

The highlight of the week though was a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers that were noisily calling all through the week as they frequented the forests lodge. At first I only heard them calling with their loud, almost laughing sounding calls. But with a hunt up the hills into the mixed cedar, pine and deciduous forests, I finally tracked one down. The heavy woodwork with its big bill gave its location as it tunneled into an old cedar tree. But it soon noticed me as I tried to get closer for pictures. Later I saw them a number of times as they were flew over the lodge yard moving to different areas.

female Pileated Woodpecker

While trying to track them down later in the week, I was nicely surprised to find another woodpecker instead. We don't see many Hairy Woodpeckers around home and I've never gotten a picture of one. This one was very busy eating out of a dead branch so I could try and move around to find this one small hole in the foliage to get a few clear shots.

male Hairy Woodpecker

Finally on our last day before leaving, I heard the Pileated Woodpeckers another time and thought I'd make one more try at getting a closer picture. We were mostly packed up and ready to go, but I had to give it one more try. My persistence paid off and with some great care and strategy in my approach, I got close enough for a few pictures before it skittered around the tree with its big claws and noisily flew away. Success! Such a beautiful bird though.

male (you can just detect the red bar under it's bill) Pileated Woodpecker

As I followed the woodpecker thinking I might get another chance, I noticed a small dark bird (in the already muted light of the forest on a drizzly day). As it hopped about the ground and lower branches, I noticed a bright white patch on its side. From the few poor pictures I got, later determined it was a Black-throated Blue Warbler. Another lifer. Not a bad way to end the week!

Black-throated Blue Warbler

So another summer came to an end and I added five new birds to my list. I'm not sure when I'll get out birding again. I still haven't sent in the lens so that will affect when I get back at it again. As I write this, I realize if I send it soon, I'm sure I'll be motivated to get out an try the tuned up lens. I think I'll send it soon for that very reason.

Till next time,

Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

A Compressed Post

2014-10-04T22:26:00.000-04:00

No, I did not migrate early and disappear, but I've no hardly bird watched, done any blogging, or much else for that matter in he last couple months. That isn't completely true, but my life has become quite busy and unfortunately a bit unsettled at work in the last few months. We're in a re-building stage at the moment and that means more of my time, focus and energy has had to be directed there. I'm hoping it will only be for a season (both metaphorically speaking and literally).

This summer I had the fun of bumping into a family of House Wrens around our place during late summer. They've nested somewhere nearby and I kept hearing their scolding call, primarily in the evenings, and in our hedge and in the church gardens behind us. I finally got found the fledglings in the gardens one afternoon and got a few pictures.

Fledgling House Wren

Adult House Wren keeping close eye on me.

Fledgling House Wren

While visiting a great older couple in our church for supper one night, I also got a few minute to take a few low light pictures in the evening light of some of the residents of the many bird houses they have around their property... again House Wrens. These young ones were not as old as they had not fledged yet.

House Wren with food.

Perturbed House Wren

It finally trusted me and fed its young.

One Sunday afternoon I quickly called my brother after church and we met for a walk at Sudden Tract trail. We saw pretty much nothing there. It was strangely quiet except or the many many mosquitoes - we were glad for a very generous couple who actually just gave us their bottle of repellent as they left. We were not far from Grass Lake and decided to stop there. Glad we did as someone else alerted us to a pair of Sandhill Cranes feeding in a nearby field with a mature colt. We were able to walk into the soy bean field and get very close for some pictures. We were surprised at how tolerant they were of us!

Sandhill Crane family

brother Dan.

Sandhill Crane colt in the soy beans.

adult Sandhill Crane checking me out.

Sandhill Crane colt.

Eye nicitating membrane - translation: protective eye membrane.

Sandhill Crane profile shot.

While working around the yard at home some time later, a young/small Mourning Dove flew and crash landed in the front yard. I really have no idea where it came from, nor the circumstances, it was not acting normally. Any approach was met with a delayed and very short, incomplete flights with the same ungraceful crash landing. It seemed strange given its size and fully feathered condition - it didn't seem like a recent fledgling just learning to fly. It was trembling and twitching quite uncontrollably though. I finally picked it up and it perched wobbly on my hand for a while.

Mourning Dove

It eventually did fly away with a lot of encouragement and a few more botched departures.

Well, that catches me up for all but my annual Lodge vacation post which I hope to get to some time - don't hold your breath though! I believe I've used that phrase a number of times in this blog, with greater frequency lately! Oh well, a time and season for everything.

Till next time...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork.

My Father-in-law and Bob White

2014-09-02T19:14:00.001-04:00

My father-in-law is a polite man. From time to time, I forget that not everyone else is interested in my latest bird find, and I'm pretty sure there have been occasions where I've bored him by pointing out a bird or two while our family joins them on their regular neighbourhood walks when we visit. He usually politely nods, shows polite interest, and then politely changes the topic. I don't blame him. It's not that he doesn't enjoy seeing the nature around him - his more concentrated interests lay elsewhere.

But he surprised me the other day with a phone call, and after getting through the polite niceties that starting a phone call requires, he had a question... about a bird they were seeing regularly around the yard! I honestly thought he was taking a moment to poke fun at me a bit, but no, he had details of shape, size, where they were seeing it, what it's call sounded like. And he did a good job of describing the bird, because I quickly had a guess. My response with additional corresponding details clinched it, and for sure, they were enjoying a rather uncommon sighting of a Northern Bobwhite!

Northern Bobwhite

Apparently this bird has become quite the local, interest for the neighbourhood. Although not tame (there's question as to whether it could have been a pet), it surely isn't shy either, even to the point of chasing smaller children in the backyard.

Add caption

Well, I finally had to make my way out to Grimsby to visit and try and see Mr. White given he was regularly being seen on a daily basis and it's characteristic call made it easy to track down in it's pretty predictable territory of a neighbourhood block or so. I headed out really early from home before work and before long, heard the clear notes of the plump little bird. My mother-in-law had given me tips on where it had been seen last, and her helpful tips were correct. It was perched on a fence preening and calling regularly in the bright morning sun.

Preening Northern Bobwhite

Not the most natural of perches for pictures, but I was glad for the morning light to show off the beautiful plumage of this bird. So far as I know, Northern Bobwhites are not typically an urban bird, so this regular appearance is a bit strange.

Northern Bobwhite

Up until somewhat recently, I understand the bird is still there... It has been seen mostly on the eastern blocks off of Balharbour Drive in Grimsby. If you have a bird app, all it will probably take is one call from your bird app to get a response.

Till next time...
Keep enjoying His handiwork!

European Starlings

2014-08-12T21:59:00.000-04:00

Back on Father's Day (Yes, way back then!) we went to Holly's parents to be with them for the day. It was a beautiful day with typical early summer weather - seems we've pretty been receiving the same weather pattern ever since, save a few hotter days here and there.

young European Starlings being fed.

At some point I was out watching the kids ride around in the court beside my in-law's house and happened to noticed two little head's just in the shadow of a knot hole in a tree right beside the road. I waited a bit, and despite the heavy kid traffic of bikes, scooters, and go-karts right below, a parent soon arrived and two young starlings rivaled the noise of the kids demanding to be fed first.

Quiet down there kids!

You've had enough, now quiet down!

European Starlings have likely replaced the Passenger Pigeon as one of the most numerous birds on the North American continent. Passenger Pigeons used to be by far the most numerous but are now extinct. Some might wish for the same plight of this bird such as farmers whose crops can be devoured by the huge flocks of Starlings.

Little remnants of baby fuzz left.

An interesting fact I found on the Cornell Bird Site is that the entire NA population of these birds comes from 100 birds that were let go in New York in the early 1890's. Apparently someone thought that we explorers should benefit from all the birds Shakespeare had mentioned. Hmmm...

And to end off this Father's post, a very belated note of thanks for my Dad. Don't fear, I did thank him that day, but belated in relation to this blog post. I'm thankful God has blessed me with a great Dad. One thing that comes to mind at the moment is his example of diligence and patient persistence at his job of 41 years (and counting... did I get the time right Dad?). That's an accomplishment! Thanks for bein' my dad Dad!

And while I'm on the topic, I'm thankful for my Father-in-law too (we were at their place!). :) Seriously though, I think back to a few months ago when I was asked to attend an optional work function of a client of mine who really wanted me to come. I declined, letting them know that my in-laws were over for supper that night. I was quickly reminded this would be a perfect opportunity to skip out... after all he couldn't stand his in-laws and would jump at the opportunity. It made me realize I have a lot to be thankful for as my in-laws are great and I deeply appreciate them too. I definitely was home that night.

Till next time,
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

P.S. I must note that one of my dear sister-in-laws (who I don't half mind either) pointed out that day, that I had spent more time taking pictures of these birds than I had spent with the family, or even the Father-in-law, it being Father's Day and all. I prefer to think her sense of time is slightly off. :)

P.P.S.
My brother-in-law reminded me of this photo during our vacation this week... I had forgotten to share it with you. ;) I should have taken a picture of the ground below the tree... what a mess.

Grass Lake and West Shore of Hamilton Harbour

2014-07-20T22:09:00.002-04:00

The very first day of June was a Sunday and I went to Grass Lake for a quiet afternoon. I started out walking on the south side of the 570 AM antenna field where five huge metal spires send the radio signal at the KW Cambridge area. I met one of the technicians there one evening last summer and chatted with him for hours into the darkness. It was a very interesting chat as he explained lots of the technical information about the antennas and system. The first two (southern) towers actually cancel out background signals, the middle one sends out the radio signal, and then the last two (northern) towers repeat and boost the signal.

Being early afternoon, there wasn't a lot of bird activity, but a Tree Swallow perched for a picture for me not far from its nest box in the radio field.

male Tree Swallow

There were a few pairs of Bobolinks flying around, but not as many as I've seen in the past. I hope that's only because they were all attending nests or young. But I finally saw as well as got a half decent photo of a female. I'd only ever seen the males before. I still love hearing the completely unique call of these birds. It is such a un-birdlike sound. I've noticed recently though, that Red-winged Blackbirds share slightly in that very different sound characteristic. Has anyone else noticed or heard it too?

female Bobolink

Along the same fence line, you are always sure to see some of the Savannah Sparrow pairs. They, of all the birds in this area will allow you to get closest. Moving slowly but surely, they often let me get quite close. It's interesting how different birds characteristically allow approximately the same distance until they are no longer comfortable with your approach.

Savannah Sparrow

Walking towards Grass Lake, a House wren was signing heartily in a small patch of mostly dead Pine Trees.

House Wren

As I walked along the dirt road which sweeps around the water's edge of the shallow, grassy lake, a pair of Sandhill Cranes quietly glided in. I was too slow on the draw and missed getting any pictures. They landed quite far back in where the deeper, open water is and proceeded to make their presence known to the rest of the lake with their loud calls and comical head movements.

distant Sandhill Cranes

I got startled as I walked along the road edge when suddenly, something large enough to move a significant amount of the long grass at the top of the bank moved quickly towards the water's edge. The creature turned out to be a large snapping turtle and made a mad slide down the bank, crashing into small trees and branches as it headed for the cover of the water. I went back to the spot and noticed a circular track it had made in the grass with an untouched area of grass left in the middle about a foot and half in diameter. Being early June, it's possible it was looking for a nest site, though it didn't seem like a prime location given a hard packed gravel shoulder with grass roots reinforcing it all. Then again, those stocky legs and sharp claws would likely suit that task well.

I had heard that there was a Brown Thrasher nesting on the north west end of the lake, but saw no sign of the nest nor the bird. I headed home and decided to leave the opposite directly I usually do, and though not intentionally, past the supposed Thrasher location. Just as I passed, a big Brown Thrasher flew right in front of me and swept up and landed in a dead tree. Quickly stopping and trying to get my window down and camera up and ready was too long for the bird to get wary and it flew. I got out and after some searching finally found it way up in a big tree. I climbed a bank for a better view and still got some nice pictures of life bird #204.

Brown Thrasher

Later that week, I headed out early in the morning before work to the east shore of Hamilton Harbour close 1to the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters on the west side of the QEW. There had been reports of American Pelicans regularly visiting the man made islands for a number of days and I thought I'd see if I could get some pictures in the early morning sun. Turns out I waited too long and they were not reported again. But I got to see the large colony of Caspian Terns nesting there mixed among the Ring-billed Gulls doing the same. You can just make out the fuzzy, well camouflaged young of both species in the pictures. I'm not sure what the Tern in the middle was doing. It had caught a nice little fish, but was just standing in the same spot for quite a while. I'm surprised it was not attacked by the other birds around it and either forced to down it quickly, fly away to protect his catch, or drop it and flee. But none of those things happened and I'm not sure what it was waiting for.

nesting Caspian Terns and Ring-billed Gulls

Sharing the same island, but perched on the trees that are barely surviving the acidic anointing they are receiving are the Double-crested Cormorants also attending to young.

nesting Double-crested Cormorant

I was standing on a narrow beach that was just beside a flight path where, over and over again, Cormorants were swooping down from just crossing the QEW bridge for a short, low approach over the water to the island. Many were still bringing nesting material and after many pictures I finally got a half decent one.

Double-crested Cormorant with nesting material

Until next time...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

LaSalle Park and Tresspassing

2014-07-07T22:58:00.000-04:00

About a moth ago now, I went for a lunch hour to LaSalle Park. Late fall, winter, and spring this place is great for water birds, but I often don't go here because it's a little further away for my short lunch hour (ok, I'll wait for all the comments from people who only get half an hour!). But I thought I'd give it a go again for an early summery visit.

Walking down the trail east from the Pavilion parking lot, two Osprey were busy scanning the Hamilton Harbour Bay's edge and circling close overhead. I wasn't aware of any nesting in this area, so I wonder if these two are the pair at the base of Hwy 6 and 403.

Osprey eyes me closely as it flies over.

Osprey

A little further down the trail, a Warbling Vireo paused long enough for a picture.

Warbling Vireo

This little male Yellow Warbler was not willing to pose and this was the best picture I could get.

male Yellow Warbler

A Baltimore Oriole was willing to show off its contrasting orange and black outfit.

Baltimore Oriole

A Gray Catbird pair were mewing at me, and I barely got this shot off as it perched out in the open for a few seconds. Being much more shy than the similarly sized and shaped Robin, they generally prefer to be lower down among lower perches or even on the ground. This bird wasn't happy as I approached and actually "bristled" its feathers and a show of strength. I wondered if there was a nest nearby, but there wasn't any typical setting for that - usually a clump of shrubbery or something dense enough for their usual hiding place.

Gray Catbird

That was pretty much all I saw that day on that short visit.

I was out wandering in my neighbour's yard early one morning, quite annoyed! I had heard a bird singing heartily since the early morning hours. On and on it went and I didn't recognize it... not that I profess to be very good a recognizing that many bird calls yet. At one point, I decided to just get up and find it; I wasn't going to sleep anyway. It was actually across a church parking lot, across the street and behind the house of a neighbour we know quite well. In the morning, the sound travels well, but this little bird had quite the voice.
I'm embarrassed to say, it turned out to be a Baltimore Oriole. I don't hear them often, but somehow it didn't click. I'm also embarrassed to say, I got caught in the backyard of said neighbour, who had been up early as well. I should have known better as I knew was an early riser and risking walking down her driveway was sure to get her quite confused as she couldn't see who I was. I sheepishly explained that I didn't figure she'd be up and so I had risked it. She's way to good natured to really be upset, but had started to call me with a stern good morning until she figured out it was me. :) Ironically, I was out birding while she was up having already done a load of laundry! You're inspiring Jo!

As I apologized for startling her, I caught the unmistakable sound of the whistling of feathers that only comes from a fast flying bird... two Common Loons were also up early getting a head start on the morning commute and making use of the cool morning to travel some where. We don't have any resident loons in our area that I know of and being this far south, so they must have been late migrants. Strangely, they weren't terribly high, which is where they usually are situated when they're making their long distance flights. Loons are very fast flyers! I remember doing a science project on them as a young kid in school... If my memory is still correct, their cruising speed is often around 100km/hr!

Common Loon flying over St. George

Common Loon

A short while later, I was doing my own commute to work at roughly the same speed. Only thing is, a whole lot of technology was required to get me moving that fast. And a lot more inefficiently! What a marvel these creatures are. Yet, we never hesitate to look at the technology that we use daily in our lives and make the reasonable conclusion that it is obviously the result of a detailed and well thought out design. And the more we learn and the closer we are able to look at the detail of the world around us... I still can only can conclude...

Till next time...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

Ernie and Burt

2014-07-02T22:53:00.002-04:00

Actually, Ernie did not show. And neither did Bert, but I did spend time with Burt (Road) twice last month. Mid May I took a Sunday afternoon two weeks in a row to go just east of town to a dirt road which is all but closed due to a bridge over Fairchild's Creek which has been condemned and never replaced. The quiet lane passes through a mix of settings including the creek, low scrubby growth, open farmer's field, and then some hardwood forest.

Down by the creek, a couple Yellow-rumped Warblers were flitting around collecting bugs. I believe this one is a 1st year male.

1st year male Yellow-rumped Warbler

As I walked along an Indigo Bunting scolded me and then sung from the tops of the trees, keeping out of view for pictures. I heard lots of protest from blackbirds in the distance and wondered if I might find an owl on my own. But soon after, the reason for the noise flew over - a Red-tailed Hawk with some Red-winged Blackbird pursuers on the attack.

Red-winged Blackbirds repelling a Red-tailed Hawk

Across the bare farm field, some deer stood watching me and then finally trotted into the bush. I decided to follow and hiked around in the woods in that direction. At one point, both a deer and I spooked each other as I came around a clump of trees... it must have been bedded down in the long grass and jumped out to flee, scaring me as well.

White-tailed Deer

On the way back, I passed along side an open scrubby area full of lower bushes and tangles of still dead raspberry stalks and I thought I'd see if I could raise some sing of life from some perfect habitat for Common Yellowthroats. I use it sparingly, but resorted to playing bird calls from my phone with Sibley's Bird app [link]. Immediately I got the reaction I expected with the chattering scold to warn the interloper. It was accompanied by lots of posing, tail up and head down and forward ready to attack.

male Common Yellowthroat

aggression pose of the Common Yellowthroat

The little guy was so intent on seeing who the offending visitor was, it was hardly even aware of me and came quite close. Almost two close to keep up with with the camera to take a picture.

male Common Yellowthroat

The activity brought out the female as well and I got a pretty good shot. It was early enough in the season that I'm thinking she was likely not nesting yet and maybe thought the new male was worth checking out. Most of the time she would stay low to the ground and skitter through the tangled undergrowth, just giving glimpses of a view.

female Common Yellowthroat

As I stood up to leave the pair in peace, I noticed a raccoon sleeping up in tree not are into the bush bordering the Yellowthroat's territory. However, it seemed to look odd and not quite right. I realize they can look quite strange while wedged into a crook in the treed, but this one looked some how very large in the body, and with quite a thin and matted head. I'm not sure if it's pregnant (seems late), sick (would seem to match the strangely thin looking face and flat head hair). Not surprisingly, when I returned on my next Sunday visit, it was no longer there.

Racoon (pregnant, sick, awkward?)

A few Turkey Vultures flew overhead and swooped quite low and fast over me.

Turkey Vulture

On my first trip, a Indigo Bunting was passing back and forth between two trees, singing its song to ensure everyone knew where it had claimed home to be. I didn't get any great shots. But my second Sunday outing was much better finding a second bird not very far away in a clump of isolated trees in the field. I was surprised their territories would be that close. I could actually see the other Bunting flying around along the lane way a short distance away still visiting the same trees.

Indigo Bunting ruffled by the wind.

Again, I thought I'd try the bird calls briefly and saw for the first time the phenomenon I had saw and shared [link] in a previous post of a video showing the wing wage warning. The next two pictures show it clearly.

Indigo Bunting wing warning.

Indigo Bunting wing warning, more pronounced.

A bright and brilliantly coloured bird!

Indigo Bunting

Heading back to the car, as usual later than I should be because of the one more picture delay, my eye caught the tips of two big ears just barely poking out of the grass behind where the Common Yellowthroats put of their show for me the previous week. In the picture below, the female White-tailed Deer I had spotted had already noticed me and was trying to figure whether she needed to get up from her comfortable spot.

White-tailed Deer doe.

Decision is made and the white flag was lifted and soon she bounded into cover, and then proceeded to let me know she was not impressed at all with a long series of surprisingly loud snorts. I didn't see any other activity and was half hoping I'd see some fawns come out of the grass somewhere with those warning sounds. If they were there, I saw nothing.

White-tailed Deer doe.

On the way back, I spotted a Blue Jay busy making a nest, busily carrying and arranging twigs in a big, old Sugar Maple.

Blue Jay nest building

Just before getting back to where I left my car, I was delayed even further with a Eastern Bluebird who also wanted its picture taken, though shyly as it would not let me get too close.

Eastern Bluebird

I'm getting really far behind here on posts...Lots of chores around the house this spring so the picture editing and posting does not happen as often. I've not been out birding in a while either. Hopefully I can change both "problems" a bit soon.

Till then...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

Lunch in Bayfront Park

2014-06-18T22:55:00.001-04:00

I went to Bayfront Park for lunch, almost a month ago now, having not been there for a long time. It's a quick drive from the office meaning I have more time to wander about in my one hour lunch break. It's a trade-off though because though there is more time, it's not always that active on the bird front. Being late spring still, I thought I'd see what might be around though.

I headed along the marina side of the park and quite quickly caught sight of a Chestnut-sided Warbler busy collecting bugs.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Further along the path a Song Sparrow didn't notice me as it busily caught more bugs that thought they were hidden from harms way in the crevices of tree bark.

Song Sparrow

Up above, a silent but active little bird caught my attention. It's the first clear shot I've gotten of a Warbling Vireo. It took me a while to ID this bird - what I had been expecting to see of the typical yellow flanks aren't really very evident.

Warbling Vireo

Off the trail, a little ways up is a low area which is not manicured lawn like most of the rest of the park. Here there are a number of bird houses that have been put up last year. Most of them are now well used by a little group of Tree Swallows. A few have been commandeered by House Sparrows. One male Tree Swallow let me approach quite close and I got this full frame picture. Too bad it's still not terribly sharp. I think between me zooming in too far (I try not to go past 400mm on my lens as it gets too soft) and some wind, the focus is a bit softer than it should be for such a nice close shot.

male Tree Swallow

In the same area, a pair of American Gold finches were bathing in a puddle of water.

male American Goldfinch bathing.

Walking back along the boat launch side I watched the Caspian Terns fishing in the waters below. I kind of like how they are softly framed by the reeds in the foreground. Not often you get two terns together that close either.

Caspian Terns

Walking on a little further there was a pair of Yellow Warblers. I managed to get a picture of both of them.

female Yellow Warbler

male Yellow Warbler
(note the barring on the breast)

While moving around the tree trying to get on the right side of the bright little yellow birds, I was scolded harshly by an American Robin. Soon I found out why...

American Robin on nest.

As I headed back to the car, I caught the soft but high pitched notes of Cedar Waxwings and found a small group of them eating what I think are high-bush cranberries.

Cedar Waxwing

In the end, it was a nice relaxing stroll with quite a varied find of birds. None new, but some nice close encounters. The Waxwings were nice a close which was great, but the photo shoot was cut short by rain. I just made it back to the car as the deluge started.

Until next time...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

Mother's Day

2014-06-08T23:17:00.001-04:00

The weather on Mother's Day was beautiful. With plans to visit my Mom later in the day, I went for a walk with the kids to the park in town to give the dear mother of my kids a quiet afternoon at home. I took the camera along and wandered the grounds around the playground. I did not linger long by the playground with my long lens for fear someone would call the cops reporting a strange guy with a big camera taking pictures of kids - don't laugh, it's happened before. Another blogger I follow had it happen to him once when was in a woodlot abutting a school yard!

I watched the always present Robins combing the "grass-scape" for works and grubs, pausing for a few seconds to scan the grass below, and then hopping the next five paces to another place to search.

American Robin

I watched this Common Grackle take on a different approach to finding food, or should I say, obtaining food. When the Robins would find a grub or worm, the Grackle would swoop in and pounce. The undersized Robin would drop the catch and flee, leaving the Grackle to pickup the fallen prize.

Common Grackle thief.

This Grackle did it a few times while I was watching and picked up a good supply of food, likely for a nest full of young somewhere nearby.

Common Grackle with stolen meal.

The familiar high pitched notes of an American Goldfinch caught my attention up in a tree. It was serenading a female that was calmly sitting by while the male switched from branch to branch, singing its heart out hoping to convince the lady of its worth.

Male American Goldfinch with female in background.

Although I'm doubting it now, I'm pretty sure the bird in the background is the female. Usually Goldfinches are quite camera shy but it seems this pair was quite distracted and I could get quite close. Too bad they were way up in the tree.

male American Goldfinch singing away.

female American Goldfinch

male American Goldfinch

After returning from the park, I wandered behind our place in the church yard to see if any migrants might have stopped for a rest in our little area of town. Way up in the tops of some old spruce trees was some movement and I took some pictures with harsh mid-day lighting. The birds were constantly moving through the branches and it was a challenge to try and get a few good pictures. Previewing the pictures I assumed they were Yellow-Rumped Warblers and didn't think much about it till editing them recently. ~~I'm still not 100 percent sure, but I think they were~~ They were Cape May Warblers (Thanks Dwayne!). I'm pretty sure the bird pictured below is a young male. Life bird #203.

Cape May Warbler

These little birds prefer the spruce budworm, but also have a unique feature in the warbler world. They have a curled, semi-tubular tongue which they use to gather nectar during the colder seasons after having migrated to the West Indies islands.

Cape May Warbler

What had actually brought me to these tall spruces was a Gray Catbird which was eluding me earlier. I was able to get one quick shot as it played cat and mouse (yes, pun intended!) between the large row of stout spruce trunk bases. Although not a great shot, I thought I'd include it as it shows, albeit obscured somewhat, the bright rusty colour under its tail.

Gray Catbird

We headed to my parents church in Cambridge for their second service, and afterwards, my youngest brother pointed out a neatly carved hole in an aging Maple tree in the front yard of the church. Soon enough, the curious head of a Red-bellied Woodpecker appeared, giving away location of an active nest site.

Red-bellied Woodpecker in nest cavity.

Once it got used to us standing there, it seemed content to just watch us right back.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

However, once the curiosity of the young boys running on the other side of the church lawn brought them over, the woodpecker had enough and fled with its trademark, scolding call. We didn't stay long after that and let it return to the nest.

Just as we were about to leave, a Cooper's Hawk soared over, nice and slowly so I could get a reasonably clear picture as it coasted west, way above us.

Cooper's Hawk

That afternoon we headed to the Huron Natural Area near my parent's place for a walk before supper. It's a beautiful spot in an area quickly being developed with new housing. Great to see such a large area being left for conservation. Since the camera was in use for capturing our family time, I didn't do a lot of bird searching or photography. I was surprised though that there weren't more birds to be seen then we did.

Spring fiddlehead in the afternoon sun.

We headed back to the home of half my childhood (after we moved) and enjoyed time with family and spent time appreciating my great Mom!!

Mourning Dove

I'd almost completely forgotten.... My outing earlier that day had been to take my first run with our new camera. I had convinced Henry's to drop an already sale price on a Sony a65 to replace our dead a33. After quite a bit of research (online and talking to various Sony and Henry's staff), I'd determined fixing our stuck shutter was likely to be between $400 and $500. I ended up getting the new camera for barely more than that. On top of that, the a33's shutter had already died on us once with the camera being replaced for us under warranty. With it having hinted at a failure earlier and then finally dying, I was nervous about spending that much money on a shutter system with known problems.

For those of you proud Nikon or Canon owners who I'm sure are right now wondering why I still went with a Sony... already owning Sony lenses meant I was not going to start over again with a whole new camera system. There are things I really like about the Sony cameras, and then other days when I really wish I could get another stop or two of light without the "transparent mirror" in the way.

Image grabbed from Sony's website of the a65

So far from my few outings with the new a65, here are my pros and cons:

Pros
Bigger: Yes, I found the a33 too small. I don't have huge hands, but when you're gripping a camera for a few hours on an outing, it actually is a pain having a small camera in your hands.
Faster: It can shoot 10 fps with continuous AF but AE locked after the first shot, and 7 with adjusting AE. That's nice and fast! And when capturing while panning, the lag problem with the display of the last picture is greatly reduced.
24.3MP: Though really it's getting pretty high, if you really get the focus right, you can crop in nice and close on a distant subject.
Additional Focus Mode: Sony has added one new focus mode which groups all the sensors in a field of three. That limits it from hunting as much when there is varied focus items.
Overheating: Or rather, the lack there of!!! In warm weather, the a33 would constantly overheat on me and shut off. That was extremely annoying!! I will not miss that. Almost reason enough to switch just for this!
new OLED viewfinder: Sony has upgraded the digital viewfinder. In normal lighting, you can hardly tell anymore that it's not optical. It has almost double the pixels of the a33, and with the OLED compared to LED, it uses less power and presents much cleaner when displaying motion.

Cons
Programmable button: I changed the D-Range button on the a33 to focus mode so I could switch quickly between single point focus and wide (say a noticed a bird in flight and needed to switch quickly). However, though the a65 does the same, the only button I don't want remove its normal mode from, can't utilize the customized mode in Manual mode. Why, I do not know! I usually shoot in fully manual.

Multi Shot Self Timer: This is a general gripe. I don't know if any of the other SLR brands have this, but I can't for the life of me understand why they don't have a feature to shoot a sequence of multiple pictures on self timer. Our old Panasonic FZ30 (now that was a great camera in its day!!) had this.

Ok, have any of you other photographers had this idea?
"Camera, ISO 400"
"Camera, Focus, Point"
"Camera, Focus, Burst"
Being able to have the camera obey voice commands to adjust functions without having to shift to another hand hold for another button and change a mode would be great! Maybe that feature would price the camera completely out of my market I don't know, but you'd think with all the voice control on our phones, that technology has been mastered?

But to wrap it up, a post mother's day thanks to my Mom who is very dear to me. She's a great mom and now is a great grandmother to our kids! She throws her heart and soul into everything she does, sometimes so much that it takes a little too much out of her I fear. ;) I love you Mom and thank God for you and your huge impact on who I am!

Until next time...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

Washington State

2014-06-03T23:07:00.001-04:00

We headed west in late April to visit family; Holly's sister and my brother and the respective (and respected) "out-laws" both live less than 30 minutes from each other in beautiful state of Washington. Holly had assisted with a medical emergency on the flight for our recent Costa Rica trip so we received a discount voucher to fly again with Delta. Combining that with an amazing ticket sale, we eagerly snapped up the tickets and arranged the visit. Our youngest is under two and could fly free, so we took her along too.

The morning after arriving, everyone else had plans so I took the morning to morning to walk up into a hill behind where we were staying. Along the way, a marshy area was full of Red-winged Blackbirds wooing mates.

female Red-winged Blackbird

male Red-winged Blackbird

As I walked towards the base of the hill, there were a few black birds in the newly leafed trees. I almost overlooked them assuming by their size and squeaky call that they were just starlings, but good thing I checked closer. With bright yellow eyes and a slight blue and green iridescence, they were a new find and became life bird #195: Brewer's Blackbirds.

Brewer's Blackbird

As I climbed the steep road (I'm sure the grade was about 12 percent or more) a Red-tailed hawk broke the silence with it's falling, piercing call. It circled all around the area and I got quite a few shots. Unfortunately, I had mistakenly kept the shutter speed too low and I forgot to check. I only got a couple salvageable shots.

soaring Red-tailed Hawk

It later perched in a dead snag and watched me for a short while. The cliff between us was too steep and I couldn't find out how much closer it would have allowed me.

Red-tailed Hawk

Soon, a much larger form glided in from the distance and guaranteed that I'd see at least one example of the States' national bird - an adult Bald Eagle. This was soon after my hawk shots and I still hadn't adjusted my camera settings, so I settle for a rather unclear picture of the majestic bird!

Bald Eagle

Near the top of the hill there are a number of beautiful homes and an Anna's Humming bird was zipping around between feeders and flowering bushes. It was way up on a cliff with really bad lighting, but the cropped picture is clear enough to show it's bright purple throat. Another lifer.

Anna's Hummingbird

I wandered around on the uninhabited side of the hill a bit, not seeing much in the uncharacteristically warm 27 deg C (80 deg F) high temp of the day. I sure was enjoying the warm weather, knowing that back home it was a cold, raining week. Here was the view from the hillside.... great!

A typical Washington view.

At the top of the hill, I varied from the recommended route my sister-in-law had given me and found an old dirt lane which seemed to head in the general direction of "home". It wasn't labelled with any signs of any sort so I thought with large camera lens in hand, I could plead the innocence of being a bird nerd if anyone complained about trespassing. The mix of large mature deciduous and coniferous trees shaded and soon I was hearing lots of bird songs I didn't recognize. Unfortunately I saw none of them close enough to find out what they were. Further down the lane, a number of trees were full of Yellow-rumped Warblers. They were very busy feeding on also bugs enjoying the warm weather. Unfortunately, the thick trees meant low light and I couldn't get any good pictures. Even if the birds would perch in a sunlit spot, it would only be for a few seconds, too short to get a picture.

As I made my way down the trail, a vehicle came down the lane and stopped, asking for my reason of being down where I was. The camera proved its worth and seemed to set the two slightly rough looking guys at rest. Actually, the one guy seemed to take an interest, and offered that he knew of a large nest down in the bush, wondering if I'd like to see it. I took him up on the offer and followed them around the bend to where a large, rambling but quite neglected house sat on the hillside completely isolated from everything else. I was told it was about eight apartments, likely housing some less than wealthy folks who called it home. After waiting for my guide to return from the house, he returned with a large machete in hand, casually noting to me that he could understand that I might find it a bit unnerving to have someone, in the middle of "nowhere", offer to take me for a walk into the bush while wielding a machete. But I wasn't too worry, he assured me. And I didn't.

The machete was to cut back the blackberry bushes which smother the hillside. It wasn't really needed though as I followed him along a trail he obviously had traveled lately a number of times. He mentioned that that morning they had been setting up a trail cam in an area on the opposite side of the hill where they had found what they think was Bob Cat scat. That would be amazing to see in the wild!

Sure enough, soon we approached the edge of cliff which was part of an already steep section of the hillside and the objecting cries of two Red-tailed Hawks let us know we were not welcome. In a tree reaching from below the cliff's edge was a large nest. Inside I could see at least one egg, and what I believe were two fluffy white chicks.

Red-tailed Hawk nest with chicks and egg.

We sat in the midst of the brambles and hoped to hide ourselves enough with the hopes that the adults would return to the nest, but we were only fooling ourselves given their amazing eye sight. We enjoyed the sight for a few minutes, and then left them in peace. I'd have loved to stay longer, but the parents were obviously agitated (though we weren't terribly close) and it made me wish I had an instant pop up blind in my pocket to use. Such an amazing viewing angle, and a blind would have been so easy to set up there to allow the adults to return un-alarmed. But I was glad to enjoy the experience!

I thanked my willing friend and continued down the hill, only to be startled by an equally startled mule deer that had been resting in the underbrush right side the lane. However, it didn't take off far, and let me approach quite closely.

Mule Deer

Once I got too close, it moved just into the brush and then stared at me from there. Either it felt safer behind the leaves or had some illusion that I couldn't see it anymore, but I was able to get close enough to get the next picture zoomed all the way back (granted, still at 150mm).

Mule Deer - close.

Soon we both tired of the stare down and we both calmly went separate ways. That was one of my more enjoyable hikes I had.

But I had run out of time as we were supposed to be heading out for a outing with the family. We went to a great lookout where you could see great views of Mount Baker and it was even clear enough to see Mount Rainier in the distance.

Mount Baker

Mount Rainier way in the distance (blue through the afternoon haze)

My beautiful travel-mate!

Bald Eagle

The following days were filled with lots of family visiting and touristy outings - great times! Thanks a lot to both our brother and sister's families for all the things they did with and for us!

One outing was to Deception Pass where we walked along shore of the very calm Pacific Ocean. One of the first sights was of Surf Scoters, albeit at a distance from water's edge. Another bird to add to the list with a not so great picture but still good enough for evidence.

Surf Scoters

As we walked along the stoney beach, a group of younger Thayer's Gulls were preening on a rocky outcrop. Yet another new bird.

Thayer's Gulls

Further along we passed some sandy cliffs and a humming bird was busy meandering through the dangling grasses, roots and leaves from the cliff edge. I'm not sure what it was doing or looking for there. I'm pretty sure it was a female Rufous Hummingbird.

female Rufous Hummingbird

There were lots of Pigeon Guillemots swimming in the fast waters approaching the two big Deception Pass bridges. Again, none were venturing close for a great picture, but you can see clearly enough in the photo below its distinct bright red legs and white eye ring. This bird is from the Puffin family and lives only in the Pacific Ocean.

Pigeon Guillemot

A little further along a female Harlequin Duck was diving and searching for food a lot closer to shore than the other birds. I was able to sneak up between dives for a few pictures before it got uncomfortable with the closeness and moved on.

female Harlequin Duck

On the way back to the car, we were met by a White-crowned Sparrow perched on a piece of driftwood, singing its heart out. It was quite tolerant of me and I could get some nice closeups.

White-crowned Sparrow

It was a great trip out to Washington. We had lots of visiting time with our brother and sister and their families, had a great get-together with all my cousins living in that area, and enjoyed the great hospitality of everyone out there. My only regret is not being able to do an outing with my Uncle Gord who had planned to take me out exploring at a couple great sites. He has a very bad back, and the night before had to cancel because his back had suddenly gone out again. He had hoped to take me to a site where there are approximately 600 heron nests. That would have been a sight to see. Next visit hopefully I can fit that in.

The trip did have a rather sad moment. We visited the Seattle zoo with my brother and sister-in-law and their cute daughter. Holly was taking pictures of their raptor show and handed the camera to me for a turn, with an off hand comment that she wasn't sure, but it didn't seem to be taking pictures any more.... much to my chagrin I confirmed it was so. The shutter was stuck. It had done that a few months back, and at that time a careful but firm bump had reset it. Not to be repeated and we were sans-camera for the rest of the trip. More to come on that in a future post...

Well, I added eight life birds to my list that trip, letting me crack the 200 mark at 202. But more fun was enjoying the visits with the family and seeing their stomping grounds. Who knows when the next visit that way will be, but next time hopefully it will be with all the kids along... I'm know my brother will be pleased with that thought!

Until next time...

Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

A Grand River Trail Walk

2014-05-13T22:46:00.003-04:00

I'm a bit behind, and spring has in fact finally come. But back only about three weeks ago, it was the first Sunday with some warmer weather and I was itching to get out for a spring outing. I headed straight west of St. George and at the end of Blue Lake Road, there is a hydro corridor which needs only a short three minute walk to bring you to the Cambridge-Paris Rail Trail.

Along this path, I spotted the energetic movement of a lone ~~Blue-gray Gnatcatcher~~** Ruby-crowned Kinglet weaving through the buds and catching small bugs. They are hard to capture in picture since they rarely pause to stay still.

** UPDATE
Thanks to Caleb for correcting me... We had a back and forth ID argument :), but he won pointing out the tail on the Blue-gray extends much further past the primary wing feathers).

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

I walked the path in both directions and didn't see a lot of birds. I met an older gentlemen along the way who said he walks this stretch every day and he had the same conclusion for the day. That didn't encourage me much. I headed up the steps to the top of an abutment from a long abandoned railway bridge and scanned the river and surrounding horizon. Out of the corner of my eye, swift movement caught my attention and I turned around just in time to see a Sharp-shinned Hawk land about 30 or so meters away in a large Oak tree. It had some half eaten prey in its grasp which I hoped it would calmly eat there - often hawks will permit you closer when they're distracted by their meal.

Sharp-shinned Hawk with prey.

However, he quickly noticed me and I slowly lifted my camera hoping it would not be spooked. Despite my careful efforts, I was able to get only a few shots before it took off again across to the opposite and upstream side of the river for a more private dining location I assume.

Sharp-shinned Hawk leaving.

Sharp-shinned Hawk departing.

Before turning to head back down to the trail, my ear caught the scolding call of a Kingfisher and I took a distant shot of it across the river.

Belted Kingfisher

I didn't see much else that afternoon, and spent about half of my time chatting with the same older gentleman mentioned earlier. It's interesting the people you meet while out and about. There are so many people who have the impulse to say hi because I'm walking around with the larger than normal lens. Some times I have to admit, I'd rather keep walking and exploring, but it is enjoyable to meet people from so many different walks of life and to hear their stories. Many people have their own exciting bird finds they've made either recently or in the past and its nice to share the memory and show interest in their finds.

Walking back to the car, I was followed by a friendly Chipping Sparrow which had recently arrived from the south replacing the very similar looking American Tree Sparrow which made a very big showing this winter in Southern Ontario. The most of the latter bird have headed north to mate and raise young. The quickest way to tell the difference between the two birds is to note that the Chipping Sparrow has a completely black bill where the American Tree Sparrow's bottom portion is yellow.

Chipping Sparrow

Well, spring is definitely here, and as I write this post, a good old thunderstorm is passing through. The next few days are forecasted to be filled with rain, so I doubt I'll be out birding. But I have some fun stuff to show from a recent trip to the State of Washington, so stay posted for another post.

Till then...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

First Signs of Spring on a Sunday Afternoon

2014-03-29T22:34:00.002-04:00

This past Sunday afternoon my dear wife encouraged me to take the afternoon between church services to enjoy the warmer (relatively) temperatures and head out for a little trip to see what might be stirring in the sunny weather. Compared to the cooler temperatures which seem to be lingering on, it seemed pretty warm, but thankfully I still threw the gloves in the car when I left... the breeze still stole most of the warmth from the sun's rays.

male Downy Woodpecker

I headed first to Jacob's Wood, our local woodlot/park in town to see what might be stirring. I heard the familiar local sounds of the Chickadees, Blue Jays, a Cardinal, and then saw a nice bright male Downy Woodpecker. The crusty but deep snow in the forest was still quite deep and hindered me from following quietly and quickly. But at one point the little bird flew into a dead pine tree right where I was standing. I lost sight of it and was searching all over till I realized it was almost right above me. I couldn't get a good picture, though it would have been a great, full frame shot. Although it knew it was there, it stayed on the opposite side of the branch, taking quick peaks at me. This next picture was the best shot I could get. Then the crusty snow gave way as I shifted and as I fell a good foot through the snow, the little guy startled away.

Downy Woodpecker

As I walked the outer trail loop, I noticed fresh work of a Pileated Woodpecker in a big live Pine tree. Though we're in their usual range, I think they tend to like more secluded woods than this. I've only ever seen one before out here, though briefly as it flew across a roadway as I drove. I'll have to go back and check soon... it would be great if there was a pair taking up residence there, though I won't count on it.

Pileated Woodpecker's work.

Pileated woodpeckers make these holes with an aggressive woodworking that leaves wood chips the size of quarters. With a series of holes like these, they're usually digging for their favourite food - carpenter ants. They actually listen for activity in side the trees and then start their seemingly brain numbing excavation to reach them deep inside.

I left this little forest and headed east of town to a closed road that crosses Fairchild's Creek. I noticed birds drinking and bathing in the snow melt waters running down the eroding old gravel road. It was a large flock of Cedar Waxwings. They were flying between a big stand of old spruces some farmer had planted for a windbreak for the farmhouse years ago, and a large area covered with vines with berries a plenty.

Cedar Waxwings

Cedar Waxwing

A large group of very plump Robins was also enjoying the same opportunity.

American Robin

Another group of House Finches were busy there as well, though they were not feeding on the berries. But the males were heartily singing away with their rambling song.

male House Finch

I finally made it down the Creek which was running fast with the waters of little snow which had managed to melt till then. On the icy edge of the creek's bank was a deer skull, likely the victim of the cold, snowy winter.

Deer skull

Heading back, I heard the familiar scolding of a Red Squirrel. It was nice to hear that sound as an indication of the spring warmth making it active, but also because I've not seen one about our area before. I'm accustomed to seeing them more up north.

Red Squirrel

A little further up the path, an Eastern Chipmunk also chattered at me and then nicely posed for a picture.

Eastern Chipmunk

As I arrived home and warmed up inside in the kitchen, I caught site of another welcome spring sign... a Song Sparrow had joined the crowd at the bird feeder in the back yard. The House Sparrows are also back, being noticeably missing this winter, having been replaced with a large group of regularly visiting American Tree Sparrows. Even today, Juncos are still feeding on the ground - a sign that winter is still not gone? I took a quick shot through the sliding door window instead of going back into what had become a window, cold afternoon as the sun had lost its warming strength.

First Song Sparrow of the season!

Till next time...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

Double Screech

2014-03-23T22:18:00.002-04:00

Anyone who's been following this blog for any length of time will have heard me grumble, well, at least mention more than once that I've not seen a screech owl at two very well known locations. I think pretty much everyone but me that birds in the area has seen both. Well, that might be some sour grapes overstatement in play, but... There is one in a prominent tree down at LaSalle Park, and another in Woodland Cemetery in Aldershot. Over the few years I've been enjoying this hobby, I've stopped numerous times at both locations, trying to coincide my visit with the time of day when the sun would be angled for prime sunning hour. No results.

Recently, I heard a second pair of Screech Owls had been found at Woodland Cemetery***, or at least their nesting spot has been located recently. I had to try again. This time I used one hour of a previous, crazy long night at work to leave the office early and headed off for another try on Friday afternoon. When I got to the location, a few other photographers already setup with camera barrels aimed at the subject made it easy to find the bird that has eluded me for more than two years. I'd like to think I would have found the bird on my own, but the image below is the beautifully camouflaged scene I would have had to have found.

UPDATE
*** A quick note to those using this location information to find these birds, or for those who have already been and plan to return: As most know, these owls are active at night, and need rest during the day to stay healthy. Although enjoying creation is something I'm 100% for, it shouldn't be a selfish pursuit on our part. It was suggested to me (and I was tempted) to take down the location, but it's a trade off between enabling more people to see and enjoy the beauty of God's creation and learning to appreciate these birds, or keeping this information to a small circle of people because a small number will abuse the privilege. So... Please be respectful of the birds and don't do things like playing predator sound tracks or whacking on the tree to wake it up. And don't be embarrassed to calmly encourage others of the same if they aren't following this line of thinking. It seems the other owl pair has been successfully living with its paparazzi following for a number of years now, and if we all use some common sense, hopefully these ones will put on a show year after year as well.

Eastern Screech Owl (grey morph) - Sleeping sentry?

Well, needless to say, I was quite pleased to get to see this beautiful little owl. It didn't seem to mind its little little admiring audience in the slightest, so we all snapped away while sunned in the sunny afternoon warmth. A couple times some activity like walking neighbours with dogs would cause it to partially open its eyes to casually take a peak at the happenings - often only with one eye opened.

Eastern Screech Owl

This grey male is on guard at the nest mouth where its red morph mate is reportedly sitting on eggs as it has not been seen for a few days. The larger female will incubate the eggs the entire time, depending on the smaller but better hunting male to keep it fed. From what I've heard, it seems the female has been out of sight for a little less than a week which means that in about a month, anywhere between two to six owlets will be needing to be fed regularly.

Eastern Screech Owl
(on this shot you can see its bloody beak from its last meal)

I had almost forgotten the original owl location I had previously stopped by so many times before, and decided I'd better walk over and check it out. Well, my day got doubly better... this bird was out well even though it had no no sun rays to soak in. This bird's hideout faces southeast where as its neighbour's faces southwest. The male of this pair is a red morph, again with the opposite morph colour for its mate. Owls' vision is extremely good in low light, but it is at the cost of being unable to see very much colour. So it is likely neither of the two pairs know they're matched up with the opposite colour - not that that is a problem of course!

red morph Eastern Screech Owl
(two years of waiting to see this bird!)

Needless to say, I was pretty excited to finally see these little raptors, and then not just one, but two, and on top of that, see both colours - all in one day! So will the usual trend hold true now? ...the bird you've been trying to see for ages will pop up many more times? Well, I'm not anticipating many other sightings of this species, but hope that when I stop by in the future again (it's just off of my route to and from work) that the general trend will mean I'll be more successful in seeing one of the two pairs again. Seeing some fledglings would be a bonus!

Don't worry, I'll be sure to share the sightings if I'm able to capture them!
Till then...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

Costa Rica - Papagayo

2014-03-16T21:51:00.000-04:00

Continuing on my Costa Rica report, here is the second half of our trip back in January....

After our three night stay in the lush and tropical flora and fauna of La Fortuna, we packed up our rental car and drove the three plus hours to Papagayo with the Occidental Allegro Papagayo Resort as our destination. The drive was great with a gradual change from the large leafed, dense, jungle like foliage to arid and mostly leafless surroundings as we got closer to the coast. By the time we were half way through our trip, the contrast was already obvious. The resort is in an area of Costa Rica which is in dry season in January and most trees have shed their leaves with the lack of rain. The temperature we left in La Fortuna had never gotten above about 23 degrees and we were welcomed with 35 degrees and blue, sunny skies as we got to the all inclusive resort, cut into the steep bank of the volcanic slopes.

We saw a few sights along the way including Cattle Egrets in flight (no really worthwhile pictures), Black Vultures eating some roadkill, and a Coati.

Black Vultures

Coati

When we arrived, the first birds we saw were the very large, and starkly differently shaped Magnificent Frigatebirds. They are huge, and their angular shaped wings are nothing like our Southern Ontario birds. Later I got some good looks and chances for pictures as they circled endlessly over the Ocean bay we were on.

Magnificent Frigatebird

During the next three days, I spent lots of time wandering the beach and enjoying constantly sighting a new bird, sometimes a few at a time as they clustered in the few trees which were flowering or had fruit of some sort. Here is another selection of the birds I saw during our stay here.

Black-headed Trojan

Blue-gray Tanager
(lots around, but never got any better a shot than this)

Brown Booby
(Not quite sure where this bird name came from!)

female Hoffman's Woodpecker

male Hoffman's Woodpecker

Great-tailed Grackle

female Nicaraguan Grackle

Howler Monkeys

Iguana species

Inca Dove

Ringed Kingfisher

a mutant Royal Tern
(note the strange protrusion from the bottom of its beak)

The next bird deserves some introduction... the Rufous-naped Wren. I got up early most mornings to do some birding before meeting Holly for breakfast. This bird was nicely cooperating with the morning light when it turn around, looked down into the underbrush below, and clearly called out . In a flash, another wren flew up to its side, and immediately, obliged to search in the first bird's plumped up feathers and preen it. Both continued this for a few minutes before heading off, possibly for their own breakfast engagement. Did I just witness the morning routine for two birds after just getting out of bed? It was so comical as the first birds call seemed so deliberate, and the response of the second bird so immediate. I do not know of any other bird that does this.

Rufous-naped Wren

Rufous-naped Wrens preening each other

Rufous-naped Wrens preening

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Short-tailed Hawk

Squirrel Cuckoo

Steely-vented Hummingbird

Stripe-headed Sparrow

Snowy Egret and Tri-coloured Heron - fishing buddies.

Snowy Egret

Tri-coloured Heron

Tri-coloured Heron portrait

Tri-coloured Heron with catch

Tri-coloured Heron

Whimbrel

White-faced Monkeys

White-throated Magpie-Jay

White-winged Doves making more doves.

female Connecticut Warbler
(this one took me forever to ID)

Yellow-tailed Oriole

One of the days we headed to another beach for some change of scenery, only about a 15 minute drive away. There a walk resulted in a few more finds.

Great Kiskadee
(these were at the resort too, but my best shot was here)

Brown Pelican
(again, lots at the resort but got my closest shot here)

Little Blue Heron

Orange-fronted Parakeet making more parakeets.

On the same outing, I happened to catch sight of something flitting about, which had a very weird flight pattern; very un-bird like....because it was not a bird, but a bat. I'm not sure if I flushed it from its roost as a pushed through some foilage along the water's edge, but it landed on a big tree up the bank and this is the best shot I could get of it. It seemed bigger than our little brown bats.

A Bat of some sort.

And so ends my posts on the trip we enjoyed to Costa Rica. It was a great trip and we thorougly enjoyed it. Who knows where our 20th anniversary trip will bring us. :) Hopefully there's some new birds to see there.

Again, here is a short summary of the birds which I saw in Papagayo, totalling 35 birds to bring the total I saw in CR to 71 birds. If my numbers are correct I think all but about 3 were life birds! I hope to update my life list soon as it gets a massive bump into the 200's I think.

Magnificent Frigatebird

Brown Booby

Brown Pelican

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Little Blue Heron

Tricolored Heron

Cattle Egret

Osprey

Short-tailed Hawk

Spotted Sandpiper

Willet

Whimbrel

Royal Tern

Inca Dove

Squirrel Cuckoo

Steely-vented Hummingbird

Black-headed Trogon

Ringed Kingfisher

Hoffmann's Woodpecker

Olive-throated Parakeet

Orange-fronted Parakeet

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

White-throated Magpie-Jay

Rufous-naped Wren

White-lored Gnatcatcher

Connecticut Warbler

Blue-gray Tanager

Stripe-headed Sparrow

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Great-tailed Grackle

Nicaraguan Grackle

Yellow-tailed Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

Spring is coming, and I just found out about a third screech owl location.... I know of two other spots where everyone but me has seen the birds. It's not for lack of trying... I've stopped by both locations over the last two years many times, but never seem to see the little owls. I hope adding a third location will increase my chances, especially because this spot has a pair there. Hopefully I have a post to put up with pictures of them soon, but I'm not going to count on it! :)

Till next time...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

Costa Rica - La Fortuna

2014-03-02T15:17:00.001-05:00

The Costa Rica post... now to be two...is finally here. It seems like a long time ago already (actually almost 5 weeks ago now) that Holly and I went to Central America for a delayed 10th anniversary gift to each other. The delay was a pretty good reason - JoyAnna's arrival meant Holly was nursing when we would have gone and so the anticipation for the trip had to last a little longer.

The trip to Costa Rica brought us to two different parts of this beautiful country thanks to my wife's many hours our researching and time on the web finding options. We finally settled on staying just outside of La Fortuna for the first three nights in a small, but more intimate location called Green Lagoon. For reasons we still don't know (but aren't complaining about!), we were upgraded to their fanciest accommodations in a private suite up on a secluded hill. It was quite the place including floor to ceiling glass for the entire perimeter of the two bedroom, dining and sitting area and small kitchen, and washrooms and showers allowing a view over the valley below.

We were located near Arenal Volcano and had the hike of our life up its older brother, an extinct volcano called Chero Chato, the trailhead of which started right from the Green Lagoon. The 2150ft vertical elevation climb resulted in muddy feet and hands, both of which were needed to climb through the misty, lush jungle trail which was constructed up the steep slopes ending in a very short, steep climb down again to a lagoon at the top full of blue-green water. Unfortunately the mist of the cloud we were in didn't allow us the view of the entire lagoon, but still worth the completely unique experience which took a good three and half hour slog.

We also enjoyed some amazing zip-lining, hot-spring soaking, wandering and dining in the small town of La Fortuna. The weather was mostly cloudy and because of our location on the slopes part of Chero Chato and Arenal Volcano, often cloudy and misty with rain coming and going by the minute. Around our private suite on the hill were many flowering bushes and trees which were full of birds. I often wandered around the building and shot pictures in the low light and misting rain - not optimal for picture taking but still enjoyable. In many of the pictures you can see rain in the background, and some of the shots aren't great as they are through the big windows of our "house".

In all, I saw 36 different birds in the La Fortuna area (and our trip from the airport there). Here is a selection of some of them in picture. As I insert the pictures, I'm tempted to add little commentaries about some of them, but this is going to get way too long and actually never get posted. Enjoy.

Dusky-capped Flycatcher in the rain.

Tropical Flycatcher

Bananaquit

Black-striped Sparrow

Brown Jay

Buff-throated Saltator

male Cherrie's Tanager
(formerly called Scarlet-rumped Tanager)

female Cherrie's Tanager

Chestnut-mandibled Toucan

Clay-coloured Robin (Costa Rica's National bird)

Collared Arcaria

Common Paraque

Crested Guan

female Blue-black Grosbeak

Grey-headed Chachalaca and Black-headed Saltator (small bird)

Laughing Falcon

Lineated Woodpecker

(male) White-collared Seedeater (female)

Olive-throated Parakeet

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Tennessee Warbler

Thick-billed Seedfinch

White-crowned Parrot

Here is the list of the 36 birds I saw:

Gray-headed Chachalaca

Crested Guan

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Swallow-tailed Kite

White-winged Dove

Ruddy Ground-Dove

White-tipped Dove

Common Pauraque

White-collared Swift

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Collared Aracari

Keel-billed Toucan

Chestnut-mandibled Toucan

Lineated Woodpecker

White-crowned Parrot

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Great Kiskadee

Tropical Kingbird

Brown Jay

Mangrove Swallow

House Wren

Clay-colored Thrush

Tennessee Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Cherrie's Tanager

White-collared Seedeater

Thick-billed Seed-Finch

Bananaquit

Buff-throated Saltator

Black-headed Saltator

Black-striped Sparrow

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Blue-black Grosbeak

Olive-backed Euphonia

House Sparrow

Next post I'll show pictures of the birds I saw in Pagagayo (northwest on the cost). No promises on how long that post will take to finalize. ;)

Till then...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!

Canvasbacks from WAY Back...

2014-02-12T20:10:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been almost two months since I last posted anything here. Winter can be a great time to enjoy completely different settings and backgrounds for birds; no leaves on the trees sure makes sightings easier and impediments to a good shot less. But this winter has sure cold, meaning heading out with skimpy gloves that still allow operating the camera controls a little less desirable. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about the winter we've had so far - I've loved it. Some of you will have heard me say before, "If we're going to have winter, then let's have it!" I really do dislike the sloppy, brown, snow-melt-snow winter's we've had a lot of lately. I'm quite fine with the bitter cold temperatures we've been having, the wood stove nicely keeping the house toasty with no impact on the non-existent heating bill. And at this point anyway, I still like shoveling.

But back it the middle of December when winter was just getting started, I headed to LaSalle Park in Burlington and finally got to see a bird which had, till that point, eluded me even though I'd see it mentioned on the Hamilton Bird list and miss it when I arrived. There were a few Canvasbacks there and a few cooperated close enough for a few pictures to add lifebird #133.

female Canvasback

Canvasback pair

male Canvasback

female Canvasback

On the trail there, I also got two nice shots of a male and female House Finch.

male House Finch

female House Finch

As I mentioned earlier, I'm hoping to post pictures of our Costa Rica trip soon... a bit of editing and trying to chose the best selection of the pictures I got. Stay posted. :)

Till then...
Keep enjoying HIS handiwork!