November 28th & 29th 2022
28th: Steve and I headed up to the Luther Marsh area, generally working our way along the road just north of the park, but ended up trying out a few other roads, looking for Winter Finches and/or Bohemian Waxwings. However it was a bit of a non event as the only birds we managed a few shots off were the Cedar Waxwings and a very nice Merlin, which gave us some nice shots. 29th: Today I stuck around home and then a short run out to the Grass Lake area. Grass Lake had a few Sandhill Cranes. The Coopers Hawk was through my dining room window ... Tip of the Day: At this time of year and until into March, when driving around look for small flocks of birds flying around and perched at the top of trees. Winter finches are known to do just that. The good part is that in the winter the trees are bare, so spotting those perched birds is so much easier. November 24th & 25th 2022
Nov 24th: Checked out the Grand Allee trail for the Harris's Sparrow, but although it was being seen, I was unable to catch a glimpse. Lots of Fox Sparrows still around, but the prize today was getting a shot of the Northern Mockingbird that hangs out in that area. Nov 25th: Forecast was initially calling for rain, but when I checked the forecast this morning it had changed to cloudy and mild, so perfect (almost) weather for images (soft shadows and no highlights). Started of along Alps Road and ended up at the FWR Dickson Trail. I saw almost zero before getting to FWR, and I was surprised to see that the parking lot was empty, so even better :). The usual fellas were there - Tufted Titmouse, Tree Sparrows, Nuthatches, Red-belly Woodpecker, Winter Wren etc etc. Tip of the Day: Protect your binoculars and camera from the snow as excessive moisture can ruin even the best equipment. November 23rd 2022
I got up this morning and during my morning coffee I checked out the Rare Bird report for this part of Ontario. There was a sighting yesterday of a Bohemian Waxwing at Luther Marsh, so I headed up on impulse, to check it out. Around this time of year we start to get sightings of a few other excellent birds in that area so I was quite pumped as to what I might find. I did find the Bohemians which was a flock of about 25 or so, with a couple of Cedar Waxwings in the mix as well. During my hunt I also picked up Common Redpoll on Merlin, but never saw one, which would have been real nice :( Further along and a bit later I came across a Northern Shrike, but he was a tad skittish, so I never got very close, but I was pretty happy withy the find/shots anyway :) November 22nd 2022
Initially our target was the reported White-eyed Vireo that was being seen next to the WWTP on the south side of Guelph, but today ... no sign of it. We did see the mink though Headed from there over to Whistlebare Road looking for the Harris's Sparrow, but although it was being seen through the day, we never got a glimpse .. such is life I suppose. On the plus side we saw at least 6 different Fox Sparrows that were foraging together. Word has it that there was actually 7 of them ... incredible !! November 20th 2022
For the past several days there had been a Harris's Sparrow hanging out the trail entrance to RARE Charitable Research Reserve - Grand Allee Trail. Over the same time period I have made several visits with virtually zero luck, but this morning I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and managed a few shots of this rarity. The shots I managed were not top notch, but I was still very pleased with the results - not my first Harris's but awesome nevertheless :) Tip of the Day: One of the most challenging aspects of winter wildlife photography is keeping yourself and your photography gear safe in the sometimes hostile conditions of winter. Wildlife photography is often a waiting game, and while it’s relatively easy to stay warm while on the move, having the correct layers and gear are critical to staying comfortable and safe while waiting for just the right moment, so dress warm as well as, and most importantly, wear good gloves. ** As always ... click on any image to show full size. Also by hovering your cursor over any image will provide a title November 17th & 18th 2022
The gift that keeps on giving ... FWR Dickson has a few nice birds that seem to always show up, when one is there, so we keep on going., and of course we keep hoping for something a little more interesting or unusual, by WTH .. what we get is pretty good. November 12th 2022
Headed back down to FWR this morning. Mainly because there are a few birds around there and based on Merlin, a chance of a few more interesting species .. eg Red Crossbill, Evening Grosbeak etc etc. Today I saw Cedar Waxwings, Winter Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Fox Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, both Nuthatches, Song Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Juncos, and a few others. November 11th 2022
.. working on it :) November 9th 2022
I read recently one of the reasons bird watching is so important to an individual, is because "it is somewhat of mindless relaxation. In an age of technocratic utilitarianism a man needs as much purposeless activity as he can find." Anyways today I didn't venture too far - I checked out one of the back roads just outside the city and was delighted to find a Brown Creeper that danced around for 10 minutes or so and gave me lots of shots. Tip of the Day: Yesterday I found myself a good distance along a trail, and then realized that my camera battery had died, so todays tip is to, either make sure you have spare batteries with you or at least, check before leaving, that you have enough battery power to last the day. November 7th 2022
I spent most of the morning off and on, at the FWR Dickson Wilderness Area (again). It is hard to resist as there is quite a few good birds being seen there most days .. Yesterday it was reported that even a Red Crossbill was sighted there, that on top of the White-winged Crossbill the other day, and of course almost daily Evening Grosbeaks are sighted, so the area is hard to resist. Today a few Evening Grosbeaks popped up, as well as the Fox Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Towhee and lots of the usual. ** As always ... click on any image to show full size. Also by hovering your cursor over any image will provide a title November 5th - 6th 2022
Over the last couple of days I have taken a walk into the Dickson trail, and specifically along the boardwalk there. Lots of birds popping back and forward to the seed left along the boardwalk railing, and lots of decent opportunities as these well publicized and decent birds pop out occasionally. Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Fox Sparrow, Pileated Woodpecker, Tree Sparrows, Nuthatches, Winter Wren and a few others are quite common. It's a popular place right now, and I have been very happy bumping into some familiar faces. Tip of the Day: Once you get to a spot while out on a trail or parked beside the road or ?? - Take note of your surroundings and be aware of some good perches that are in range of your shots. If there doesn't seem to be anything interesting then adjust your location so that perches are better. Pre-focus on those perches and then be ready .. November 1st 2022
This morning I was looking at the Rare Bird Alert for this area and noticed that a Tufted Titmouse had been spotted at FWR yesterday, so this being a bird I always love to photograph, I headed over to this location and walked around the trails hoping to spot it. Thanks to Merlin (my hearing is very poor, so I rely heavily these days on the Merlin App) I picked up the call at the north end of the Park, and after hanging about for a half hour or so he popped into the open for a few seconds, and I was able to grab a couple of shots. October 29th - 31st 2022
American Pipits have been in the area for a week or two now, but so far I had been unable to locate any. Day 1 here I was fortunate to have a small flock pop up near the road and so I managed a few shots through the open window of my vehicle. Tip of the Day: Unlike that mad rush in Spring to nest, wild birds have varying calendars for Fall Migration. With the longer, drawn-out timetable, backyard birders have quite often great opportunities to catch sight of some unusual backyard bird visitors at your bird feeders and bird baths, so keep checking, and good luck. October 22nd - 28th 2022
As you can see from the lack of images below, things were a tad quiet over the last several days. The highlight I suppose was the "first-of-season" (FOS) of a Rusty Blackbird. I can only hope that things will pickup in the next few days. October 20th & 21st 2022
On Day1 I started off at first decent light at a back road near where I live, and saw several decent birds - Kinglets, Grackles and Hermit Thrushes. After getting a few shots I headed back home to my home set up to see what was visiting the feeders. Nothing too exciting other than the Red-bellied Woodpecker that hung around for an hour back and forward, so I was able to get a couple of nice shots. On Day2 the feeders were much less visited, but I did have a male Purple Finch drop by a couple of times, and of course I wasn't ready either time, so other than a couple of crap shots I didn't get anything that made the cut. Tip of the Day: One of the best places to work on your photographic skills, capture lots of action, and build a nice portfolio of passerine subjects is right in your own backyard. Before setting up your bird feeders, spend a few days paying attention to the light in your yard. What does it look like in the morning versus the afternoon? How about when it is cloudy versus sunny? Decide the locations of your feeders based on the type of light you envision shooting in, and note the direction you’ll face and time of day it occurs, and happy hunting :) October 19th 2022
One of the things I like about this time of year is the ability to set up a few feeder, lay out a few perches, and shoot some of the local birds. I know they are mostly common or garden birds, but still fun to shoot, and in a controlled environment. October 18th 2022
October 17th 2022
On impulse I headed down towards Rondeau, with the intent to cruse some of the back roads close to the lake, and not actually visit the Park per-say. I had read that on some birding reports there was a Townshend Warbler sighted the day before, in the Park, so eventually I succumbed and later in the morning drove into the Park. However prior to visiting the Park I had a lots of sightings but unfortunately they were almost all either Yellow rumps or Kinglets, both of which I wasn't really looking for. During my Park visit I drove around close to where the Townshend had been seen the day before, but I didn't see it, but I did have a sighting that had me very excited, thinking it might have been the rarity, but it was only a Nashville, and I didn't even get a shot of that .. It was that kinda day. Tip of the Day: It's all about colours, especially in Fall the leaves will give strong and powerful colors, from yellow to red or brown, those colors give you a nice background and will provide a beautiful touch to your wildlife shots. So when trying to take a great wildlife shot in autumn, always look for tree backgrounds that have colorful leaves. October 11th & 12th 2022
Migrants are getting harder to find, but nice to see a few winter visitors. October 10th 2022
Sometimes you think .. what I need to do is go on a short road trip and get some new birds. This morning I headed up between Durham and Owen Sound and unfortunately there wasn't too many new birds, but there was one !! A Winter Wren, and bonus!! .. he posed nice. October 9th 2022
Around this time of the year we start seeing American Pipits and one of the better places I found to look is in and around W.W. Airport, so headed up on that quest. However they were either nine around or staying well hidden. On the plus side I found a Vesper Sparrow, so it was an excellent consolation. A Hermit also was hanging around at one spot, and it must have one of the most cooperative I have ever had, so all in all ... a decent day. Tip of the Day: Large concentrations of grounded birds known as “fallouts” may occur when rain, fog, or low overcast conditions interrupt their flights. Birds can get stressed or disoriented trying to fly in such conditions, so keep a lookout October 5th 2022
The nice thing about this time of year, is that, although there still a lot of songbirds around, you don't have to get up too early to "chase" them. I find myself, for a local jaunt, not leaving the house until almost 8:00am .. I like :) This morning I took the new route I have been following for the last couple of weeks, and it still produces, although I have to admit sightings are somewhat down from a week ago. Kinglets (both species) still predominate as well as Yellow-rumps, but there is the oddball in there too. Merlin certainly helps to locate things ... what did I do before Merlin (for someone like me, with very bad hearing, its been a godsend) ** As always ... click on any image to show full size. Also by hovering your cursor over any image will provide a title October 2nd & 3rd 2022
Migrants have noticeably gone a little quieter. Over the last week I have seen wa...aay fewer Warblers, and almost no Vireos, but I am seeing a huge influx of White-throated Sparrows and lots of Kinglets (both kinds). It's that time of year I suppose, so we shoot what we can find nonetheless. Over the last two days I have headed to a few back roads that I kinda like and yes still some activity but .... The one bird I have been trying to find, and they are being seen around, is eluding me. I have used Merlin (I have bad hearing) and it is picking up the one , but so far .. nada!! - Rusty Blackbird :) Tip of the Day: Look for opportunities with even the most common of birds, It's not the rarity of the bird that makes a great shot - it's the rarity of the shot that makes a great image October 1st 2022
later .. September 30th 2022
Yesterday was a great day, so as you can image I was keen to do some more exploring in the same general area. IT was also good, but with different show of birds. My target was Golden-crowned Kinglet and Hermit Thrush, and I had both within the first hour, so it was yet another good day. The surprising finds were an Easter Towhee I saw and photographed, but Merlin was also picking up some surprising "goodies" ... Yellow Warbler, Brown Creeper, Dark-eyed Junco and Fox Sparrow. Now I wasn't fortunate enough to see any of these but it would have been a great, great day if I had :) September 29th 2022
I did a bit of back road cruising not too far from where I normally go in North Dumfries and a really good morning. I ended up on a gravel dead-end road that I had never been along before and almost immediately I am seeing a flock of Cedar Waxwings. When I look closer there are a few yellow-rumped mixed in and for the next hour I am shooting them both - they never ventured far from the one tree, - funny ... sometimes they just want there picture taken it seems <wink> September 28th 2022
I have had better days, but the Coopers Hawk was the icing on todays cake :) September 27th 2022
September 26th 2022
Headed down to Valley Inn in Burlington first thing, with no real plan other than see what king of shorebirds were still hanging around, but when we go there there was no sign of any shorebirds whatsoever, but there were lots of Great Egrets - In one pockets we counted around 70 and in another pocket further out, we counted around 20. Quite a spectacle. The image directly below this text gives you an idea what we saw. This was a photo from my mobile. A few other birds around and I suppose the highlight for me was the Black-crowned Night Heron, which was a first of season for me, and in fact there were 4 of these hanging around together.  September 23rd & 24th 2022
Well as you can see from the image collection below there were no songbirds to speak of, or any interesting birds of any sort, really. However you take what you can get, and its not the rarity of the bird that makes a great bird image. One thing ... most of these birds should have gone by now, but at Riverside they are being fed, so this will delay their migration, which isn't a good thing. September 22nd 2022
After a little research, and with the word that maybe this spot might be good for some songbird migrants, I headed down to a spot which was essentially a gravel road, but although my info was good that there might be some Warblers, they were for the most part not reactive one little bit, so the images were not to be had. September 21st 2022
September 18th & 20th 2022
Back again doing my rounds in North Dumfries. It gets a bit repetitive, but when it has been working for me, then why not. Funnily enough a spot I always check out, and which for years at this time of year, has been very productive (the gate) has this year been very non-productive.... oh well !! After checking out the bird spots I went around the gravel road near the cement works, on the hunt for some bugs to shoot . They are not as plentiful as they had been a few weeks ago, but around the middle of the day I usually find something. September 17th 2022
I dropped by a couple of my favorite spots in North Dumfries with 804 being the first port, and it was surprisingly birdy with several species showing up, but the highlights were most definitely the Blue-headed Vireo and the Blackpoll Warbler. Other species seen and not photographed were Red-eyed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, American Redstart, Scarlet Tanager and Blackburnian Warbler, It was a good migration night with lots of activity including a huge quantities of Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and Blue Jays. Tip of the Day: Fall is the biggest season for vagrant bird sightings, and mixed fall flocks may yield surprising and unexpected guests. Browse through flocks carefully, noting birds of significantly different sizes, colors, or shapes to check against local vagrants or rare migration visitors. Even if no extremely rare birds may be present, you may be astonished at how many species make up a flock that otherwise appeared uniform. September 16th 2022
First stop, as usual, is Valley Inn to see if there are any interesting shorebirds. Unfortunately there was not too much around, so it would seem as there was an overnight outgoing migration happened. There were still a few Lesser Yellowlegs around, but not near the quantity that had been there. A few Semipalmated Sandpipers were in quite close, so for shorebirds that was the main subject. On the plus side of things, there were a couple of Cormorants actively fishing around the lilypads close to shore, and I was fortunate to catch a couple of great moments.. Before heading home I headed into the cemetery to see if there were any warblers, but it was a little dry there too, with only a brief glimpse of a Black-throated Green Warbler, but not shortage Chickadees though - they were everywhere!! September 13th 2022
Weather forecast for the upcoming days was lots of pure sun, as I have mentioned in the past this my least favorite kind of weather for bird photography, because of the deep shadows and bright highlights. The 13th was showing lots of cloud and some light rain so for a day down by the lake I thought this might be the better option. Unfortunately the rain was seemingly endless for most of the morning ... oh well :) On the plus side we found a coupe of decent birds, with the Blue-winged the first to show up. Later on we came across a small group of Warblers, which were mainly Bay-breasted, but there was a t least one Blackpoll in the mix. See tip below: Tip of the Day: Todays tip is about how to determine whether your Fall sighting is a Bay-breasted Warbler or a Blackpoll Warbler. Visually they both look strikingly similar, but the best way to determine which one is to look at the feet. Bay-breasted have black or grey legs and feet, but the Blackpoll will have some yellow on the legs and feet. The two images directly below show these distinctions. September 12th 2022
Not too many birds around, but it was a real nice surprise to see and photograph the Ovenbird. Almost as soon as I got to my spot, the Ovenbird popped up and gave me a couple of decent views. September 9th 2022
Tip of the Day: It is all about colours, especially in the Fall. Leaves will give strong and powerful colors, from yellow to red or brown, those colors can give you a nice background and will provide a beautiful touch to your birding shots. So look for trees that have colorful leaves, and happy shooting. September 8th 2022
Tip of the Day: Look for a great background, which is one of the keys to an excellent warbler photo. You want a background that is not too close to the bird so that the bird will stand out from the environment and create a pleasing bokeh. September 7th 2022
Always a challenge about where to go looking for birds at this time of year, but as a couple of friends were heading down to Valley Inn in Burlington, then why not ? One of the crazy things about Valley Inn is that it is immensely popular, so getting a parking spot can be a bigger problem than finding some interesting birds, and today was no exception. Along the mud flats there were a few different birds .. Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plovers, Least Sandpipers, Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Ospreys but mainly Lesser Yellowlegs. The good thing about the Yellowlegs they were quite oblivious to the lineups of photographers, so getting some decent shots was not too difficult. Tip of the Day: In general, birds prefer to migrate when weather is warmer than usual and free of precipitation, with moderate tailwinds of less than 25 mph, so keep an eye on weather forecasts. September 6th 2022
.... later September 5th 2022
September 2nd 2022
September 1st 2022
Up along the ridge above Valley Inn can be really good for fall migrating songbirds, and today was no exception. At one point, and in the one tree I could count approximately 20 birds, and possibly more. There was a lot of Red-eyed Vireos, bit also several other species including the ones below. The harsh sun was not very good for the photography, but you have to take what you can get, and when you can get it. Tip of the Day: During migration, many birds including warblers, migrate at night Under the cover of darkness, they face less risks of getting caught by predators. But after a long night of flying, they’re hungry and need to refuel on a breakfast of bugs. Your best opportunity to see them in good numbers is early morning, after sunrise, when the sun has begun to warm the trees and all the bugs hiding there |
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Blog AuthorPretty much all my life I have had an interest in nature photography albeit in, off and on, phases of interest. Around 13/14 years ago, I found myself, again, getting that nature bug, and I am now, especially since I retired just over 6 years ago, very passionate about wildlife & wildlife photography. Archives
November 2022
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