American Kestrel A few weeks ago I signed up for a Bird of Prey Photo Workshop which was held at the Mountsberg Conservation Area today Sunday 27th. Quite a cool morning (but warmed up significantly later) but the light was as good as it could be so the shots turned out pretty good, at least I think so.
April 26th 2014
Savannah Sparrow Weather a little cool, but generally dry after an early morning shower so headed out to Grass Lake to check out the likely sightings - Savannah Sparrows, Sandhill Cranes, Eastern Bluebirds, Horned Larks, Eastern Meadowlarks and hopefully an early Bobolink or two. Came up short on the Bluebirds and the Bobolinks, but the remaining I was able to spot. I also spotted a Brown Thrasher, but he avoided getting his portrait taken. My big find was a Swamp Sparrow on a trail near the Lake.
April 20th 2014
Eastern Bluebird (male) Easter being a long weekend meant that I was able to squeeze in a few more hours "chasing" birds. Generally, I was not too disappointed with a few 2014 firsts of the year (notably the Towhee & Thrashers). Friday & Saturday I only managed a couple of hours total, but was able to get out for the best part of the day on Easter Sunday, Fri/Sat was around KW, but on Sunday I made my last visit, with forecast of mild-warm temperatures, to Long Point, which is likely my last trip there for the next little while. I photographed this very cute male Bluebird at Christie Lake, and the pair of Red-tailed Hawks near Blair. The rest of the images were taken around the Long Point area. Other notables from Sunday that I spotted, but not photographed, were an Eastern Towhee, Brown Thrashers, Field Sparrow, Barn Swallow, and a pair of very loud honking Sandhill Cranes that passed overhead.
April 12th 2014
Inlet near Long Point Saturday: Steve & headed down (again) to Long Point and (again) we had a pretty good day. We arrived just as the light was getting to where we wanted it. Couldn't resist taking a shot of one of the many inlets (opposite). Notable was the number of Brown Creepers we encountered.. saw as many in an hour as I have in my life previous - they seem to be on every tree trunk. Golden-crowned Kinglets were also prolific, but almost no Ruby-crowned. Spotted, but not photographed were a few Flickers, Hermit Thrush, Phoebe's, as well as a few of the regulars.
Sunday: I went on another forage to the Arboretum in Guelph, Blair for the Bald Eagles and Grass Lake to check up on the Sandhill Cranes. Other sightings were Pileated Woodpecker, Pine Warbler (my first warbler of the season), Bluebirds and a few more Kinglets. BTW this was my 1st weekend with the new 5D3, and I like it!!
Sunday: I went on another forage to the Arboretum in Guelph, Blair for the Bald Eagles and Grass Lake to check up on the Sandhill Cranes. Other sightings were Pileated Woodpecker, Pine Warbler (my first warbler of the season), Bluebirds and a few more Kinglets. BTW this was my 1st weekend with the new 5D3, and I like it!!
April 6th 2014
Tree Swallow "One Swallow does not a summer make", but it certainly brightened up my spring. This Tree Swallow was spotted at Port Rowan Sewage Lagoons today by Steve Lindsay & myself ... 1st of the year! this one plus a few more.... Weather was truly the 1st day of spring with temps in and around 12 degrees .. jacket was off !!
Steve & I did the run around the Long Point standards .. Sewage Lagoons, Bird Studies HQ, Long Point Banding Station at Old Cut, as well as some stops at various marshes. Our highlights were Golden crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Carolina Wren. Other than that .. Song Sparrows, Cardinals, Sandhill Cranes, Bald eagle, RWB's and a few more I have probably forgotten. (have to start using a notebook). One thing that was notable, that down at Old Cut the place was alive with bird song.
On the way back we detoured around by the Raptor Preserve in Haldimand County (hoping to see Owls or Hawks, but nothing), then Grass Lake to check up on the Sandhill Cranes .. could see a few .. but off in the distance, then finally Blair to check out our local "celebrities" : Bald Eagles & Ospreys. Others that were spotted, but not photographed were Brown-headed Cowbirds, Killdeers, Northern Harrier, House Finch, Black-crowned Night Heron, etc. Truly a good day!!
BTW .. hope you like my new blog addition with the live Bird trax (local birding reports, live up to the minute observations)
Steve & I did the run around the Long Point standards .. Sewage Lagoons, Bird Studies HQ, Long Point Banding Station at Old Cut, as well as some stops at various marshes. Our highlights were Golden crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Carolina Wren. Other than that .. Song Sparrows, Cardinals, Sandhill Cranes, Bald eagle, RWB's and a few more I have probably forgotten. (have to start using a notebook). One thing that was notable, that down at Old Cut the place was alive with bird song.
On the way back we detoured around by the Raptor Preserve in Haldimand County (hoping to see Owls or Hawks, but nothing), then Grass Lake to check up on the Sandhill Cranes .. could see a few .. but off in the distance, then finally Blair to check out our local "celebrities" : Bald Eagles & Ospreys. Others that were spotted, but not photographed were Brown-headed Cowbirds, Killdeers, Northern Harrier, House Finch, Black-crowned Night Heron, etc. Truly a good day!!
BTW .. hope you like my new blog addition with the live Bird trax (local birding reports, live up to the minute observations)
