Another fine morning ... but a tad warm at 21C at 6:00am. Left my driveway at 6:15 with no real plan, but headed east up the 401 anyways. Snap decision to hit Mountsberg Reservoir turned out be a pretty good one - Redstarts and Yellow Warblers were pretty active. From here headed up into the Milton Forest area, but had minimal success although a Chestnut-sided Warbler made an appearance at the Badenoch Tract. After about 10:00am, with temperatures closing in on 30C, everything seemed to shut down, so gave it up for the day.Y
June 28th 2014
Scarlet Tanager Long weekend woohoo!
Still a bit sore from the surgery, but needed to get out, so chose to stay fairly close to home - Alps Road, which is only 15mins from the house. It was a beautiful cloudless morning and when I got there I could hear birds singing everywhere including what turned out be a Scarlet Tanager. Also spotted and photographed a Red-eyed Vireo and Indigo Bunting. A stunning Coopers Hawk swooped in, possibly attracted to all the bird song thereabouts, and landed in a tree close by, but I wasn't quick enough to get a picture .. next time. From here I went over to Grass Lake to check things out. I sat by the swamp just before Grass Lake for a while photographing misc birds, but was surprised to see a Black-billed Cuckoo fly past, and of course I was too stunned to get a shot. Other notable captures below
Still a bit sore from the surgery, but needed to get out, so chose to stay fairly close to home - Alps Road, which is only 15mins from the house. It was a beautiful cloudless morning and when I got there I could hear birds singing everywhere including what turned out be a Scarlet Tanager. Also spotted and photographed a Red-eyed Vireo and Indigo Bunting. A stunning Coopers Hawk swooped in, possibly attracted to all the bird song thereabouts, and landed in a tree close by, but I wasn't quick enough to get a picture .. next time. From here I went over to Grass Lake to check things out. I sat by the swamp just before Grass Lake for a while photographing misc birds, but was surprised to see a Black-billed Cuckoo fly past, and of course I was too stunned to get a shot. Other notable captures below
June 21st 2014
Indigo Bunting Read a sightings report for a Hooded Warbler on Alps Road, just outside Cambridge, so went to see if could find it. My wish list for today was the Hooded Warbler, Indigo Bunting & Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Lucked out on the Indigo at Sudden Tract just off Alps Road, but the others were not seen. As I turned on the Alps Road I spotted a Brown Thrasher with a beakfull of Caterpillars, so before I went home I went back that location, to see if I could grab a pic or two. I also spotted a sparrow, that I'm inclined to think it's a Fox Sparrow, but I'll need more info for a positive ID.
June 15th 2014
Yellow Warbler I had a small surgical procedure on Tuesday and still a bit sore, so technique this weekend was to head out somewhere fairly close, so yet again, I headed out to Beverly Swamp ... but probably my last time for a while, it's definitely quieting down. I did get a couple of reasonable shots - like this Yellow Warbler that was singing his little heart out. So I basically parked myself fairly close to my vehicle at a spot I was pretty sure would be productive - camera on a tripod ... and waited. Other than the Yellow Warbler I spotted several Common Yellowthroats, Song Sparrow, Kingbirds, Heron. A racoon trotted by fairly close as did a White-tailed Deer. I had an old dead tree fall not 100 feet from where I was standing ... gave me quite a fright - this tree crashing through other trees as gravity took over.
June 14th 2014
American Goldfinch You know Birding can be a lot like fishing., as I think of an old fishing saying "Going fishing is not about catching fish ... it's about going fishing!" That little "gem" popped into my head today when I was out at Beverley Swamp, during a lull in the bird activity. (you tend to do a lot of thinking/meditating when waiting for photo ops) Snapping Turtles were out in force, trying to, and as far as I could see, successfully, lay their eggs at the side of gravel roads ... I spotted 3 turtles and the disturbed gravel of what was obviously nest sites at about 7 or 8 locations. Snappers are not God's prettiest creatures, that's for sure! Yes, it was a tad quiet today but managed to snap a few goldfinches, an American Redstart and a Chipping Sparrow (with lunch). Other unphotographed sightings were ... Belted Kingfisher, Blue Heron, Grackles, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Flickers, Orioles and lots of Cedar Waxwings.
Looking on line I came across an interesting Bird ID book, after reading a review somewhere, so sucker as I am for Field guides I placed an order on Amazon, and two days later it arrived ... The Crossley Guide (Eastern Birds). It's pretty good, but it's going to take some practice getting used to it.
Looking on line I came across an interesting Bird ID book, after reading a review somewhere, so sucker as I am for Field guides I placed an order on Amazon, and two days later it arrived ... The Crossley Guide (Eastern Birds). It's pretty good, but it's going to take some practice getting used to it.
June 8th 2014
Like yesterday (Saturday) I had limited time, but with the weekend weather being so nice, I couldn't resist going back out. Again, with only a couple of hours available, I headed back to Beverley Swamp and this time I also took in both sides of the Swamp (Safari Road). Sightings were sketchy but I did see an Eastern Towhee (opposite), several Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a couple of Common Yellowthroats, 3 or 4 Red-eyed Vireos, Cedar Waxwings, Northern Flicker. Spoke to a couple of birders who were trying to locate White-eyed and Yellow Headed Vireos, which, I was not aware, are nesters in and around the swamp. The Luna Moth was taken later in the day at, Westfield Heritage Village
June 7th 2014
Eastern Kingbird Saturday morning of a gorgeous day. With only a couple of hours available to me I did a quick visit to Mounstsberg Reservoir, then over to Beverley Swamp. At Mountsberg I was able to spot, and in some cases, photograph Kingbird, Yellow Warbler, House Wren, American Redstart, Catbird, Tree Swallow, Cedar Waxwing, Song Sparrow, Warbling Vireo & Baltimore Oriole plus, of course, RW Blackbird, Grackle & Robins. Funny thing ... I haven't seen Waxwings since the Winter and all of a sudden, in the last week, I'm seeing them everywhere, Strange!! From there headed down to the Beverley Swamp (my first trip there this spring). Managed to spot Common Yellowthroats, Kingbirds, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Heron, an unknown Flycatcher (I have a back shot only) and more Cedar Waxwings. I also spotted what I believe was an American Woodcock, but trying to ID through the long grass was a challenge. A few other birders were scouting the same area during my visit.
