Eastern Towhee I find myself backing off on bird photography during this time of mediocre opportunities & bird activity in general. However Steve and I did venture out on Sunday morning. The weather was drizzly with lousy light conditions so we drove to a couple of locations with the hope that the weather might improve ... which it did somewhat, but with minimal bird activity. We did however come across this guy (shown opposite). After a couple of hours the thought of Sunday morning breakfast drew us to a local restaurant and birding was over for the day.
July 13th 2014
Dawn in Algonquin Park After a frustrating week at work I thought that a road trip might be a bit of a pick-me-up, so headed up north late Thursday with a plan to visit Carden Alvar & Algonquin. Friday morning found me along Wylie Road near Kirkfield. Birding in general was mediocre to OK, but I did spot a few interesting subjects, including a Wilson's Snipe, Upland Sandpiper, Black & White Warbler, a ton of Brown Thrashers, Eastern Bluebirds, House Wrens, Eastern Phoebe, Savannah & Grasshopper Sparrows. I had really hoped to get a glimpse of Sedge and/or Marsh Wrens, but it was not to be. Later in the day headed up to Huntsville, with an early start up to Algonquin. Mizzy Lake Trail had some interesting reports the week before, so I thought I would start there (as it turned out I never made it anywhere else). The trail is over 13km long, but had planned only to do a couple of kilometers or so then turn back. As it happened I found I was half way around so continuation was the only logical step (and boy is 13km a long way as I found out carrying a load of gear, with sore feet, shoulders and hips ...). Birding was unspectacular, but I did spot a Spruce Grouse, a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a few sparrow types, and a few warblers that were too quick for me to effect identification. On the upside the scenery was spectacular.
July 6th 2014
Not much to report this weekend. With the hot weather the birds are not moving much, so they are really hard to spot. Still, as always, it's great to get out into the countryside, you never know what might show up .. like this Female Coyote.
July 1st 2014
Common Yellowthroat Officially on holiday for Canada Day, but work commitment meant that I had to buzz down to Dundas to a job site for a couple of hours ... so on the way down detoured around by Beverley Swamp to check things out. Weather was breezy and muggy warm (23C at 7:00). In the two hours I spent in that area very little was stirring - a few flybys, but too quick and too far away for ID. It seems that the summer lull is here, so songbirds in general will be hard to find for the next couple of months. However at the base of Westover Road I found a Common Yellowthroat with a juvenile that cooperated for five minutes or so. The Flycatcher is an Eastern Wood Pewee and was also taken here but the other pics were taken around the ever popular Grass Lake.
Lots of flowering "weeds" & flowers around ....
