October 29th - 31st 2022
| LOCATION: Mainly North Dumfries (Egret nr Brantford) | WEATHER: Sunny, but some cloud and fairly mild |
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
| LOCATION: Close to and in Kitchener | WEATHER: Varied, but mainly sunny and very mild |
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
| LOCATION: At home in Kitchener & other close areas | WEATHER: varied between sun and cloud |
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.
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
| LOCATION: Close to home in Kitchener | WEATHER: Bright in the AM, then a bit of rain PM |
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
| LOCATION: At home in Kitchener | WEATHER: Intermittent rain all day |
| Forecast was poor, with on and off rain forecast for most of the day, so it was a day for shooting close to home, and what's closer to home than my back yard. A few days ago I bought some new bird feeders, so I stocked them up, and set up some perches adjacent to the feeders. I setup my tripod inside my patio doors in my dining room and hung around waited for some decent photo opportunities. It is not the best arrangement but the glass was reasonably clean, and I also positioned my equipment in a way to avoid inner reflections, so all in all it worked out pretty good. On the down side I don't really get anything too exciting visiting my feeders. A few Warblers would have been nice, but historically its almost unheard off at my place. |  Chipping Sparrow |
October 17th 2022
| LOCATION: Close to Rondeau Provincial Park | WEATHER: Mix, but mainly cloudy |
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.
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
| LOCATION: In and around Kitchener | WEATHER: 11th Sunny and 12th Cloudy |
Migrants are getting harder to find, but nice to see a few winter visitors.
October 10th 2022
| LOCATION: Grey County near Durham | WEATHER: mix sun and cloud |
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
| LOCATION: Waterloo Wellington Airport | WEATHER: Mainly sunny, but cooler |
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
| LOCATION: North Dumfries | WEATHER: Mainly sunny, and quite hot |
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)
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
| LOCATION: Kitchener & North Dumfries | WEATHER: Too much sun for me :( |
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 :)
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
| LOCATION: North Dumfries | WEATHER: Cloudy start then a little sun |
later ..
