Kitchener Waterloo & Area Birding: Blog commentary on my, (Bill McDonald) birding and wildlife sightings & observations
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FEBRUARY 2023

31/1/2023

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February 28th 2023

LOCATION: FWR Dickson .. again!
WEATHER: Cloudy, but mild (ish)
After yesterdays snow storm I thought that there might be some decent perching bird images possible on a snowy perch here at Dickson, but sadly the branches were clear of snow mostly, but still nice to see the regulars hanging out .. especially the Tufted Titmouse and the Rusty's. 

February 27th 2023

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Cloudy and chilly (-7C)
Because of some pretty serios computer issues, again, I haven't been out much over the last week. Hopefully after buying a new computer and reinstalling software, I should be trouble free going forward (I hope).
Today I went to FWR Dickson and around the back roads in the same area, and it turned out not too bad with a couple of decent shots in the can.

February 18th - 20th 2023

LOCATION: 18th - North Dumfries 20th - Burlington
WEATHER:  Sunny both days and quite mild
Again ... nothing too exciting around, but nice to see an early spring arrival ... the Red-winged Blackbird.
​**  As always ... click on any image to show full size. Also by hovering your cursor over any image will provide a title

February 12th -16th 2023

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Dry, sun and cloud
I have been having some computer issues over the last few days, so I have fallen behind with my posts. However it seems to past me now, so I think I can return to normal .. maybe :).
I spent a little time cruising the back roads around North Dumfries and also at FWR Dickson. Birds are getting harder to find that's for sure as I think many of our winter "visitors" are starting to drift north, and our spring arrivals are still in transit .. so to speak. There is a Bald Eagle pair in the area, and it looks like they are sitting on eggs, so one to keep an eye on, I think.

February 11th 2023

LOCATION: FWR Dickson, North Dumfries
WEATHER:  Mainly cloudy, and chilly
This location has been the gift that keeps on giving now for a couple of months, and with not too many other spots where you can be sure of getting in a few clicks, I headed there this morning primarily for a chance at a few shots of one of the Rusty Blackbirds that have been frequenting the boardwalk. After about an hour I gave up and headed back to the car, and on the way back 3 or 4 Rustys popped up ... my lucky day :)
Tip of the Day: Maybe you’ve heard of “golden hour.” It’s the time of day just after the sun starts to rise and just before it sets when the daylight is softer than it is the rest of the day. Photos were taken when the sun was high in the sky and often had harsh shadows or came out very dark. Even the best photographers will struggle to produce excellent images at high noon, instead opting for the soft, golden light. Not only will your photos look better at this time, but wildlife, including many birds, are typically more active in the morning and as the sun sets.

February 10th 2023

LOCATION: Dundas
WEATHER: Cloudy and chilly
Especially since I retired I find myself absorbed with a couple of passions. One of course is bird photography and the other is reading, and for the last year or so, the type has been detective novels. Its funny but some of things I have gleaned from reading this kind of "rubbish" is I find myself taking a lot of the same things into consideration as the fictional detectives do ... location, clues, history, right place-right time, and a few others. Of course, habitat and time of year comes into play as well.
Today I went back, with a friend, to the same spot in Dundas as a couple of days ago, a) to share my previous good luck and b) to see if I can get a shot of the White-throated Sparrow. Luck was with me on the sparrow, as it did sit out in the semi-open for several seconds allowing us each a couple of shots. On the down side the Hermit Thrush didn't show. On the up side Merlin picked both Winter Wren and Carolina Wren but again neither gave us a glimpse ... oh well another reason maybe to visit in the next little while. :)
**  As always ... click on any image to show full size. Also by hovering your cursor over any image will provide a title

February 8th 2023

LOCATION: Dundas/Flamborough
WEATHER: Bright sunshine & mild
When I spotted the Hermit Thrush a few days ago down in the Dundas area, I also caught a glimpse of a White-throated Sparrow, so today my target was said Sparrow. I staked out an area around where I had seen it a few days ago, and after a significant wait, it did show up, but it was again a very brief visit before disappearing back into the scrub. On the plus side I did have another couple of decent visitors - the Winter Wren, and the House Finch, and of course the Hermit Thrush was still around. 
After a few hours I gave up, and headed off. A mile or two from my spot I saw another good looking habitat with several sparrows flying around. They were primarily American Tree Sparrows, but one was an unlikely Song Sparrow, and bonus ... he hung around, and checked me out :)
Tip of the Day: ​You don’t necessarily have to travel far to have a good Birdwatching/Bird Photography experience in the winter. The combination of fewer species plus birds’ heavier reliance on bird feeders during the colder months, all you need to do is scout your neighbourhood area to get to know where all the active feeders and if you are lucky,  heated bird baths are! eg - in my area FWR Dickson is very productive

February 7th 2023

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Cloudy, and very mild (+5)
Funny how good luck manifests itself. This morning I took a shortcut between main roads - one I had taken a few times in the past) and where almost always there is nothing to see or find. This morning however, I spotted a decent sized flock of Tree Sparrows on the side of the road, so I stopped and rolled the window down with a thought that I might get a shot or two, through the now open window. A few moments later a small flock of Snow Buntings hit the air about 80 yards away, so now these became the focus. They circled a couple of times and at one point a few landed on a nearby fence post, but almost immediately a Northern Harrier flew over and that was it with Snow Buntings as they high tailed it. 
I sat in my vehicle for a while hoping for some Tree Sparrow action, and then my good luck hit home - the Harrier swung around several times hoping for a Tree Sparrow breakfast. I was able to fire off dozens of shots, sometimes he was too close and overfilled the frame. 
​After this I headed down to Dickson for a short visit. Lots of birds there ... as usual.
Tip of the Day: Shooting from inside a vehicle during the winter and extremely cold temps helps to keep the photographer warmer than they would be standing outside, but it can also cause problems because heat can come up from under the vehicle or escape from inside a vehicle and cause problems with focusing - photos will likely be soft and not quite in focus. So tip is that if you can get out of the vehicle, or what I try to do (it seems to help) is get the inside of the car cold usually by opening the windows several minutes before I get to my stopping spot.

February 5th 2023

LOCATION: Dundas/Flamborough
WEATHER: Sun early on, then Cloudy, and very mild
One of the primary reasons to running this blog wasn't to show off my finds and photographs, but more as an alternate to a diary that I used to keep, so lets call it an online and shared diary. Before heading out this morning I went through similar days at this time of year over a few years, to see what & where I was finding birds. I came across an entry that showed I had found a Hermit Thrush at the beginning of February, at a spot near Dundas, so I headed down with my fingers crossed that it might be a productive option. Almost at the same spot as in a previous year I was delighted to find my target ... the Hermit Thrush.
Tip of the Day: Cold weather and freezing water force many waterfowl south each winter. Look for residents of the far north like tundra swans in open marshes, lakes, and flooded fields, often mixed with flocks of slightly larger trumpeter swans. Diving ducks such as redheads, canvasbacks, common goldeneyes, buffleheads, mergansers, and more seek open water. Look for them in and around open water - rivers and ponds.

February 3rd 2023

I made my first entry on Feb 3d 2013, so that makes it 10 years. It has been a lot of fun :)
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January 2023

3/1/2023

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January 30th 2023

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Cloudy with flurries
The weather was a little iffy, but at least the snow looked like it was going to minimal, if at all. I had originally planned to head to Lake Ontario, but at the last minute, I though maybe looking for a Lapland Longspur would be more satisfying, so I headed out towards Ayr, and the back roads beyond. Yesterday I came across a couple of flocks of Snow Buntings, so I headed to the same spots and yes the SB's were still there, but unfortunately there was also a Northern Harrier keeping them on the move, so I never was not able to get these little white gems  close enough or still enough for a decent shot. Of what I could seed there wasn't any Laplands in the mixes anyways...  I will keep looking :)
On the way back home I detoured around to FWR Dickson and as always a ton of bird activity, so I didn't come home empty handed.
Tip of the Day: No matter where you're shooting your bird/wildlife shots you need to have a good look around the viewfinder to make sure there's nothing in the background that will distract the viewer. Throwing the background out of focus can look great, however, this can cause parts of your subject, particularly when working with small subjects such as birds, to also go out of focus. If this happens try using a slightly smaller aperture as getting the subject sharp is what's more important.
**  As always ... click on any image to show full size. Also by hovering your cursor over any image will provide a title

January 29th 2023

LOCATION: a) Kitchener b) North Dumfries
WEATHER: Cloudy and a light snow
Top Row:  were a a couple of shots I managed through my dining room door onto my deck setup.
Mid Row: I took a drive around North Dumfries looking for Snow Buntings, and was rewarded with spotting a couple of small flocks. No Lapland Longspurs in either flock sadly.
Bottom Row: On my way back, I dropped in at FWR Dickson, and was delighted to see 4 Rusty Blackbirds. None of them posed too well, but happy nonetheless.
Tip of the Day: Snow makes for a clean background Its not often we are blessed with great backgrounds when shooting wildlife – after all they won’t pose for us or do what we ask for them to do. But when the snow falls, and leaves that great blanket of white everywhere, getting separation between your subject and the background is easy and really makes the bird POP.

January 26th 2023

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Cloudy and a bit chilly
After yesterday, which was a nasty snow day, I took a run out, once more, trailing the back roads between Paris and Cambridge looking for anything interesting. I often find that after a fresh fall of snow quite a few bird species look for food along the freshly ploughed back roads., so can be easier to find than normal. Today was certainly like that, with several flocks of a few different species hanging out along the roadside.
Tip of the Day: Snow Buntings breed far to the north, on rocky tundra, but in winter, flocks move into the more southern reaches of Ontario and can be seen along roadsides as they forage in agricultural fields, generally in corn stubble. They tend to migrate in large flocks, and it is quite rare just to see a single Snow Bunting on its own, which makes looking for these birds a little easier. I like to drive along the back roads and look for a large flock out in the fields, than take it from there.

January 25th 2023

LOCATION: Kitchener
WEATHER: Snow, and more snow
Forecast was to be flurries in the morning then snow for the rest of the day. As it turned out, the snow started mid morning, so all in all it was a day to stay close to home.
**  As always ... click on any image to show full size. Also by hovering your cursor over any image will provide a title

January 24th 2023

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Dark and cloudy, first thing
Back along the back roads in North Dumfries looking for another chance at the Snow Buntings, but they seem to have exited the area ... oh well !! On the plus side there was a few Horned Larks hanging around along West Dumfries Road.

January 23rd 2023

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Early sun, then cloud
Initially I took a drive around lots of the back roads/gravel roads in the North Dumfries area, including some roads I rarely travel. I am glad I did as I came across, initially, some Horned Larks, then a bit further along a small flock of Snow Buntings. The bright sun was a a little fierce, but with a bit of post processing I was able to tone down the highlights .. a bit anyways.

January 20th 2022

LOCATION: Kitchener
WEATHER: Snowy afternoon
It wasn't a day to go too far with the forecast showing it to be a snowy afternoon, so I propped the camera on a tripod inside my dining room pointing in the direction of my setup that I had positioned above my deck rail. Set out some seed etc, just out of shot, and hoped for something other than the multitude of squirrels that I usually get.
It wasn't overly birdy, but a few birds came in for a snack. 

January 18th 2023

LOCATION: North of Elmira
WEATHER: Cloudy, but not too cold
I trundled dozens of back roads and side roads north of Elmira towards Listowel looking for a Snowy Owl, and after almost giving up, and after several hours I spotted a distant Snowy in a farmers field. IO was within 15 minutes of giving up, so I was very pleased that the amount of fuel I burned wasn't a complete waste.
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January 14th 2023

LOCATION: North Dumfries & Kitchener
WEATHER: Sunny, and very cold
A sunny morning , which isn't my most favorite shooting environments, but after several days of cloud, it was nice to see... but it was chilly.
​I took a run down to the North Dumfries area to see what I could find. FWR Dickson was quite active, but no surprises. From there I headed home and kept an eye on my back yard feeders.

January 10th 11th & 13th 2023

LOCATION: Kitchener
WEATHER: Cannot remember :)
A couple of days at home shooting a few birds that hang around my back yard feeders. On the 13th we had a little snow, so that added some nice winter effects to the images. Unfortunately the feeder not only attract the seed eaters, but also the occasional raptor, like the Coopers Hawk I photographed on the 13th. He has been generally not too successful, but I do see some Junco feather blowing around, so he must have a meal one day.

January 7th & 8th 2023

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Cooler, but more than seasonal
I popped into FWR Dickson both days, hoping for something a little different. There was a Carolina Wren popping up occasionally, but other than that just the usual birds. Not that that is too bad as these normal birds are Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Chickadees, Juncos, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker and of course the aforementioned Carolina Wren.

January 5th & 6th 2023

LOCATION: Kitchener
WEATHER: Mixed, but mild
A few shots taken in and around our back yard feeders.

January 1st & 2nd 2023

LOCATION:  North of North Bay (private location)
WEATHER: Mild and cloudy 
My friend Steve, and myself headed back to a spot we have been to a few times over the years, which unfortunately I cannot share with you as I have been asked to keep it to myself. I can say that it was a fair ways north of Barrie, and took us several hours to get there.
We had hoped for a few of the northern finches, but unfortunately we missed out on the Crossbills, but on the plus side we were able to photograph lots of Pine Grosbeaks, and quite a few Common Redpolls. There were a few other species around (Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers and a few Blue Jays).
The species shown below were a delight to photograph as they came in close many, many times over the two days we were there.
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DECEMBER 2022

30/11/2022

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December 31st 2022

Well there goes another year - so I want wish everyone who visits a Very Happy New Year. 

December 28th & 29th 2022

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER:  Unseasonably warmer, 2-7C
I headed out, both days, around and along some of the back roads around the North Dumfries area, primarily looking for Snow Buntings, of which I found zero, but ended up at FWR Dickson Wilderness Area (again), and was pleased to see and photograph the new "goodie" that has shown up there ... a couple of Rusty Blackbirds. The Tufted Titmouse is still there but seems to be a lot less frequent at the seed offerings.

December 25th 2022

LOCATION: Kitchener, again at home
WEATHER: Cold, but snow eased off, but windy still
First things first ... I want wish anybody who visits this page a Very Merry Christmas and Happy, and fruitful New Year.
Nothing happening today relating to our family Christmas (we plan that for Boxing Day, when all the family spend the day here). So ... I was back setup looking through our patio doors at the feeder setup on our rear deck. I have been hoping for something a bit less common to show up, but so far just the regulars. 

December 23rd 2022

LOCATION: Kitchener, at home
WEATHER: Very cold, snowy & blowy
Winter has definitely arrived, with a bit of snow, bitterly cold and windy. It was therefore a day for shooting from inside the house to my feeder setup in or deck.

December 21st 2022

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Pure sun, but chilly (-5C)
Pure sun is not my favorite kind of light, but with no other plans and you never know ... maybe I might find a a shot or two of something more interesting than the usual. As it happened, after a drive around several of the local back roads, I never found anything, other than a distant pair of Tundra Swans. After an hour or two I gave up and headed to FWR Dickson, where I could be sure of seeing a few of the common birds, and of course one of the semi-resident Tufted Titmouse(s)

December 20th 2022

LOCATION: Caledon area
WEATHER: Cloudy and cold
One of our friends lives in a rural area north of Toronto, and for the last few weeks they have been getting Evening Grosbeaks coming to their feeders on an almost daily basis. I was delighted when I, and a couple of other friends, were invited up to take advantage of this awesome photo opportunity. The weather was nicely subdued, and so it was a great situation. As well as the Grosbeaks, several other species were hanging around close to the feeders too.

December 19th 2022

LOCATION: a) 50 Point b) North Dumfries
WEATHER: Flurries then sun & cloud
Started off this morning, along with a good friend, heading to Fifty Point Conservation Area, where word had it that there was a couple of Saw-whet Owls, and probably not too hard to find. As we found out they certainly weren't easy to find, but we did find two of them. The pic below was one that sat reasonably in the open, so managed a decent shot. The other one was tucked in tight inside a Cedar tree foliage, and no way to get a clear shot. Top images were 50 Point.
After a while we headed to FWR Dickson to see if we could find the Tufted Titmouse. Jamie hadn't had the chance to visit this location previously, so we were delighted with getting a few shots of this beauty. Bottom two images from FWR Dickson.

December 17th 2022

LOCATION: Kitchener
WEATHER: Mix of freezing rain and cloud
Most of the day was pretty miserable, so I set up some perches in and around the feeders, with the camera set up on a tripod inside my dining room, aimed through the patio doors to my setup. Unfortunately nothing too exciting came in (probably  trying to stay dry and warm somewhere) However I was still quite happy with a couple of the shots. 
Tip of the Day: Feeder Setups - a) Place your perches above the bird feeder(s) - Birds will almost always stop someplace higher than the food for one last security check. b) Use a tripod and pre-focus on the perch and be ready, as they do not often sit too long. c) Use a good mix of different seed types and ensure it is fresh. d) Squirrels can be a problem so have a pile of peanuts in the shell off to the side and that should keep them busy.

December 12th & 13th 2022

LOCATION: Between Kitchener & Paris
WEATHER: Mild, but dull & some sun now and then
Commentary to follow

December 11th 2022

LOCATION: Kitchener
WEATHER:  Snow 1st thing, then just cloud
With the fresh fall of snow it was a day to keep close to home. I have a liuttle feeder setup along side of our deck, and is visited with a few specoes.. nothing too interesting but still nice to get a few shots of these generally beautiful birds

December 9th & 10th 2022

LOCATION: Kitchener
WEATHER:  Sun abd cloud but mild
Nothing too exciting today, Except when I pulled in for gas at a local gas station, and I noticed this Coopers Hawk forraging around the flower beds and shrubbery in the station forecourt. Luckilly, I had my camera on the passenger seat, and so I was able to grab several shots before it scittered away. THe shot shown here is uncropped .. that's how close it was.  Awesome
Tip of the Day: While we may traditionally think of the best time of year for birding to be in the spring (and who are we kidding, it is), there is still plenty of birding that you can do when winter comes along. It’s just a matter of finding the perfect location for the stragglers and species who haven’t bothered to travel south, and to make sure that you are prepared for harsher conditions while you head outside to enjoy the birdwatching. Birds can get a little lazy too.. especially if they’ve got everything they need right there where they are.

December 8th 2022

LOCATION: Luther Marsh 
WEATHER: Mild. sun and some cloud
I took the hour drive up to the north side of Arthur and Luther Marsh and cruised along the gravel roads in that area. My targets were any of the Winter Finches (Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks, Red Crossbills, White-winged Crossbills and Snow Buntings primarily but some Waxwings were ion the list too. None of the Winter Finches were found, and the only time I managed a few shots were when some Waxwings showed up, which happened a couple of times - thankfully one of those times was with Bohemian ... seems rather odd that none of the targets were in the area yet .. looks like it is a late season.
Tip of the Day: Birding in winter has its advantages. It's easy to spot the silhouette of a hawk perched on a branch or the darting movement of small birds when there aren't any leaves on trees and shrubs. For novices, this is a good time become familiar with the sights and sounds of common resident birds such as chickadees, blue jays, crows, woodpeckers, red tailed hawks, and even eagles. ​

December 7th 2022

LOCATION: FWR Dickson and Kitchener
WEATHER: Misty start, then mainly cloudy, but mild
Started off doing a short tour around some of the back roads in North Dumfries, with not too much to show for all the gas I consumed, but ended up at FWR Dickson, which was quite active, so the day took a bit of a positive hop. 

December 5th 2022

LOCATION: Burlington
WEATHER: Dull, but mild
I took the drive down to Burlington hoping for some interesting waterfowl that might be hanging out along the Lake Ontario shoreline. It was a little uninspiring, but I did see a few Canvasbacks, Black Ducks, Buffleheads and of course Mallards.

December 1st - 4th 2022

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Mix of sun and cloud
Over the last few days I have kept myself fairly local - North Dumfries, which was a mixture of back roads in this areaas well as FWR Dickson Wilderness area. Overall there wasn't too many birds around, but you take what you can get I suppose.
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NOVEMBER 2022

1/11/2022

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November 28th & 29th 2022

LOCATION: a) Luther Marsh b) North Dumfries
WEATHER: Mild, sun and cloud
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

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Mix of sun and cloud, but mild
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

LOCATION: Luther Marsh
WEATHER: Cool start (-6) and misty, but pure sun later
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

LOCATION: Guelph, then North Dumfries
WEATHER: Cold, but some sun
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

LOCATION: Whistlebare Road, Blair
WEATHER: Bit of sun and cloud, but bitterly cold
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.
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**  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

LOCATION:  ​FWR Dickson
WEATHER: Light snow and COLD
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

LOCATION: ​FWR Dickson, and at home
WEATHER: Mainly cloud, and getting cooler 
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

LOCATION: FWR Dickson, and at home
WEATHER: Duller with rain maybe, but mild
.. working on it :)

November 9th 2022

LOCATION: Within a couple of miles from home
WEATHER: Yet another sunny day
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

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Mainly sunny, and still mild
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

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Sun and and cloud, and mild
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

LOCATION: FWR Dickson Wildlife Area
WEATHER: Misty start, then sun/cloud but very mild
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.
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    Pretty much all my life I have had an interest in nature photography albeit in, off and on, phases of interest. Around 15 years ago, I found myself, again, getting that nature bug, and I am now, especially since I retired just over 7 years ago, very passionate about  wildlife & wildlife photography.

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    “In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” 
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