Wood ducks are usually a lot shyer at this point in the season. The reserve where I took this has become more popular in the last couple of years so the animals are more used to people. Probably not a good thing for them, but it does work out for the photographer.
Though more subtle than male Red-winged blackbirds, the females have fine markings.
Grackles are animated, active and very intense. I don’t know what caught the bird’s attention but it was completed absorbed by whatever it was.
We saw a number of goslings on a recent walk. I tend to alternate the subjects I post each day but sometimes I don’t 😊
After a busy morning, this gosling looked about ready for a rest.
A bit haughty too.
Always a welcome sight.
We saw a large group of scaups at the very beginning of May. They were swimming in a small man made lake in a park close to the river. As the river was still high I guess they preferred the more shallow water. We only saw them that once and at quite a distance but I was happy with the sighting.
We’ve seen a lot of robins this spring. What posers they are!
These birds look intense or angry and rather funny at the same time. I often see grackles by the water, so I’m surprised to see so many this year in city gardens.
I featured a female RWB at the beginning of May. At the time it was the only one I saw although there were quite a few males about. Their numbers seem to be balancing out now that breeding season has begun.
One of the regulars I see on my walks.
I almost walked right past the mourning dove until someone pointed it out; it blended in so well with its surroundings. I usually see them on rooftops or in trees so this one was a surprise.
There are lot of robins around right now. I caught one mid walk and the other mid stare.
It had been a great day at the lake but all of a sudden it got even better 😊
We saw several male Red-winged Blackbirds but she was the only female I spotted. She’ll have her pick of the fellas 😊
Another spring first, grackles! This imposing bird had just visited a feeder and was strutting off with its prize.
I took this photo two weeks ago before the trees had really begun to bud. This male downy woodpecker stood out nicely against the bare tree.
I saw this goose on a small patch of grass close to the river. The current was strong and the water was high given the recent ice melt. We only saw a few geese on the water; this one was looking for something to eat but I can’t imagine the grass holds much nutrition yet.
Geese are returning after a long winter. I took this before today’s snow 😏
Late last spring, I saw this young robin perched on a park bench. I didn’t see any adult birds around, so I guessed he was on his own. He’ll be all grown up now.
I believe this is a leucistic Canada Goose, it lacked the usual pigmentation of the other nearby geese but otherwise resembled them. I hope he joined the group after a while, he looked a bit lonely 😏.
We’re lucky to enjoy these birds all year round.
I saw two robins recently when the weather was a bit nicer. It’s been a stormy weekend. Hopefully, that’s it for the snow and ice and scenes like this are around the corner.
The Blue Jay landed on an old electrical insulator as I followed its flight down a laneway.
Sometimes, that’s just the way it is 😏
On a recent walk, several house sparrows flew past me and landed in a nearby yard. This one had a mouthful of fluff that I imagine was going to be used in nest building.
Many of us are wondering what exactly is going on right now 😏
I took this photo at the beginning of April a few years ago. The water had begun to thaw so I imagine he found something to eat. I had never seen a heron return this early before or since; usually they wait until the ice has melted and the locals come out.
Males mallards seem to chum around more than the females. This can lead to a portrait like this.
Usually black-capped chickadees don’t stay in one place for long. I’ll raise my camera just to miss them as they fly to another tree, I was more fortunate with this bird, it stayed put long enough for me to get the shot, Another year round bird here.
I think I’ve said it before but I do love these ducks 😊
A common sparrow, yet I think her stance and the spring setting set her apart.
Getting her colour back. I took this photo in late summer as her feathers were growing back in.
Regular readers will have noticed that it’s been a few weeks since my last post. I was out of town for a while and then picked up a nasty bug (yes, Covid is still very much out there). I’m on the mend now and what better evidence than to feature one of my favourite ducks 😊
Every spring, house sparrows construct nests in the crevices of this office building. In the winter as the wind whips around you can see them sheltering there, like this male house sparrow.
A sight I love at the end of the day😊
We see barred owls year round in our woods. I was hoping the owl would open its eyes wider but he was content to doze and I was happy just to have seen him.
It’s getting closer to sights like this again 😊
Another little bird that is often overlooked. It was nice to see her perched on some long grass.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 