People we met on the trail pointed us in the general direction of this barred owl. Unlike other owls who often keep close to the trunk or inside a tree cavity, barred owls often are quite easy to spot if you know where to look. This owl was my first of the year.
I like photographing geese and reflections. I got quite lucky here.
I watched as the two geese joined the rest of the group, they really look like small aircraft on the descent 😊
Some years I see chickadees everywhere. I haven’t seen many this summer but as they remain year round I hope for more opportunities.
As we followed the path down to the beach we saw an egret standing in the long grass. After a while it turned towards the river and we left it to its wandering.
At least it looked like that to me 😊
On a quick walk in the neighbourhood, I saw a house sparrow land on a stoop for a few minutes. Looking for its mate?
That’s what I like about mallards, they look you right in the eye.
I heard the pileated woodpecker before I saw it. As we got closer, several people were gathered close to the tree the bird was excavating. If you look closely you can just see its tongue darting into the hole it had drilled to retrieve its meal.
As the summer moves along wood ducks become a bit bolder and don’t retreat when they see you. This imposing male strode along like he owned the place 😊
This female downy was enjoying her meal. When these little birds are feeding they don’t notice the photographer lurking in the background 😊
I saw this Blue Jay in a wildlife garden back in May. He was staying close to the feeder but I took this shot when he flew to a nearby tree.
I don’t much care for these gulls in the city but on the river my opinion of them changes. They fish and fly and even pose quite nicely; and you don’t need to keep “an eye to the sky” 😏
One day in June we were treated to a mallard and her chicks swimming along close to shore. They had passed a gull earlier on who didn’t glance their way and this Great Blue Heron who was very preoccupied with finding its next meal.
European Starlings are an introduced species to North America. They’ve adapted very well which is reflected in their numbers and range. They aren’t a popular breed; considered bullies at feeders and they often nest in the same tree cavities as native birds. On the plus side they have a wide vocal range and they consume a variety of harmful insect pests. I enjoy seeing these attractive birds as they’re one of the first to return in spring as the weather starts to warm up.
I’ve seen a lot of robins this spring and summer. They are always a welcome sight.
The goose had found a tranquil spot though its young were just off to the side.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of the ducklings but the gull was unimpressed 😏.
It seems like a good summer for goslings. I’ve seen quite a few. I was lucky with the light here.
The day was overcast and the colours muted. I thought the scene lent itself to black and white.
The gosling peered at me through the tall grass never far away from its watchful parent.
I took quite a few photos of this tree swallow in May. There are nesting boxes nearby. I should get back there and check on them.
I’ve seen only a few grackles this year, this one was close enough to get a decent image. Like some other birds, grackles have a bad reputation. They can be bullies at feeders and forage in gardens and farmers’ fields. I enjoy them though and like the way the sun illuminates their plumage. Another bird that migrates here during the warm months.
A little clean up does wonders. The mallard stood by the water’s edge and did a little preening after its swim.
… Ant! I was surprised to see what the robin had in its beak. I guess it couldn’t find a worm 😏
The male mallard had a good view of his watery domain.
I took this photo on a windy day and the wind had re-arranged this downy’s head feathers a bit. She was taking a quick break from her foraging.
I haven’t seen too many insects yet, the temperature is warm one day and cold the next. It’s not presenting a problem for this Red-winged Blackbird though.
Like most youngsters these two were in a hurry. We saw a lot of goslings on our walk. This is the first of many more photos to come.
There were several sparrows feeding on the ground but the smaller chipping sparrow stood out with its distinctive markings and smaller size. It’s a migratory bird and nice to see back in Spring.
We returned to one of our favourite wildlife gardens after a long absence and were not disappointed. There was a tremendous variety of birds, including this attractive cardinal.
I was tempted to crop a bit closer to show off the swallow’s expression but I wanted to highlight the spring leaves as well.
The first of the Canada Geese began returning a few weeks ago. I saw this lone individual on the river one sunny day during the week.
Every spring some house sparrows build their nests in the eaves of a downtown building. I saw this female on a nearby lawn.
I watched as the robin ran across the lawn and finally came to a stop. Nothing says spring like a robin!
Last weekend was beautiful and warm and I had my first sighting of a Red-winged Blackbird. The bird seemed to enjoy the weather too and burst into song 😊
The house sparrow blended in so perfectly to its surroundings that I was pretty pleased to get a clear shot.
These birds are a sure sign of Spring. I haven’t seen or heard one yet (I took this photo last year). It shouldn’t be long now!
With freezing rain pouring down this morning, it was time to revisit a fine spring day last May. I saw a few Canada Geese fly overhead the other day, I hope they can hold on a little longer. Warmer weather coming next week.
We’ve discovered a few new trails close to the river. Walking by one day, I saw this Great Blue Heron in the reeds. I wasn’t far from the bird and didn’t want to cause it to fly off. I shouldn’t have worried though as something else had its entire attention.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 