European Starlings are not popular birds. They are an invasive species and aggressive to native birds. No friend to farmers either as they raid their crops. They sure are photogenic though.
Tag Archives: Birds
Lesser Scaups
I had several opportunities to photograph these beautiful ducks last year. We kept returning to the same area over several days and there they were. I guess they’re being enjoyed right now by those living in more hospitable climates. 😏
DOWNY WOODPECKER
A downy woodpecker going about his business.
Something to Crow About
Another sighting while looking up.
Cheers
Here’s hoping for calm waters in 2025. Happy New Year!
Downy Woodpecker
Best Wishes for the Holidays!
Winter Light
I like catching mallards in this light. They seem to glow 😊
Night Owl
As owls are nocturnal, when I see them during the day they often look half asleep. The eastern screech owl is tiny and blends into its surroundings so well that you have to be pretty lucky to spot one.
LATE FALL – 3
This small lake attracts a lot of ducks; even in winter we see a few mallards. They are hardy. The wood ducks have left now but I did catch this one as it took a last solitary swim.
Downy Woodpecker
I haven’t seen many downy woodpeckers this year but I did see this one in the spring. I really like these little birds, our smallest woodpecker.
LATE FALL – 2
A few more migrants passing through, I’ve only seen ring-billed ducks a few times and always as it gets colder.
Late Fall
One last swim at the lake. The waterfowl usually remain until the lakes and rivers begin to freeze.
Junior
This juvenile ring-billed gull was coming in for a landing. They take three years to reach maturity and acquire an adult’s white and grey feathers, yellow legs and bill with the distinctive black band. I like taking them in flight, good practice for the bigger birds 😊
Eastern Phoebe
These flycatchers are one of my favourite songbirds. I look forward to their return next spring.
Team Building
Canada Geese were gathering like this as we moved into fall. Just before the recent snow, I saw two large formations of geese overhead. They made it out just in time.
Redhead
I saw this mallard in October. I was taken with his red head feathers. It was an unusual sighting, a first for me.
In the Reeds
The red-winged blackbird had found a good perch and and finally moved its head long enough to give me a clear shot.
Canada Geese
From early spring to late fall I watch Canada Geese a lot 😊. I think they’re beautiful birds and when not acting up or messing up they make great subjects to photograph.
American Black Duck
Happily, some of these ducks remain during the colder months.
Black-crowned Night Heron
I usually see these stocky birds in the reeds waiting patiently for a passing fish or frog. I rarely see one in flight. This heron blended in quite well to its surroundings except for those striking yellow feet.
Touching Down
We’ve had a lot of mild weather this November and there are still some Canada Geese around. I caught this one as it was landing.
CITY JAY
A Blue Jay sighting on a recent neighbourhood walk.
QUIET MOMENT
It’s nice to catch a mallard in a quiet moment, the fall reflections makes it even nicer.
LESSER SCAUPS (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
This past summer we were treated to the appearance of lesser scaups. We only saw them twice but they provided a lot of photo opportunities. A new bird for me 😊
Great Egret
I took this photograph in a suburban park that borders the river. We usually see a few of the large herons on the river but I’ve never see one land in the pond before. And what a landing 😊.
SERENDIPITY
I hadn’t seen a Blue Jay in months and then on a recent city walk, one landed close by. We had just turned off a busy street into a laneway and he followed close behind.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea
If a duck could look wistful, I think this one did. 😊
Black-crowned Night Heron
All of the herons who migrate here in the spring have flown south by now but I thought it would be nice to look back to earlier in the season. I took this photo in May, The heron was sporting its breeding plumage including its white head plumes which were just visible in this shot.
EYE TO EYE, WOOD DUCK
It’s nice when you can position yourself at the level of your subject. The wood duck’s direct gaze was nice too.
DUCK BUSINESS
The ducks seemed to be swimming with a purpose known only to them 😊
A QUIET MOMENT
Another common waterbird here, this Canada Goose was grooming itself away from the flock.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE DUCK
I featured a female mallard on my blog yesterday. The male mallard has a guest spot today. One of my favourite ducks for their spirit and good looks. 😊
MID-WEEK MALLARD
I saw a lot of ducks swimming along the lake the day I was there. This female mallard was on her own and very close to shore. I liked her pose and took the shot.
CANADA GEESE IN FALL
Canada Geese are on the move. We see and hear them overhead flying in V formations. With the weather getting colder it won’t be long before scenes like this will be over for the year.
Wigeon in Fall
I caught sight of this American Wigeon through a break in the trees. My only sighting this year. It must have been resting up on its migration south.
Fall Wood Duck
The reflections this time of year are spectacular, the wood duck is icing on the cake 😊
REFLECTIONS
I see the occasional duck on this pond. Today though, the mallard was secondary.
Early Fall
Not too far from the centre of the city is this wonderful reserve that I visit often. As the birds get ready for their fall migration they often stop here before they fly south. They seem to like this old tree too; every time I visit I’m happy to see that it’s still standing. A pleasant place for all before the real cold sets in.
Splendid Isolation
Someone on the path pointed to the duck and asked me if I knew what kind it was. I couldn’t give her an answer but I liked how it sat a distance from shore absorbing the late summer sunshine.
WOOD DUCK
I had taken a photo of this same wood duck napping, back in August, I took this a few minutes later once she had woken up.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 