On these hot summer days, the goslings seek the shade as do the rest of us.
Tag Archives: Birds
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
The only sightings I’ve had this year of night herons have been in the same suburban park. He’s a handsome bird showing of his breeding plumage and those yellow feet 😊
DRESSED TO IMPRESS
I saw these mallards in early May taking a leisurely swim. Hoping to be noticed, I guess. 😊
GOOSE ON THE LOOSE
Earlier this spring, I caught this goose in a quiet moment with a bit of green stuck in its beak 😏
EASTERN PHOEBE
We stopped by a wildlife garden recently and were told that a hummingbird was in the area. While waiting for it to appear (never saw it) I saw this phoebe and took several shots. I was also told the phoebe had a nest nearby (which I never spotted), so I imagine the caterpillar was for its chicks.
ROBIN (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
I’ve seen a lot of healthy looking robins this year. We’ve had a good mix of sun and rain, food must be plentiful.
GRACKLE
I knew that grackles were omnivores but I was still surprised to see it fishing. He flew away with his catch a short time later.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
Even on a quiet day you can count on the appearance of a Red-winged Blackbird. I’ve seen more this year than ever before.
GOSLING
It’s fun to watch a gosling explore a bit on its own. The parent birds were close enough if it ran into trouble.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
I didn’t see the heron catch anything but he was certainly trying.
SPLISH, SPLASH
The Red-winged Blackbird seemed to be enjoying her bath.
SPRING SAMPLER
I took this earlier in the Spring as the migrants were beginning to return. This little island was a perfect spot for the birds to have a look around,
WHAT THE GRACKLES SAW
I don’t know what the grackles were looking at but it sure grabbed their attention.
YOUNG CANADA GEESE
Two weeks ago I saw some goslings in this location. If these are the same geese, I imagine they’re now about a month old. They mature quickly and reach adult size in about 10 weeks.
TABLE FOR ONE
This handsome goldfinch zipped by, headed for the feeder. With no other birds around he had it all to himself.
KING OF THE HILL
Do you ever have the feeling you’re being watched 😏
A BOBBIN OF ROBINS
There are many collective nouns for robins. How nice that bobbin is one of them. It’s been a very good year for this bird as I’ve had many sightings.
Black-crowned Night Heron
This was my first sighting of a Black-crowned Night Heron this year, looking somewhat ruffled.The suburban park where I took this photo borders the river and attracts a lot of wildlife. I wonder what’s next 😊
MALLARD MAYHEM
Not sure what happened here, all was calm and then this 😏
ONE MORE BLACKBIRD
The Red-winged blackbird stood out against the dry grass. I had my choice of these birds to photograph on a recent walk.
FEMALE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
I’ve seen more Red-winged blackbirds this spring than I have in many years. More males than females though, so I was pleased to see and hear this female.
SPRING MALLARD
Mallards are among my favourite ducks and I feature them frequently. More to come 😊
EARLY BIRD
The robin persisted and found its prize in the grass, it appears to be a worm. I was surprised to see that the robin was molting. It seems they can also molt in the spring.
EUROPEAN STARLING
Like many other migrants, starlings reappear in early spring. As attractive as they are, they are an invasive species in Canada, compete with native birds for food and can cause a lot of agricultural damage. I watched as this one and its mate tore across the grass.
CHIPPING SPARROW
Another spring first!
MR. AND MRS.
Given their size difference I assume they’re a couple. A black and white treatment seemed the right choice.
SPRING FIRSTS (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
I’ve seen several robins recently but this time I had my camera with me.
Quackers
I saw my first Red-winged blackbird the other day, so did the mallard 😏
BRIGHT SPOT
Despite the slow start to spring, house sparrows are always around and their cheerful song can be heard the minute you step out your door.
THEY’RE BACK
It’s so nice to see Canada Geese again. It’s been a long winter 😏
Guard Bird
The bird was guarding a neighbour’s front door. Pigeons are disliked by many for their messy ways but they are intelligent birds and this one definitely had presence.
RUFFLED FEATHERS
I’m not sure how the argument got started but it ended soon enough!
Anticipation
Seeing a Red-winged Blackbird is a sure sign that spring has arrived. This photo was taken last year, around this date 😏.
ONE MORE BITE
A house finch sure likes what’s on offer, a few seeds to augment its berry diet.
TIPTOE
I enjoyed watching the young goose tentatively explore its environment.
CORMORANTS’ COURT
This small man made lake attracts a lot of waterbirds during the nicer months. The water is crowded and the birds seem to get along. I liked the way the gulls appeared to form a guard around the sunning cormorants.
COMING ATTRACTION – 2
Stopping to stretch my legs at a highway rest stop, I heard the familiar honking of geese overhead. Looking up I caught the team as they flew by. Another sign of spring’s return. 😊
COMING ATTRACTION
Late last fall we discovered this pond while on the way to another location. There was so much activity on the water that we never made it to our original destination. We’ll be heading back in a couple of weeks when spring migration is underway.
JUNIOR
This is a first winter ring-billed gull or at least it was, when I took the photo in October. It is still speckled and has a pink bill. You can appreciate these birds on their own when they don’t blend into the colony.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
These birds are among the first to return in the early spring. We’ll just have to wait a few more weeks. However, I did see a pair of Canada Geese flying overhead. What a sight at the end of a long winter 😊
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 