This back view of the wood duck made me think of the ducktail, a haircut that was popular in the 50s. You don’t necessarily have to get your subject face on to get a decent shot. I liked the duck’s puffed up chest in the second photo too, as if his “do” wasn’t enough to impress the ladies😊.

Chickadees forage well on their own all summer long, so we don’t see as much of them until the weather gets cooler. They’ll soon become our constant companions. When I took this photograph earIy last month I was lucky that the bird sat still long enough for me to take its picture. Often they don’t!

This wood duck pair was enjoying a quiet swim around the lake. The photo was taken in May when both were in full breeding colours, no young yet for these two. Parenthood was still a few weeks away.

I usually see these little acrobats in the trees and only occasionally foraging on the ground. These two were approaching their meal differently. You only truly appreciate their diminutive size when spotted on the ground. Beautiful little birds that we enjoy year round in this part of the country.

I took these handsome fellows back in May when they were in full breeding plumage. They are the most colourful of ducks and migrate to our region each spring. If we’re lucky wood ducks remain until the first frost. As the season progresses they become less wary of people and will swim close to shore or walk along the pathways for some nice close-ups.

I took these photos in May as the Grackles were migrating through. I’ve yet to see them in the fall although I’m sure they fly through as they head south. I usually spot them along the shoreline, half hidden by branches looking for food. I was lucky in this case as the bird was out in the open. Grackles are gregarious birds, if you see one they’re usually in the company of more. A striking bird with its iridescent plumage and yellow eyes.

This warbler passed through our area last spring. I hope to catch another glimpse of these birds as they migrate south this fall. I usually see warblers high up in the trees. This bird was busy hopping along the ground close to a decaying tree and feeding on insects as he went. Fast subject, tricky light.

These photographs are the first I’ve ever taken of this woodpecker. I have not seen one in our local woods although they are said to be quite common in our area. We spotted him while on a road trip earlier in the summer. The bird was a handsome one but tricky to take because of the light conditions. I had to open up the shadows, remove the colour cast and adjust the luminance and saturation. He was quite close to us and our presence didn’t bother him so we managed to make the most of our brief encounter.

This female mallard was drying off after a swim but those wayward feathers would not be tamed. She is moulting like many other birds at this point in the summer. It’s a vulnerable time as she can’t fly until her feathers are replaced. They’re excellent swimmers though and the lake provides a lot of reedy waterways to escape to.

I have had few opportunities this summer to see or photograph Great Blue Herons. In fact we’ve seen fewer birds of any kind this year. This handsome bird, although a distance from shore, was not hiding in the reeds so we were able to get clear photographs. I hope for more sightings as I have to get my fill before the cold weather sets in and the herons head south.

This female merganser stood out among the other ducks on the lake. She seemed to be the lone merganser swimming alongside the mallards and wood ducks. She didn’t display her crest and with no mate nearby I thought she looked like a young one. Hooded Mergansers are small ducks and are divers not dabblers. Although we didn’t see her catch anything while we watched her, she certainly was trying.

These two don’t have much in common except for their challenging looks. They see me and hold their ground. The cardinal was at quite a distance so I had to crop the photo more than I like but with that expression and amazing crest I just had to feature him.

We missed all the hatchlings this year but still see some young birds once in a while. We came across this scene recently. The adults were off to the side and the goslings were snuggled together, some asleep, a few looking dozy. We took a few photos and let them settle down.

This little bird was a pleasure to see after a hot long walk without too much to show for it. The best part was that it wasn’t ducking behind leaves and branches allowing me these clear shots. I believe it’s a warbler but I’d appreciate a positive ID.

Red-winged blackbirds are among the earliest migrants to return in the spring. We see the males first and often hear their song before we spot them. The females are often found further into the woods gathering nesting material. Their colouring is more subtle than the males but just as beautiful I believe.