View allAll Photos Tagged canoneosR6
Slender, medium-sized heron. Slaty-blue overall with a white belly and white underwings. Extremely long bill. In breeding plumage, look for buffy plumes on the lower back and orange tones on the throat and foreneck. Juveniles are stained rusty on the neck and shoulders. Fairly common but with restricted range in the southeastern U.S., mainly along the coast. More widespread in Central America and northern South America. Occurs in shallow wetlands, marshes, and mudflats. Often forages actively, darting around erratically and chasing after fish. (eBird)
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We spent the last week at Collingwood, located on Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. On our last full day, we walked the trail right by our resort. We were admiring swans when I turned around a saw a Great Blue Heron, er no, a Tricolored Heron. Why this beautiful denizen of the southern states was in central Ontario, I do not know, but he was actively fishing. I took ID photos (this is one of them) and sent out a rare bird alert to all Ontario birders which pulled in a number of excited people to see this southern beauty.
Hen and Chicks Trail, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. June 2023.
Common and widespread throughout most of North America, breeding as far north as Alaska and wintering to Panama. A medium-sized swallow, with gleaming white underparts. Adult males are bright iridescent blue-green above; females and immatures are duller brownish with limited or no iridescence. Always note compact shape, fairly broad wings, and slightly notched tail. Occurs in a variety of open habitats including grassy fields, lakes, and marshes. Often in flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of swallows. Breeds in cavities, including human-made nest boxes. Listen for cheery gurgling calls. Compare especially with Violet-green Swallow; note Tree Swallow does not show extensive white wrapping around the cheek or the sides of the rump. (eBird)
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There were so many of the beautiful swallows darting around the wetlands, calling, squabbling and basically having a great day. Just like us :-)
Minesing Wetlands, Angus, Ontario, Canada. June 2023.
Frequents suburban settings across North America, along with open woods, brushy field edges, and deserts. Males vary in shades and intensity of red. Some males are yellow or orange. Females are drab gray-brown overall with plain faces and blurry streaks on underparts. Similar to Purple and Cassin's Finch, but House Finch males are more orangey-red with color equally bright on crown, throat, and breast. Red color is mostly restricted to head and upper chest, contrasting with cold gray-brown nape, back, and wings. Pale sides show distinct brown streaks, lacking red tones. Females lack bold face pattern and have more diffuse patterning overall. Often sings loudly in neighborhoods and visits feeders. (eBird)
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This beautiful male was enjoying the morning sun as he and his family visited a local feeder.
Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. May 2023.
Secretive warbler that lacks vibrant colors, but compensates with an enormous voice. Olive-brown above with black streaks on white breast and bold white eyering. Orange central crown stripe bordered by black on either side. Forages for insects by walking along branches and on the ground with exaggerated footsteps and bobbing gait. Breeds primarily in areas with extensive deciduous or mixed forest. Winters primarily in Middle America and the Caribbean, where it can be quiet and difficult to detect. On the breeding grounds, listen for its loud song that builds in volume: “tea-cher, TEA-cher, TEA-CHER!”; also gives a sharp, high-pitched, metallic chip year-round. Possible to confuse with thrushes, but smaller, and walks instead of hops. (eBird)
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There was nothing secretive about this Ovenbird on Thursday. He was in a tree having a singing contest with his neighbour on the other side of the trail (who was acting more like an Ovenbird). Their calls are loud and insistent, but usually the source can never be found so it was a real pleasure to see this one.
Pine Grove, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. May 2023.
Huge gray heron, no other similar species in range. Note large yellow-orange bill, short black plumes on head, and black and chestnut pattern on shoulder. Immatures are more brownish than adults, and have a dark crown. Fairly common and widespread throughout North America; wintering range extends to northern South America. Occurs in almost any wetland habitat, from small ponds to marshes to saltwater bays. Usually seen singly but can gather in numbers where food is plentiful. White form, sometimes considered a separate species (“Great White Heron”), is found in southern Florida and the Caribbean. It is most similar to Great Egret but has a larger bill. (eBird)
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Considering how common these herons are, we had been having difficulties finding any this year. We were very happy therefore to see this one fly by and join a mate further down the stream.
Minesing Wetlands, Angus, Ontario, Canada. June 2023.
Large, long-legged bird shaped much like a heron. Gray body, sometimes with intense rusty staining. Adults have red crown. Often in large flocks at migration and wintering concentration points. Favors marshes and agricultural fields where they eat primarily grains. In flight, neck is outstretched, unlike herons with tucked necks. Snappy wingbeats. Listen for far-carrying bugling call. (eBird)
Call: xeno-canto.org/species/Antigone-canadensis (Xeno-canto)
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While we were walking along the dike at Tiny Marsh, we heard the distinctive bugling of cranes. Looking up, we were thrilled to see a flock of nearly forty birds arriving at the marsh. Of course, they had to land on the wrong side of the dike, in the glaring sun, but I couldn't resist photographing these beautiful birds. Not the greatest shot, with such harsh light, but a great souvenir of this trip.
Tiny Marsh, Ontario, Canada. May 2023.
Medium-sized songbird, smaller than a robin, with a smooth gray body, black cap, and rusty-red undertail. Sometimes mimics other species in complex, jumbled song. Prefers dense shrubs and small trees in forest edges, streamside thickets, and old fields. Occasionally feeds on suet. (eBird)
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I always look forward to the return of the catbird. They are not always easy to see, especially once the shrubs are fully leaved, but they are easily heard. Their complex song and cat-like meow makes them easy to identify. Sometimes, though, they pretend to be something that you are looking for, which can be very annoying. This one had been singing beautifully, trying to attract a mate.
Pine Grove, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. May 2023.
Fairly large songbird with round body, long legs, and longish tail. Gray above with warm orange underparts and blackish head. Hops across lawns and stands erect with its bill often tilted upward. In fall and winter, forms large flocks and gathers in trees to roost or eat berries. Common across North America in gardens, parks, yards, golf courses, fields, pastures, and many other wooded habitats. (eBird)
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This male was not sure he wanted us on his road, probably because he had a nest nearby. His bold stance gave me a chance to get a few photos in perfect light. Not the prettiest of settings, but it does show him off quite nicely. He did eventually let us pass.
Minesing Wetlands, Angus, Ontario, Canada. Many 2023.
Large, lanky, long-necked white heron. Size and black legs help separate from other egrets. Widespread and fairly common across the globe. Bill color varies across range: always yellow in the Americas, black in breeding season elsewhere. Occurs in any shallow wetland, including ponds, marshes, and tidal mudflats. Slowly stalks prey in shallow water. Often seen singly, but sometimes gathers in large numbers where food is plentiful. Breeds in colonies, frequently mixed with other egrets and herons. (eBird)
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Studying the water intently, waiting for an unwary fish to swim by.
Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. May 2023.
Lanky, fierce-looking, glossy blackbird. A bit larger than a jay; smaller, proportionally longer-tailed and shorter-winged than a crow. Staring yellow eye and long heavy bill (compared to Red-winged Blackbird). Often in flocks with other blackbirds in winter. Forages in fields, scrubby areas, and open woods. Visits feeders. (eBird)
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This juvenile grackle had us a bit confused when we first saw him. The mystery cleared up when dad arrived with some food. When dad left, junior endeavoured to hide behind the grass while waiting for the next course to arrive.
Tiny Marsh, Ontario, Canada. May 2023.
Huge white bird with long neck and all-black bill. Immatures dusky gray-brown with pink on bill. Forages in shallow, vegetated wetlands reaching under the water for plants, and walks through corn stubble. Breeds in freshwater marshes and ponds. Winters on any open body of water where food is available. Extremely similar to Tundra Swan, but never shows yellow on bill. Also, note subtle features of face: facial skin is relatively broad where it meets eye, so the eye doesn't stand out, and border between white face and black bill is straight (curved on Tundra). From head-on, the border of the bill and forehead is usually pointed (straight or curved on Tundra). Often in pairs or family groups. Almost went extinct in early 20th century, but population has rebounded and been reintroduced to some areas. (eBird)
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These two birds came flying down the river towards us, honking away, before landing on the other side of the road. Trumpeter Swans were re-introduced into Ontario some years ago, and I had become used to seeing them with big yellow wing tags that identified them as such. It was therefore wonderful to see this pair with no tags, meaning that they probably were locally-born birds.
I just had to keep the Killdeer that photo-bombed the swan. It looks so tiny in comparison.
Minesing Wetlands, Angus, Ontario, Canada, May 2023.
Small finch. Sharply pointed bill is pink in summer, grayish-brown in winter. Small head, long wings, and short, notched tail. Adult males in spring and summer are bright yellow with black forehead and wings. Females are dull yellow below and olive above with two distinct wingbars. In winter, they are drab, buffy-brown. Active and acrobatic. Sometimes in large numbers at feeders or on ground below. Found in weedy fields, cultivated areas, roadsides, orchards, and backyards. (eBird)
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There was a small flock of goldfinch feeding along the side of the trail. This female decided that she wanted the seeds from the dandelion, but the head was too high to comfortably reach, so she hopped onto it, pushed it down to the ground and then stood on the stem to feed. Clever bird.
Minesing Wetlands, Angus, Ontario, Canada. May 2023.