View allAll Photos Tagged canoneosR6
Small diving duck with thin serrated bill. Breeding males have showy black-and-white crest, a couple zebra stripes on the white breast, and cinnamon-colored sides. Females are brown with a puffy crest and partly yellow bill. Looks slender and long-necked in flight, with very fast wingbeats. Widespread across much of North America, but usually only seen in pairs or small flocks. Nests in cavities near small ponds or marshes; especially fond of wooded swamps. In winter, usually found on calm bodies of water; almost never on the ocean. Sometimes mixes loosely with other duck species. (eBird)
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While the mallards were loafing along the shore, this merganser was actively hunting in the fast-moving waters of the raceway. I was surprised when she popped up with this crayfish because I did not know that they could be found in the river.
Britannia Conservation Area, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. August 2023.
The New Zealand eagle ray or Australian eagle ray is native to the waters around both North and South Island in New Zealand, the Kermadec Islands, Norfolk Island and southern Australia, where it occurs in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. It is usually found on the inner continental shelf, on sandy flats and seagrass meadows, in estuaries and bays and near rocky reefs. It is usually in shallow water, but has been found as deep as 422 m (1,380 ft).
A benthopelagic species, it feeds on such invertebrates as clams, oysters, crabs and worms that it finds on the seabed. The prey is crushed with the teeth and the hard fragments rejected. By means of electro-sensory organs on the head, it is able to detect prey completely submerged in sand or mud; a jet of water is blown out of the gill slits, exposing the mollusc or other prey. This process leaves a steep-sided pit which may be as much as 30 cm (12 in) across, and these pits can often be seen in shallow water in the summer. (Wikipedia)
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We saw this Eagle Ray as we were walking up the ferry dock towards the bird sanctuary of Tiritiri Matangi Island. A very unexpected start to our non-bird lists for our NZ trip. We did see another one later in the trip, but not as well as this one.
Tiritiri Matangi Island, Auckland, New Zealand. February 2024.
Roadrunner Birding Tours.
Small, plump, pale plover; the color of dry sand. In breeding plumage look for thin broken black collar across chest, black stripe across forehead, orange legs, and orange bill with black tip. Nonbreeding and immature birds have black bills and sandy-colored breastbands. White wingstripe visible in flight. Notably paler than other small plovers, with the exception of Snowy, from which Piping is distinguished by thicker bill and orange legs. Sometimes seen near other shorebirds, but rarely ventures far from the high, dry side of the beach. Often quite vocal; gives a sad-sounding two-parted whistle that drops in pitch: "pwee-doo." A species of great conservation concern, due to coastal development and disturbance at nesting sites on beaches. (eBird)
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While admiring the Nelson's Sparrow, a Wildlife Conservation Officer pulled up and asked us what we were looking at. "A Nelson's Sparrow" we said. "Did we know there were Piping Plovers on the beach?" he asked. No, and off we went to find them. This one was running along the water's edge. I have never seen the wing pattern of this little plover, so was delighted to get this photo. Later, the conservation officer asked me to share the photo with him, since he had not had a chance to take his own photos.
Glace Bay Beach Park Reserve, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. July 2024.
Yellow trout lily is a species of perennial, colony forming, spring ephemeral flower native to North America and dwelling in woodland habitats. Within its range it is a very common and widespread species, especially in eastern North America. The common name "trout lily" refers to the appearance of its gray-green leaves mottled with brown or gray, which allegedly resemble the coloring of brook trout. The range is from Labrador south to Georgia, west to Mississippi, and north to Minnesota. (Wikipedia)
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Always happy to come across these pretty spring flowers, especially because it wasn't until last year that I finally saw them. I guess I hadn't been going to the right places before then.
Terry Carisse Park, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. April 2024.
Chives, scientific name Allium schoenoprasum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae that produces edible leaves and flowers. Their close relatives include the common onions, garlic, shallot, leek, scallion, and Chinese onion.
A perennial plant, it is widespread in nature across much of Europe, Asia, and North America.
A. schoenoprasum is the only species of Allium native to both the New and the Old Worlds.
A medium-sized songbird endemic to New Zealand, restricted to predator-free offshore islands and North Island mainland sanctuaries. Male has a black head with conspicuous white ear tufts and a white wingbar. Note the vibrant yellow neck and shoulder band. Females and juveniles only have the white wingbar. Curious by nature, confidently approaching people at close range. Despite this, the species can be difficult to spot due to its rapid movements. Both sexes give a high-pitched, single-noted “titch” warning call. Males also produce whistled calls of 2-3 notes. Females can be distinguished from bellbirds by lack of green coloration. Also note the constantly cocked tail and the white wing patches. (eBird)
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Twice seen and only in tightly protected reserves, the Stitchbird prefers the darker sections of the forests. This is not a great photo, but it is the only one that I managed to get that was not just a blur of noise. It is so sad to me that NZ's native birds have to be confined to these protected areas in order to survive. It is also the only member of its family, so if NZ loses the Stitchbird, it loses an entire bird family.
Tiritiri Matangi, Auckland, New Zealand. February 2024.
Roadrunner Birding Tours.
Attractive ground-dwelling bird. Slender and long-tailed, bright yellow below with paler throat and grayish-olive back; extremely variable. Tail is black with white outer feathers; often pumps tail up and down while walking on the ground. Young birds lack yellow color, but have distinctive head pattern. Often seen near water. Listen for high-pitched, piercing call note. Common breeder on Arctic tundra from Alaska to Russia; found in grassy and waterside habitats in Southeast Asian wintering grounds and in migration. (eBird)
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On our way into lunch, we noticed a couple of birds on the grass by the parking area. Yay - an Eastern Yellow Wagtail! While we have seen many Western Yellow Wagtails, this was our first (and only) Eastern. It was with a couple of Paddyfield Pipits all busy looking for their own lunch. (No, we weren't playing golf - just a convenient restaurant near our birding location).
Kranji Sanctuary Golf Course, Singapore. March 2024.
Birding Singapore.
Medium-sized shrike with a slender black mask and rufous-brown rump and tail. Plumage varies across range: “Japanese” has the warmest rufous tones, “Philippine” has a gray-washed head and back, and “Brown” averages in between. Averages stronger-billed in appearance than other medium-sized “brownish” shrikes. Male’s repetitive song often incorporates imitations of other birds. Most common call is a dry “ch-ch-ch.” Favors open forests and fields with scattered trees and bushes; often in parks and gardens. (eBird)
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Another bird that we had seen in India but not photographed until Singapore. Perhaps the extreme heat slowed this one down enough to let us capture her in pixels.
Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore. March 2024.
Birding Singapore.