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Recent Posts
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Ontario Birds / August 21st - Beare Hill revisited
« Last post by Shortsighted on August 21, 2025, 05:58:30 PM » Yesterday was mostly overcast, much like my disposition, but this morning the sky was crystalline, at least until the puffy whites materialized. I returned to Beare Hill and Amos Pond starting at 7:00 a.m. For the first ten minutes on the hill I didn’t see any birds, nor did I hear any bird calls. At a point about a third of the way up the hill there is a productive transition zone between open field and clusters of trees and that is where I heard the first faint bird sounds.
First to appear was a juvenile Common yellowthroat that had caught a grub. It seemed surprised to see me and the feeling was mutual. I remained absolutely still so that it wouldn’t be alarmed. The tripping of a shutter burst was accepted by this warbler as worth investigating. I’ve noticed that several times. Instead of spooking a bird the rapid shutter burst gets a bird’s attention and it freezes to listen further.
Soon afterwards, a juvenile Nashville warbler showed-up. I also saw a juvenile Magnolia warbler at about the same time, but it was too far away for my lens. Two flycatchers appeared, both Least and juvenile Yellow-bellied (buff wing bars). Also saw a male and female Baltimore oriole way up on the tree tops.
Other sightings included: Field sparrow and juvenile Field sparrow, male and female Indigo buntings, Warbling vireo, House wren, several Eastern kingbirds, a juvenile Blackpoll warbler, and a Yellow warbler.
At the pond there were a few Wood ducks, a trio of juvenile Hooded merganser, a DC cormorant, Belted kingfisher, a Black-crowned night heron and a Spotted sandpiper.
Juvenile Common yellowthroat
Juvenile Field sparrow
Juvenile Yellow-bellied flycatcher
Juvenile Blackpoll warbler
Juvenile Nashville warbler
Female Indigo bunting
Molting male Indigo bunting
Spotted sandpiper
First to appear was a juvenile Common yellowthroat that had caught a grub. It seemed surprised to see me and the feeling was mutual. I remained absolutely still so that it wouldn’t be alarmed. The tripping of a shutter burst was accepted by this warbler as worth investigating. I’ve noticed that several times. Instead of spooking a bird the rapid shutter burst gets a bird’s attention and it freezes to listen further.
Soon afterwards, a juvenile Nashville warbler showed-up. I also saw a juvenile Magnolia warbler at about the same time, but it was too far away for my lens. Two flycatchers appeared, both Least and juvenile Yellow-bellied (buff wing bars). Also saw a male and female Baltimore oriole way up on the tree tops.
Other sightings included: Field sparrow and juvenile Field sparrow, male and female Indigo buntings, Warbling vireo, House wren, several Eastern kingbirds, a juvenile Blackpoll warbler, and a Yellow warbler.
At the pond there were a few Wood ducks, a trio of juvenile Hooded merganser, a DC cormorant, Belted kingfisher, a Black-crowned night heron and a Spotted sandpiper.
Juvenile Common yellowthroat
Juvenile Field sparrow
Juvenile Yellow-bellied flycatcher
Juvenile Blackpoll warbler
Juvenile Nashville warbler
Female Indigo bunting
Molting male Indigo bunting
Spotted sandpiper
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Ontario Birds / Beare Hill - Female Orchard oriole and Field sparrows
« Last post by Shortsighted on August 20, 2025, 05:55:01 PM »On this most overcast day with fresh winds I felt an urge to climb me a hill, Beare Hill that is, the only monolithic hill round these parts, despite all the smaller hills, present just about everywhere in the neighbourhood and are known as hills of debt. The hill walk was quiet. Few birds to see, or to hear, with the wind whistling through the gap between my ears. No other people were present either, or dogs, or bikes, or scooters.
Half way up the hill I finally heard faint "chips" and couldn't tell whether they were due to a cardinal, or bunting. Still fainter calls turned out to be a couple of Field sparrows. Other distant calls were coming from Orchard orioles (juvenile females). There were 3 - 4 of them. The orioles were focused on the small locust trees in the field, beyond mere saplings, definitely over the age of consent. Unfortunately, the orioles were not close to the path and waving them over proved futile. At first, I didn't even know what these birds were. The beaks seemed too short for orioles but then again the female has a smaller bill than the male bird. Juvenile males display some black around the base of the bill, none of that apparent here.
On my way back home I noticed a cormorant perched on a fallen trunk in the adjacent pond.
\
Female Orchard oriole
F-f-f-f-field sparrow
Exiled cormorant
Half way up the hill I finally heard faint "chips" and couldn't tell whether they were due to a cardinal, or bunting. Still fainter calls turned out to be a couple of Field sparrows. Other distant calls were coming from Orchard orioles (juvenile females). There were 3 - 4 of them. The orioles were focused on the small locust trees in the field, beyond mere saplings, definitely over the age of consent. Unfortunately, the orioles were not close to the path and waving them over proved futile. At first, I didn't even know what these birds were. The beaks seemed too short for orioles but then again the female has a smaller bill than the male bird. Juvenile males display some black around the base of the bill, none of that apparent here.
On my way back home I noticed a cormorant perched on a fallen trunk in the adjacent pond.
\Female Orchard oriole
F-f-f-f-field sparrow
Exiled cormorant
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Bird ID / Re: Need an opinion
« Last post by Shortsighted on August 20, 2025, 08:08:45 AM »It looks like a female Purple finch (notable bright eyebrow and heavy streaking on flank). I'm often amazed by how diminutive a female RBGB seems in the field, when I'm expecting a larger bird, and therefore one might easily confuse it with a female House/Purple finch, but then again, I'm continually amazed by a light switch and am confused by shoelaces. The rich earth tones and detailed contrast of the grosbeak are delightful and when a bird is wet, well, all the more so. Maybe you will also get to see a male Purple finch in the next few days. You do realize, I hope, that when you ask for an opinion, I might be tempted to go on-and-on and spin off on an irrelevant tangent, as I'm so inclined to do. There is risk lurking everywhere.
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Bird ID / Need an opinion
« Last post by Napper on August 19, 2025, 08:31:47 PM »Had a mystery bird last week though it might be a male Purple Finch.
Tonight at 19:40 hrs almost dark in a downpour this shows up
pic 1 is the bird pic 2 is from the past RBGB
Never seen a House Finch or a House sparrow Here by Georgian bay!
added a few notes
Tonight at 19:40 hrs almost dark in a downpour this shows up
pic 1 is the bird pic 2 is from the past RBGB
Never seen a House Finch or a House sparrow Here by Georgian bay!
added a few notes
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Ontario Birds / August 18th - Ashbridges Bay spit
« Last post by Shortsighted on August 19, 2025, 11:16:32 AM » In celebration of the crashed humidity, I felt that an atypical excursion (at least for me) was definitely in order. Man, that sounds lame. Anyway, while most assuredly quite lame, and with a gimpy leg to prove it, I explored Ashbridges Bay spit. It was good to visit my old stomping ground, even for little else than reminiscing what’s it was like to stomp. There were several other birders, albeit real birders, that shared the spit while trying not to step on a small dog, or be run-over by a cyclist, or by an electric scooter, or to collide with those myriad runners in wee shorts, not even pausing to ask for directions. but desperately searching for the finish line somewhere in Boston.
The wind was ferocious, ambitious to disburse some hats, and having a fling with the lakefront, producing ostentatious waves and littoral fountains of spray that could render a spectator quite giddy. It was really great to breath it all in.
There were not that many real birders on-site after all. Of course, I’m approaching the scene strictly from a photographic perspective and am therefore not preoccupied with a tally. From my vantage point the abundant direct sunlight was a constant challenge, perhaps even on par with the deft navigational skills needed to avert high-speed interruptions.
Sighting included: many Warbling vireos, Rose-breasted grosbeak, Great crested flycatcher, Least flycatcher, Spotted sandpipers, Eastern kingbirds, Yellow warbler, many Bay-breasted warblers, Canada warbler (maybe), Chestnut-sided warbler, Gray catbird, lots of swallows (various species), one Wood duck in eclipse plumage, and Baltimore orioles. If I was any good at this game I might have seen much more.
Great crested flycatcher
Least flycatcher
Warbling vireo
Gray catbird
Juvenile Bay-breasted warbler
Juvenile Bay-breasted warbler
Juvenile Magnolia warbler
Warbling vireo
Yellow-bellied flycatcher
Baltimore oriole
Gray catbird
Juvenile Bay-breasted warbler
Rose-breasted grosbeak
Warbling vireo
The wind was ferocious, ambitious to disburse some hats, and having a fling with the lakefront, producing ostentatious waves and littoral fountains of spray that could render a spectator quite giddy. It was really great to breath it all in.
There were not that many real birders on-site after all. Of course, I’m approaching the scene strictly from a photographic perspective and am therefore not preoccupied with a tally. From my vantage point the abundant direct sunlight was a constant challenge, perhaps even on par with the deft navigational skills needed to avert high-speed interruptions.
Sighting included: many Warbling vireos, Rose-breasted grosbeak, Great crested flycatcher, Least flycatcher, Spotted sandpipers, Eastern kingbirds, Yellow warbler, many Bay-breasted warblers, Canada warbler (maybe), Chestnut-sided warbler, Gray catbird, lots of swallows (various species), one Wood duck in eclipse plumage, and Baltimore orioles. If I was any good at this game I might have seen much more.
Great crested flycatcher
Least flycatcher
Warbling vireo
Gray catbird
Juvenile Bay-breasted warbler
Juvenile Bay-breasted warbler
Juvenile Magnolia warbler
Warbling vireo
Yellow-bellied flycatcher
Baltimore oriole
Gray catbird
Juvenile Bay-breasted warbler
Rose-breasted grosbeak
Warbling vireo
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Ontario Birds / August 15th - Lakefront Expedition
« Last post by Shortsighted on August 16, 2025, 08:42:25 AM » This day promised to start out a little cooler, with somewhat less humidity and a noteworthy gift of a breeze coming off the lake, so what better invitation for spending time there, littorally. I started-off in Oshawa. From there I stopped at Cranberry Marsh (Whitby) and then to Second Marsh (Ajax) before returning back to Pickering. Starting at 7 a.m. on a small sandbar is nothing like beginning at 7 p.m. at a local bar, so let’s get that out of the way. The on-shore breeze was delicious, not like the rancid nuts offered you know where. The sandbar was full of the regulars: geese, mallards and gulls, both herring and ring-billed. Why am I humming Piano Man? It was not quiet. No, not the birds, but the racket from Oshawa harbour. Bangs, crunches, all sorts of alarming assaults to my ears. The birds were used to it.
I opened my field manual and went through my checklist. First, check for suspicious characters, or the cops. All clear. Keep the sun in my favour and scan the sandbar for trouble-makers. Also, check for shorebirds, beyond the killdeer that are running around everywhere like disgruntled staff. There were at least a dozen killdeer, maybe even a baker’s dozen. Wait, one of those killdeer is a little smaller! That’s because it isn’t a killdeer, but a Semipalmated plover. Then I spotted two other shorebirds ... no, three others: Semipalmated sandpiper, Baird’s sandpiper and White-rumped sandpiper. While I was trying to get photographs, a small flock of Least sandpipers flew in. None of the other patrons even noticed. A call from the south end of the sandbar got my attention. Come on! It can’t be closing time. Two Lesser yellowlegs relocated in my favour. I love it when that happens. The sun was obediently behind me and I will slumped against some convenient driftwood, as if I was already over my limit. The shorebirds were mostly ignoring me. They must all be female.
Cranberry Marsh proved to be a bust.
Corner marsh was a little more interesting. Upon arrival I spooked a Least bittern. I waited patiently while standing in water (with rubber boots) but it didn’t reappear from within the all-knowing reeds. There were a few other herons on-site, both Great blue and Great egret. I relocated to the other side and just caught a glimpse of a gallinule chick before it too vanished within those beckoning shoreline reeds. On the beachfront there were geese and the most common gulls in large groups. My companion immediately spotted a couple of Caspian terns among the gulls, but they were far off and didn’t remain on-site for long. By this time the breeze was failing to assuage the noon heat and it was time to move on. While passing a local pond, I found two Green-backed heron that were perched on a partially submerged tree that was well anchored. Next week promises even more compassionate weather.
White-rumped sandpiper
Semipalmated sandpiper
\
Least sandpiper
Baird's sandpiper
Baird's and Semipalmated sandpipers
Lesser Yellowlegs
Mink
Common gallinule chick
Great Egret
Caspian tern
Green-backed heron
I opened my field manual and went through my checklist. First, check for suspicious characters, or the cops. All clear. Keep the sun in my favour and scan the sandbar for trouble-makers. Also, check for shorebirds, beyond the killdeer that are running around everywhere like disgruntled staff. There were at least a dozen killdeer, maybe even a baker’s dozen. Wait, one of those killdeer is a little smaller! That’s because it isn’t a killdeer, but a Semipalmated plover. Then I spotted two other shorebirds ... no, three others: Semipalmated sandpiper, Baird’s sandpiper and White-rumped sandpiper. While I was trying to get photographs, a small flock of Least sandpipers flew in. None of the other patrons even noticed. A call from the south end of the sandbar got my attention. Come on! It can’t be closing time. Two Lesser yellowlegs relocated in my favour. I love it when that happens. The sun was obediently behind me and I will slumped against some convenient driftwood, as if I was already over my limit. The shorebirds were mostly ignoring me. They must all be female.
Cranberry Marsh proved to be a bust.
Corner marsh was a little more interesting. Upon arrival I spooked a Least bittern. I waited patiently while standing in water (with rubber boots) but it didn’t reappear from within the all-knowing reeds. There were a few other herons on-site, both Great blue and Great egret. I relocated to the other side and just caught a glimpse of a gallinule chick before it too vanished within those beckoning shoreline reeds. On the beachfront there were geese and the most common gulls in large groups. My companion immediately spotted a couple of Caspian terns among the gulls, but they were far off and didn’t remain on-site for long. By this time the breeze was failing to assuage the noon heat and it was time to move on. While passing a local pond, I found two Green-backed heron that were perched on a partially submerged tree that was well anchored. Next week promises even more compassionate weather.
White-rumped sandpiper
Semipalmated sandpiper
\Least sandpiper
Baird's sandpiperBaird's and Semipalmated sandpipers Lesser YellowlegsMinkCommon gallinule chickGreat EgretCaspian ternGreen-backed heron18
Anything Goes / Re: Kirkland Lake: Finding Gold
« Last post by Charline on August 15, 2025, 01:04:30 PM »The photo was taken in 2014. This is the link of that photo from my website: https://charline.pixels.com/featured/rugged-beauty-charline-xia.html
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Anything Goes / Re: Kirkland Lake: Finding Gold
« Last post by Charline on August 15, 2025, 12:52:55 PM »Yes, it was an interesting trip! Initially, I plan to go to Matheson. I searched the internet and found my photo from Killarney was ranked as the first image of Matheson! Also, there are no lodging facilities in Matheson.
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Anything Goes / Re: Kirkland Lake: Finding Gold
« Last post by Dr. John on August 15, 2025, 09:49:26 AM »Interesting video. I have never made it up to Kirkland Lake. I've only gone as far as Englehart.