James Gardens, Lambton Park and Humber Bay East
Outdoor Ontario

James Gardens, Lambton Park and Humber Bay East

Palo · 13 · 1987
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Palo

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on: February 07, 2013, 11:51:56 AM
Yesterday was a glorious Winter day, weather wise and for birding.  We spent most of the day outside and encountered so much wildlife, too many to mention. However, here are a few of our high moments... Enjoy.

Common Merganser Male - James Gardens 2013-02-06 - Gorgeous bird!


Common Merganser Male and Females - James Gardens 2013-02-06


American Kestrel - James Gardens 2013-02-06


Purple Finch/House Finch? - James Gardens 2013-02-06


Red-tailed Hawk - Lambton Park 2013-02-06 - While driving to Humber Bay, my wife spotted this guy.


Pied-billed Grebe No.1 - Humber Bay Park East 2013-02-06


Pied-billed Grebe No.2 - Humber Bay Park East 2013-02-06 - Very cute


Red-breasted Merganser - Humber Bay Park East 2013-02-06 - Great to see this guy again.


Red-tailed Hawk - Humber Bay Park East 2013-02-06 - This is the best I can do with this one. He was way up there with two others.


Thx for looking
« Last Edit: February 08, 2013, 05:22:07 AM by Palo »

Rob'in'To

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Reply #1 on: February 07, 2013, 02:24:42 PM
Nice assortment.  That's a House Finch. :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
A birth certificate shows we were born.  A death certificate shows we died.  Pictures show we live.

Rotarran

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Reply #2 on: February 07, 2013, 08:38:00 PM
Nice pics!  Yep it's a House Finch.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Today is a good day to bird!

cosmo3667

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Reply #3 on: February 07, 2013, 11:35:56 PM
very nice set esp the green head on the first pic almost as green as the mallards
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Palo

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Reply #4 on: February 08, 2013, 07:27:06 PM
Quote from: "Rob'in'To"
Nice assortment.  That's a House Finch. :)

Quote from: "Rotarren"
Nice pics!  Yep it's a House Finch.

Thx guys and thanks for the confirmation. I guess the purple finch would have more... purple. ;)


Quote from: "cosmo3667"
very nice set esp the green head on the first pic almost as green as the mallards

Thx Cosmo.  The green on his head sometimes seemed so dark.  At first, we couldn't make out his eyes.  We had to wait for him to get into direct sunlight to get some decent shots. Not to mention, they are easily spooked, so getting closer took some time. Cheers
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Rotarran

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Reply #5 on: February 08, 2013, 07:32:59 PM
Quote from: "Palo"
Quote from: "Rob'in'To"
Nice assortment.  That's a House Finch. :)

Quote from: "Rotarren"
Nice pics!  Yep it's a House Finch.

Thx guys and thanks for the confirmation. I guess the purple finch would have more... purple. ;)


Quote from: "cosmo3667"
very nice set esp the green head on the first pic almost as green as the mallards

Thx Cosmo.  The green on his head sometimes seemed so dark.  At first, we couldn't make out his eyes.  We had to wait for him to get into direct sunlight to get some decent shots. Not to mention, they are easily spooked, so getting closer took some time. Cheers

Yeah I know what you mean regarding the Common Merg.  When I was down at the Humber Bay and took some pics of them, they always knew where I was despite trying on several occasions to approach from different sides and angles.  They always made sure to distance themselves before I could get a few shots off.  We may have a hard time seeing their eyes, but their eyes have no problem seeing us lol
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Today is a good day to bird!

Palo

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Reply #6 on: February 08, 2013, 08:04:46 PM
LOL  That's right!  They can sure spot you a mile away.

If you want a shot at them, you can give James Gardens at try.  They still move down river if you get too close, but if you go very slowly and quietly, they make their way back upstream.  There's also a feeding station there, south of the parking lot. It's along a trail that runs parallel but west of the main paved path heading south along the Humber river, where MANY species can be found in close proximity.  I don't know if you guys know of this hot spot.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Rotarran

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Reply #7 on: February 08, 2013, 08:58:36 PM
I'll have to check it out...I've never been there.  What other species do you remember seeing down there?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Today is a good day to bird!

Palo

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Reply #8 on: February 09, 2013, 09:10:34 AM
Quote from: "Rotarren"
I'll have to check it out...I've never been there.  What other species do you remember seeing down there?

Well, besides the usual guys like House Sparrows, Rock Pigeons, Starlings, Cardinals, Canadian Geese, Mallards, Doves, Blue Jays, Chickadees e.t.c. There are also Downy, Hairy and even a Red-bellied Woodpeckers...  The reds are harder to find. White and Red-breasted Nuthatches, Juncos, hard to find White-throated Sparrows, House Finches, a Red-tailed Hawk, a Kestrel, Goldeneyes, and of coarse Mergansers.  That's all we've seen and photographed there so far.  Because there are so many of them on a good day, it's a place we got a lot of practise photographing birds, and once in while stumble into a new bird to cross off our list... like that Common Merganser. Cheers
« Last Edit: February 09, 2013, 11:57:21 AM by Palo »

Palo

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Reply #9 on: February 09, 2013, 09:33:13 AM
Look at what just got posted on Birding News! If you can make it down today, you stand a good chance of catching this.

http://birding.aba.org/message.php?mesi ... NM=Ontario
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

MEGHAN

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Reply #10 on: February 10, 2013, 02:58:07 PM
Quote from: Rotarren
Yeah I know what you mean regarding the Common Merg. When I was down at the Humber Bay and took some pics of them, they always knew where I was despite trying on several occasions to approach from different sides and angles. They always made sure to distance themselves before I could get a few shots off. We may have a hard time seeing their eyes, but their eyes have no problem seeing us lol
Quote from: Rotarren


Just a quick tip..if you haven't already tried it.
I find if you sneak in when the birds are underwater they don't spook as easily. Stay relatively out of sight and wait for them to dive, then  move in. Once they come back up, stay where you are till they dive again then move some more.
It tends to make you look a bit like you are involved  in a covert operation but it's the best way I have found to get nice and close to them.

Meghan
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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cosmo3667

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Reply #11 on: February 10, 2013, 07:17:19 PM
Quote from: "MEGHAN"
Quote from: "Rotarren"
Yeah I know what you mean regarding the Common Merg. When I was down at the Humber Bay and took some pics of them, they always knew where I was despite trying on several occasions to approach from different sides and angles. They always made sure to distance themselves before I could get a few shots off. We may have a hard time seeing their eyes, but their eyes have no problem seeing us lol
Quote from: "Rotarren"


Just a quick tip..if you haven't already tried it.
I find if you sneak in when the birds are underwater they don't spook as easily. Stay relatively out of sight and wait for them to dive, then  move in. Once they come back up, stay where you are till they dive again then move some more.
It tends to make you look a bit like you are involved  in a covert operation but it's the best way I have found to get nice and close to them.

Meghan


Yes it works fairly well I use this to sneak up on Longtails and Buffleheads when they are in the dive and underwater staying near trees if present also seems to help and of course minimze your movements
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Rotarran

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Reply #12 on: February 10, 2013, 08:16:34 PM
Quote from: "MEGHAN"
Just a quick tip..if you haven't already tried it.
I find if you sneak in when the birds are underwater they don't spook as easily. Stay relatively out of sight and wait for them to dive, then  move in. Once they come back up, stay where you are till they dive again then move some more.
It tends to make you look a bit like you are involved  in a covert operation but it's the best way I have found to get nice and close to them.

Meghan

Cool I'll try that.  Every time they come up, they'll notice me being closer.  Like that person on the bench that keeps inching closer when you're not looking.  LOL
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Today is a good day to bird!

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