What is it?

[Ally]

She stick-handles right around the Nashville player and she shoot ... she scores!
Magnolia (late-summer juvenile) it is.
Well, you're right, it is a talon but you will notice that the feathers do not cover
the yellowish ankle and therefore it is the talon of a Bald Eagle.
So, what about the flying oyster mushroom?

Unknown #3

Is that a lady Redstart?

[Shortsighted]

There lurks a Redstart twixt leaf and twig, but I doubt she's a lady.
A male in drag as juvenile's are wont to dress. The head is a strong
gray colour and a female might be a little browner, a brownish gray
if you will. I'm no expert on the female persuasion so I may be way
off base but I'm certain a real expert will weight in on the controversy.

Unknown #4

[Ally]

There lurks a Redstart twixt leaf and twig, but I doubt she's a lady.
A male in drag as juvenile's are wont to dress. The head is a strong
gray colour and a female might be a little browner, a brownish gray
if you will. I'm no expert on the female persuasion so I may be way
off base but I'm certain a real expert will weight in on the controversy.

Unknown #4

Orange-crowned Warbler

[Shortsighted]

That's my guess too.

Unknown #5:

[Ally]

That's my guess too.

Unknown #5:

Savannah Sparrow?

[Shortsighted]

Most certainly a true sparrow but probably not a Savannah sparrow.
I photographed this sparrow in late-August and it was near water.
I suppose I should have mentioned those facts in advance but I
wanted to see if you could keep pulling a rabbit out of the proverbial hat.
I don't think I could stump you anyway so I might as well give up.

[Ally]

Most certainly a true sparrow but probably not a Savannah sparrow.
I photographed this sparrow in late-August and it was near water.
I suppose I should have mentioned those facts in advance but I
wanted to see if you could keep pulling a rabbit out of the proverbial hat.
I don't think I could stump you anyway so I might as well give up.

Okay, I haven't even met a swamp sparrow in person

[Shortsighted]

Yes, I believe it to be a juvenile Swamp sparrow ... for what my guess is worth.
It is an unremarkable sparrow as far as livery is concerned, nor does it have a
noteworthy song/call. Its notoriety mostly stems from its secretive nature and
is therefore often unseen or overlooked when it flashes into view for a second.
That in itself makes it a bird to photograph as far as I'm concerned. This juv
was spotted on the southern edge of Cranberry Marsh in Whitby. I noted a group
of sparrows moving back and forth so I sat on my mat, leaned against my backpack
right next to a log that they seemed to alight on. Sure enough, they did so again
and I did my thing. The light was not great and my old T4i does not perform well
at high ISO but I did get a few shots that I'm satisfied with. I've posted to the
shot that the ID snippet came from and my favourite shot of that session.





Unknown #6

[Ally]

Yes, I believe it to be a juvenile Swamp sparrow ... for what my guess is worth.
It is an unremarkable sparrow as far as livery is concerned, nor does it have a
noteworthy song/call. Its notoriety mostly stems from its secretive nature and
is therefore often unseen or overlooked when it flashes into view for a second.
That in itself makes it a bird to photograph as far as I'm concerned. This juv
was spotted on the southern edge of Cranberry Marsh in Whitby. I noted a group
of sparrows moving back and forth so I sat on my mat, leaned against my backpack
right next to a log that they seemed to alight on. Sure enough, they did so again
and I did my thing. The light was not great and my old T4i does not perform well
at high ISO but I did get a few shots that I'm satisfied with. I've posted to the
shot that the ID snippet came from and my favourite shot of that session.





Unknown #6

oh, oh, an EasternTowhee? I did manage to find one this year

[Shortsighted]

You are quite right, an Eastern Towhee it is (female). Obviously the colour
scheme has been burned into your memory. Did you photograph it? Was it
a female as well?

There have been enormous groups of Red-breasted Merganser reported at
Cranberry Marsh and many also reported at Sam Smith. With your long lens
you might have a chance to photograph one this year.




Unknown #7:

[Ally]

You are quite right, an Eastern Towhee it is (female). Obviously the colour
scheme has been burned into your memory. Did you photograph it? Was it
a female as well?

There have been enormous groups of Red-breasted Merganser reported at
Cranberry Marsh and many also reported at Sam Smith. With your long lens
you might have a chance to photograph one this year.




Unknown #7:

Eastern wood pewee.
I actually changed my answer from female towhee to a general one. didn't want to repeat the mistake or the redstart again :lol:  my towhee should be male, with all the singing

[Shortsighted]

I figured it was a Least FC because it was more olive green than gray and the
wings are shorter but I can't find the image any more in order to check it.
You've easily guessed all my photo snippets except the second one, which
I thought would be easy and you might eventually figure it out when I tell
you that the bird's head is tilted 90 degrees.

[Ally]

This bird would be no match for a RTH.
It is a bird that migrates through the GTA
and can be seen on both spring and fall,
unlike some that are far more prevalent
during the fall. Personally, I have seen
them more often in the fall, late-October
(now) at the earliest but more commonly
coming through on early to mid November.

Here is an easy one while you are contemplating
the beauty of russet feather detail.

Black Crowned night heron

[Shortsighted]

You are looking at a bird in the heron family of birds.
A BCNH has a distinctive black crown when it attains adulthood
and the juvenile is heavily streaked in earth tones, so the
heron-like bird depicted does not satisfy either description.

When I say its head is tilted 90 degrees it means you are looking
at the bird's crown. The bird twisted its head like that to catch a
dragonfly. Nuff said.

So, if you are not interested in photographing RB Merganser what
species are you hoping to capture this fall?

[Ally]

A mute swan!
I would like to get hawks or eagles. :lol: