sitta canadensis

west...

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:26:38 -0400

I was fortunate enough to spend a productive weekend in downtown Seattle at the beginning of April, and saw many new species just up and down the waterfront. On my last day, I took a taxi up to Montlake Fill, which was much quieter, but still afforded an opportunity for some closeups of familiar birds. As the sun set over the Sound, I decided to walk back to the hotel, neither having a complete map of the are, nor a clear idea of how long a walk it would be. A little over an hour and 5.1 miles later, I collapsed into a shower, and a well-earned slumber.

spring in the air

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:52:43 -0400

Despite a few last moment chilly days, spring has definitely arrived, and the birds know it.

Maybe not the sharpest photos I’ve taken, but good fun nevertheless. All shot in Gibbons Park, London.

a small taste

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:53:12 -0400

At the end of February, I visited Atlanta GA. It was a great opportunity to try and capture some of the more southerly species, though time and distance were limited. I was staying near Piedmont Park, a green oasis in the middle of the city, and home to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

As it turned out, stormy weather and construction hampered my efforts, but I still managed some portraits of the spring yet to come in the north.

winter into spring

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:09:55 -0400

February brought brief glimpses of wintering duck species on the Thames; Canvasback, Redhead, Wood Duck and Lesser Scaup among them, including this immature male in transitional plumage:

And a last shot at seeing White-winged (Two-barred) Crossbills, only occasionally looking up from gorging on spruce cones.

Some warm weather brought out American Robins and Cedar Waxwings to sample the hackberry crop:

A single White-throated Sparrow thought they looked good, too.

But soon colder temperatures sent these more colourful species into cover, leaving only Juncos, Chickadees and Brown Creepers.

Brrr.

owling ontario

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:23:00 -0500

With the recent (and seemingly annual) debate circulating around baiting owls for the purposes of creating more spectacular photos, I have to fall on the side of conservation, or rather, conservatism. Sans soapbox, I’ve found that so far, at least, one just has to be patient (lunch in the second photo was self-acquired) and perhaps also be willing to settle for less.

closer to home

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:09:13 -0500

The stretch of river near our place has a seemingly never-ending continuum of new arrivals and departures, even in deepest winter. Though most encounters are with familiar birds, the possibility of out-of-season visitors like the Pied-Billed Grebe, or very rare northerners like the White-winged Crossbills liven up the most overcast of days.

winterlude

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:42:05 -0500

I think perhaps the human deep-freeze experience at Burlington last week was compounded by views of some very frigid looking ducks. If they weren’t already covered in pellets of ice, they were being buffeted by high waves in the narrow ship channel. All part of a day in the life of arctic sea-goers, I suppose.

burlington lift-off

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:36:40 -0500

Big Day at the Burlington Lift Bridge. Met a handful of others crazy enough to brave the -35C wind chill, and came away with a new life bird, the White-winged Scoter, which doesn’t occur closer to home.

first photo of 2009

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 12:21:22 -0500

Golden-crowned Kinglet, photographed January 3 in Gibbons Park, London ON. What a thrill to see that tiny fleck of flame briefly on display.

Now wishing the sun would come out again on the few days I have off.

trying the 50D

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:07:42 -0500

I think I’ll keep it for a while.

ottawa finches

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:39:19 -0500

winter is here to stay

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:52:12 -0500

out of place, out of time

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:42:20 -0500

American Redstart, London Ontario. Latest on record for County Middlesex.

LIFE archives on google image search

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:16:10 -0500

more sabine's gull, port stanley ontario

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:08:09 -0500

four gull day, port stanley ontario

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:42:16 -0500

kinglets, elgin and middlesex

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:56:48 -0500

late fall, london ontario

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:33:42 -0400

sparrows

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:50:29 -0400

komoka provincial park

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:58:04 -0400