Green Heron, Grosbeak, Bunting, Wood Ducks and more July 27, 2009

Green Heron



Wood Duck - Adult plus babies

Indigo bunting (long ways away)

Some type of dragon fly

some type of butterfly

1 st year Rose Breasted Grosbeak (notice the orange coloured chest)

Went for a drive with Walter and the weather was sunny, rainy, very cold and then hot. WEIRD. We saw many different birds from a stunning green heron (lifer for Walter) to great blue herons, wood ducks, 3-4 indigo buntings, a 1st year rose breasted grosbeak, butterflies and more. Thanks Walter for putting up with grumpy old me as I am still not feeling too good.

Turkey Vulture on a Haystack & EAstern Kingbird feeding her young July 25, 2009

Decided to wander this morning. On Lakeridge Road saw nothing - no birds no sign of anything but when I got to the haystacks I saw this black bird on top. Grabbed my binoculars and realized it was a turkey vulture sitting like a hen. WEIRD. Went to the marsh and saw a lonely wood duck, eastern kingbird feeding her babies and a great blue heron being chased by the eastern kingbird. Called it a day - a good day.

Indigo bunding, egrets, great blue herons and more July 25, 3009

Peter and I spend the day wandering from location to location today. We were very lucky as it rained when we were in the car and then stopped when we arrived at each place. A lifer for me was seeing 2 indigo bunting (a distance away but with the binoculars clear as day). Talk about beautiful colours. Peter got a few lifers at Ressors Pond - but the colour of the sky and the pond created what a call magical photos of the egrets in the water. Oh and the baby spotted sandpipers were sooooooo cute (I am sure just out of the nest). We also went to listen to the choir of green frogs at Morningside Park and then to see the cliff swallows feeding their babies at Rouge Beach park. I will post some photos now and more later. Enjoy.

Juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron, Wilson Snipe July 21, 2009

Carol and I went to Ressor's Pond to see 2 juvenile Black-Crowned Night Herons. They were so beautiful. (At first we thought they were green herons but thanks to Stan he confirmed they were night herons -thanks Stan). Lots of sandpipers, greater and lessor yellowlegs, great egrets, and 3 great blue herons.

Green Frogs all over the place July 16, 2009

Kermit the frog - I love this shot

Love the reflection in the water - the eyes look huge


The great blue heron came in with food while Chris and I were taking shots of the frog

Cedar Waxwing eating a dragonfly

Met up with Chris at the pond and we saw green frogs everywhere. Man I wished I had brought my macro lens. Could have gotten some real close ups. Chris was laughing at me. Here I am with my 400 and having to move back so I can take shots.

Tamara the frogs are for you. Enjoy

Barn and Cliff Swallows and babies July 15, 2009

The whole Cliff Swallow Family, mom, dad and baby (notice how one adult is standing on top of the other)

Love the yellow mouth - makes it easy to see where to put the food

Barn swallow


Carol - watching the swallows on the hydro line

Goldfinch

Catbird (not sure if this a juvenile or adult)

Went out with Carol and saw hundreds and hundreds of swallows. First were the cliff swallows feeding the young. Amazing. Then the barn swallows all lined up on the line and every time a train went by off they flew. I tried to take a flight shot and well I just gave up. I was getting dizzy watching them.

Eastern Kingbird and young July 13, 2009

Today at Morningside Park I saw a adult and 2 young eastern kingbirds. The adult was sweeping the marsh for bugs and then feeding the two young.
First time seeing the young kingbirds. very cool.

Green Frog, House Wren, Groundhog, 12 Spotted Skimmer, Daylily, Red-berried ElderJuly 11, 2009 (double click to enlarge photos)

Green Frog

House Wren

A groundhog with lots of bugs on his head !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12-Spotted Skimmer (male)

Orange Daylily

Red-berried Elder (with poisonous fruit)

A short trip to Morningside Park and some lovely little creatures.
Thanks Ross for the ID's on all of them.