Duck and more Ducks jan 23, 2010

Today Carol and I went for a drive around the west end. Port Credit we saw up close Male and Female Common Merganser, Male Long Tailed duck, Male and Female buffleheads, Male and Female Lessor Scaup. At Sam Smith the Harlequins were there - 1 male and 2 female (very dark water and too far for my lens). Also some red breasted mergansers. At Humber the usual ducks and last at the Leslie spit at the bridge a sharp shinned hawk, red breasted mergansers, tons of scaup, common goldeneye, and more. A fine day.

Sharp Shinned Hawk Jan 21, 2010

I was working downtown today. On the way home I took the back roads. The sharp shinned hawk flew right beside me and landed on a tree. It was an empty street so I just pulled over and took a couple of shots. I only had my 200 lens today so this is a large crop.

Ring Necked Duck (Male and Female)

I have been busy cleaning up old photo files and throwing out the shots that are so blurry that i wonder why I kept them. So far in the midst of them I came up with these shots of a male and female ring necked duck. A sighting that I didn't even know I had. Date was April 2008.

Bufflehead, Common Merganser, and more Jan 18, 2010

Working in the west end today and stopped by Credit River in Port Credit. Lots of great duck around.

Male and Female Mallard chasing one another


Male and Female Bufflehead Duck - notice the male with a fish




Male Common Merganser (nothing common about this duck)


Male Long Tailed Duck




'Bibbed' Mallards (thanks Walter)


Lessor Scaup Female (I think) help here please

SCC Female Red Tail seen eating a bird Jan 17, 2010

On my way home I passed by the old nest. There sitting on a light stand was the female chowing down a bird. She looks very healthy.

Shots of her eating on the stand.

Snow Bunting, Red Tails, Turkeys, Shrike and Scenery Jan 16, 17, 2010

Went to visit my mom in Innisfil. My daughter Jen and my grandsons were also there. While visiting I took a couple hours to travel around the Minesing area.
I have to say the highlight was the snow buntings hundreds of the, 30+ red tails, northern shrike, 100+ turkeys, flying pileated woodpecker (shots didn't turn out), and 4 snowie owls and some beautiful scenery.

Double click image to enlarge.

Snow Bunting in winter plumage






Red Tail hawk - notice the branch flying

Farm on a quiet road in the country

This is for Julie and Mary who love cats

Northern Shrike

One of four snowies I saw - all a long ways away

Wild Turkeys