Sunday, February 27, 2011

February 27, 2011 Local birding: Red-bellied Woodpecker,Brown Thrasher, and Hoary Redpoll

Today spent a hour birding while driving up to Constance Bay. Overall it was a good run with 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 1 at Constance Bay and the other closer to Kanata. Both woodpeckers are males and were first observed back in December. The Brown Thrasher west of Dunrobin is still doing well and hopefully will make it through the remaining winter and maybe become the first successful overwintering record for the Ottawa Region. In the 150+ Common Redpolls at our feeder today, 1 Hoary Redpoll was present for a while this morning.


The Red-bellied Woodpecker in on the increase in eastern Ontario.


The Constance Bay Red-bellied Woodpecker was first reported on December 25th, 2010.

Friday, February 25, 2011

February 24-25, 2011 Birding Amherst Island

The number of hawks and owls on Amherst island continue to drop compared to January. On Feb. 24th and 25th Ben and I covered most of the regular spots on the island and found only a few raptors. Yesterday, we arrived on Amherst late afternoon and managed to find 1 Snowy Owl and 7 Short-eared Owl on the KFN property at the east end. The heavily barred Snowy Owl was perched on a distant Osprey nesting platform and flew a couple of times in persuit of prey. The Short-eared owls were very active calling and hunting over the open field. One was successful in catching a meadow vole. We also had 2 Great horned Owls hooting up a storm near the west end of the island.
Today,
enroute from Kingston to Amherst Ben spotted a Barred Owl along Hwy. 33 just north of Taylor-Kidd Road. On the island we covered the "Owl Woods" and found no small owls and only one very tame Long-eared Owl roosting. We spent a couple of hours driving around the island but only found one Red-tailed Hawk.



Long-eared Owls can easily blend into the background of a tree.


I detected this individual by the movement of its head as it was looking around.



The Long-eared Owl turned out to be very tame and just sat quietly..


A quiet day in the woods for everyone.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

February 19-22, 2011 Local birding

Since returning from Ecuador the local birding has been quiet but still lots of Common Redpolls around and moving through the region. In the past 4 days Ben and I have observed both subspecies of Common and Hoary Redpoll at our feeders. The number of redpolls continue to change day to day at the feeders. In general bird activity in on the increase with European Starlings and American Crows showing up in areas that they were absent during the winter months. Even the amount of bird song in is on the increase with Northern Cardinals singing, both Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers drumming and Black-capped Chickadees doing there distinctive whistle. Only another 3 1/2 weeks till spring!


As the landscape changes in the Kanata area this old barn and silo will become a very rare site.


A Blue Jay catches the early morning sun.


An adult Red-tailed Hawk enjoying the early morning sunshine.


The American Robin is a sign of Spring to many but remember they do overwinter in the Ottawa region.


A leucistic common Redpoll at our feeder in Carp.


A Common Redpoll feeding with the larger Greater Common Redpoll.


Redpolls numbers continue to increase in the Ottawa region.



The Common Redpoll enjoys niger seed feeders.


My son Ben with a very tame Common Redpoll. A one point, it landed on his head!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

February 18, 2011 Ecuador images




Galo contemplating our next move.


Our driver Alfredo counting leaf cutter ants while waiting for the group.


Angel Paz preparing the food for the feeders at the Antpitta Reserve.


The group looking at Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper at Guango Lodge.

Galo cueing up the Ipod for our next bird.



Looking for the Giant Hummingbird.

Bruce birding in the rain at Yanacocha Reserve

Thursday, February 17, 2011

February 17, 2011 Birding Ecuador: Bellavista Area


Ocellated Tapaculo


Ocellated Tapaculo


Tanager Finch


Tanager Finch


Green and Black Fruiteater

Streak-necked Flycatcher


Dusky Bush-Tanager


Buff-tailed Coronet


Collared Inca


Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan

February 16, 2011 Birding Ecuador: Silanche Reserve


Pale-mandibled Aracari


Broad-billed Motmot


Western White-tailed Trogon


Buff-rumped Warbler

February 15, 2011 Birding Ecuador: Milpe Forest Reserve


Black Vulture



Turkey Vulture

Rufous-tailed hummingbird and female Green Thorntail feeding.


Green-crowned Brilliant


Long-billed Starthroat


Female Green Thorntail with deformed bill.


White-whiskered Hermit in the mist.


Male Green Thorntail


Rufous-tailed Hummingbird


Chestnut-mandibled Toucan

Thick-billed Euphonia




February 14, 2011 Birding Ecuador: Angel Paz Antpitta Reserve


Tropical Kingbird


Masked Water-Tyrant


Lyre-tailed Nightjar


Lyre-tailed Nightjar


Yellow-breasted Antpitta



Female Orange-breasted Fruiteater


Female Orange-breasted Fruiteater


Tawny-bellied Hermit


Violet-tailed Silph


Booted Racket-tail



Empress Brilliant


Booted Racket-tail showing white boots.


Velvet Purple Coronet


Moustached Antpitta


Dark-backed Wood-Quail


Sickle-winged Guan


Toucan Barbet


White-throated Quail-Dove


Crimson-rumped Toucanet

Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager


Common Potoo


White-faced Nunbird


Female Green-crowned Brilliant

Pacific Hornero