Some Things With Wings are Still Hanging Around!

I haven't been to Canatara Park in a few days 

but the Great Egret was still  hunting on my last visit.

However, he lost his balance on a wobbly branch while trying to grab a fish. His dignity was hurt and he soon flew off.

Many thanks to our friend Anne, who alerted us to Evening Grosbeaks at her backyard feeder! We were able to watch from the neighbouring park without disturbing them!

Her bubbling rock is a bird magnet! We aren't often able to find 

Evening Grosbeaks in SW Ontario so seeing 7 was a real treat!

Today's sunny skies energized some invertebrates, including 

this member of the Leaf Roller Moths who landed in front of me.

Wingless Things That Caught My Attention:

Rain drops on a yellow leaf.

Milkweed Seeds and parachutes, ready for take off.

Common Orange Lichen

Star-shaped parachutes!

 OFO Trip - Grand Bend, Pinery, Kettle Point.

We registered for the Ontario Field Ornithologists Trip to North Lambton today and were greeted along the way by a beautiful sunrise over the Thedford Bog.

While waiting for participants to arrive, we saw a flock of Canada Geese 

flying overhead as well as a Snow Goose, Great Blue Heron, 

Common Loon and over 200 Red-winged Blackbirds.

Our first stop of the day was spent scanning the 

Grand Bend Beach for Scoters, Loons and other waterfowl.

A visit to the Pinery included a stop at Beach Parking #9 where we took a few moments to feed the birds. The Tufted Titmice were a hit with a couple of our members who were seeing that species for the first time. This Titmouse has securely clasped a seed between his feet to break open the shell.

A White-breasted Nuthatch also came in for some seed.

Another beach scan at the Pinery found us Black and White-winged Scoters, Red-throated Loons, Grebes, ducks, gulls and many raptors.

Although these birds were distant, the upturned bill 

on these Red-throated Loons is still visible.

On our return to the vehicles, we passed a 

Red Squirrel enjoying some left over bird seed.

A pair of Sandhill Cranes strutted across a field near Ravenswood.

During a stop at Kettle Point, we watched a 

Snow Bunting fly in off the lake and have a rest on land.

Several Turkey Vultures were enjoying a fishy snack which was left on shore.

Thanks to our leader for a great day!

 Deryl's Western Road Trip - Part 2

Deryl was excited about the prospect of visiting Frank Lake, a 45 minute drive south of Calgary. Research before departure had him dreaming of finding many western bird species. The 1,700 acre wetland consists of 3 basins, but only 2 of them have reasonable access. He spent over 6 hours at this location. 

Black-necked Stilts will protect their young by pretending to be injured, much 

like Killdeer lure predators away from the nest by pretending to have an injured wing.

Black-necked Stilt in flight.

A viewing blind located on the property was not accessible. There were too many American Avocets blocking the trail!!

California Gull -  These are similar to Herring Gulls but 

are slightly smaller and have greenish legs, instead of pink.

The White-faced Ibis uses its long beak for probing 

in the mud as it looks for aquatic invertebrates to eat.

American White Pelicans

Now, that's a lot of Pelicans!

Looks like I'm going to have to pay a visit to Frank Lake!

 A Bird in the Hand!

I was happy to find left over seed in my coat pocket from last winter during Friday's lunch break. This little Black-capped Chickadee flew straight at me like a little bullet and sat on a twig near my head. It took only moments before he landed on my outstretched hand.

A feathered friend soon joined him. He was able to grab 2 seeds in one mouthful!

Deryl snapped this photo of a Hermit Thrush, actually sitting in the sun! 

We usually find them foraging in the shade on the forest floor.

A large flock of Double-crested Cormorants flew south over Canatara from 

Lake Huron. There were 130 birds in this flock, the most I have ever seen migrating.

After our Canatara visit, we knew the day was too beautiful to not spend 

outside, so we headed to the Dow Wetlands. I found a Four-humped Stink Bug. 

It is a favoured food of the Blue-Headed, Yellow-throated and Red-Eyed Vireos!

Although we could see birds in the distance, most were staying low. Trainees at the adjacent property housing the Lambton College Fire School, were practicing putting out car fires. We heard several explosions and saw lots of smoke. No wonder the birds were staying low!

As we headed back to the car, we found a Green Frog 

resting in the sun, perhaps the last one we'll see this year.

I found a smiley face in Canatara on Saturday. I can see a mouth, nose, 2 eyes 

and an interesting hair style. It was a tree bud on what I believe is a Walnut tree.

 Deryl's Western Road Trip!

Deryl made a driving trip to Vancouver Island this summer. Since its been a slow week for me with photo opportunities, I thought it would be nice to show case some of his birding finds.

Burrowing Owls at Grasslands National Park live in open habitats including pasture, desert and prairies. They will nest in Prairie Dog and Ground Squirrel burrows. If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you can see a third owl close to the owl on the left.

A slightly closer look at a Burrowing Owl. Insects, small mammals, amphibians, 

reptiles and other birds are on their food menu. Can you see a second owl in the photo?

A dark morph adult Ferruginous Hawk, just outside Grasslands National Park. Note the feathers on the legs which is diagnostic for this species.

A light morph adult Swainsons Hawk, just down the road from the Ferruginous. Note the bare, featherless legs.

Grasslands National Park! There are some hills in the prairies!

Sprague's Pipit, Grasslands National Park - If flushed from its grassy shelter, the Sprague's Pipit will fly upward and make a squeaky call. The American Pipit has a different call and flushes away, instead of up.

Western Meadowlark, Reed Lake, Saskatchewan.

These birds can push their strong bill into the ground, making a hole which 

gives them access to insects that most birds are unable to reach.

A pair of cuties! Western Kingbirds, outside Brandon, Manitoba.

Stay tuned for more Western pics in future posts.

Smaller Things With Wings 

I recently found a Large Milkweed Bug shedding its skin as it was 

emerging into the final adult stage. It appears to have 12 legs: 

6 orange legs + the 6 black legs of the exoskeleton it is leaving behind! 

More than 1 instar stage are often clustered together in the sun.

It took a bit of research before learning the name of this insect that I found at Henderson Conservation Area:- A Black-sided Pygmy Grasshopper. It can be found in a variety of habitats including wet meadows, sandy soil, coniferous and deciduous forests. It's favourite foods include algae, lichen, mosses and young grasses.

Leaf and Wood Miners create interesting patterns on their host plants. The Larva of a Leaf miner burrows between the layers of the leaf as it feeds, leaving behind a trail. The mature larva will cut a hole in the leaf, drop to the ground and pupate, emerging 2-4 weeks later as a fly.

A Red-phase Screech Owl, well camouflaged in an oak tree!!

Happy Thanksgiving! Photo taken at L.C. Henderson Conservation Area.