Owls and Tanagers!

A few Scarlet Tanagers have been found in the park recently. This individual kindly foraged for insects just a few feet off the ground, rather than high in the forest canopy. They spend much of their time skulking among the wide leaves of deciduous trees in the forest canopy where they are hard to see. Although they prefer to nest in mature deciduous forests, during migration they can be found in fragmented forests and backyards where they will also feed on blackberries, raspberries, serviceberries, mulberries and chokeberries. (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)

Sarnia welcomed a Summer Tanager to Germain Park for a day or two this spring. This immature male overshot the breeding range. It is a treat to find them in Southern Ontario! The adult male is the only completely red bird in North America. The Summer Tanager is a bee and wasp specialist. It catches insects in flight and kills them by beating them against a branch. Before eating a bee, the tanager rubs it on the branch to remove the stinger! (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)

Great Horned Owls can sometimes be seen passing through Canatara Park. If you hear an agitated group of cawing American Crows, they might be mobbing a Great Horned Owl. Crows may gather from near and far and harass the owl for hours. (Cornell Lab, All About Birds) A crow mob helped us to find this individual. Great Horned Owls are dangerous predators of crows, but crows have also been known to attack Great Horned Owlets.

I was saddened when the Wood Duck box on the island fell apart this winter. A new box has been installed and it wasn't long before the Eastern Screech Owl adopted it for its shelter and possibly nest! The sleepy owl is enjoying the morning sun!

Eastern Kingbird in Redbud tree.

For years I have wanted to photograph a bird in the Redbud blossoms. This year I scored two birds; Eastern Kingbird and Scarlet Tanager!