Sandy
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Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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SandyParticipantActity 4 -My favourite birding spot is actually a short stretch of road that winds itself through the small township of Keene, Ontario. Along this road, the village has placed nesting nesting platforms. When I drive out to Keene, I like to look for the nesting platforms. This past week, when I was out there, I found Ospreys around the platforms working on building their nest. Most nests had one of the pair, sitting in the platform while the other one was collecting building materials or hunting. What a wonderful outing! and watching them closely in flight, eating and working hard always make my day. It saddens me as well now, when I think of going out there 6 months from now only to discover the platforms emptyas the Osprey have raised their families and have started--or probaby already left to their winter grounds.in reply to: Activities: Different Seasons, Different Birds #960129
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SandyParticipantActivity 3 - Comparing the appearance of a male American Goldfinch as well as a Common Loon in the summer and then in the winter. The male American Goldfinch is mainly a bright yellow - like a canrary-- in the summer, but he sports s black cap, black and white patches on his wings along with some black trim on the outside of his wings. His beak is bright orange. In the winter the plumage changes to a dull brown. The cap on his head is now brown and a little lighter towards the back. There is still black and white on the wings and it's beak is brown. The Common Loon has a solid black head and red eyes. There is a vertical-striped band of black and white stripes and a band of green on the neck.The back is black and white and the breast is white. In the winter the feathers change to grey and white. The head is partially gray with black striping. The band of green and striping are no longer visible on the neck. The breast is white and the back is a brown-black colour and the white striping is not as disttinctivre.in reply to: Activities: Different Seasons, Different Birds #959740
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SandyParticipantActivity 2 -- 2nd Attempt. According to Merlin, there are many birds likely to be in my area of Ontario, Canada--many of which, I have never had the pleasure of seeing! Three birds that are year-long residents and birds that frequent my feeders are: White Breasted , Red Breasted Nuthatch and the Hairy Woodpecker. Three birds that are in the area now, that made my sightings special this week of April, were Osprey. Tree Swallow and Sandhill Crane--a lifer for me!! Osprey on nesting platform. I checked out 6 platforms and all of them were either occupied or in the throes of nest building. It was so exciting. Tree Swallow - Such pretty birds and watching them in flight--so graceful and fast. Sandhill Crane - a first sighting for me. My grandaughter thought it was an Ostrich. Landed in a wet farmer's field. So cool to see.in reply to: Activities: Different Seasons, Different Birds #959733
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SandyParticipantActivity 3 Using Merlin - Explore Birds I was delighted to see a quite a few birds that I have never seen, showing up as in my area! Wood Ducks, Tundra Swan, Pine Grosbeak, Snow Bunting, Bohemian Waxwing, and long tailed duck. How exciting. I wish Merlin would tell me where they are!in reply to: Activities: Local Bird Exploration #954445
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SandyParticipantActivity 2 Just in my neighbourhood, Merlin suggested that the following birds were out and about: Starlings, nuthatch, crow, blue jay, Mourning dove, robin, chickadee and gold finch. While I didn't see them all I did get to see some. Blue Jay, Starlings (lots), Mourning dove and chickadee. From my hood: The European Starling Mourning Dove Blue Jayin reply to: Activities: Local Bird Exploration #954443
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SandyParticipantActivity 1: This past weekend I partcipated in a waterfowl outing with our local naturalist group. It was very informative and interesting as the only water fowl that I really see are Canada Geese and Mallards. The day showed us that there is indeed many other type of ducks out there! Oh and the birds that are starting to follow through. It was a great day for viewing. As I really am not all that familiar with the duck-clan, while editing my pictures I found myself turning to Merlin and my pocket field guide to confirm the type of bird that I was viewing. The American Black Duck - which was amongst the other Mallards and hard to decipher. The look the same, are the same size, but colouring is slightly different and the bill is yellow. The Hooded Meganser - Wow what do you say about these guys! Not quite as colourful as a Wood Duck, but oh so pretty. Once again it is the size of a mallard and by the colours on these two, they are males. I once again used my pocket guide and confirmed the ID by uploading the picture to Merlin. Trumpeter Swan Apparently we host different swans here in Ontario--tundra, (which I have never seen), Mute and Trumpter that I know of. I always get confused between the Mute and Trumpeter swans and it was no difference here as I had to go online to remind me which was which. I tend to refer to them as the good and bad swan. Mutes are regarded to be more graceful and beautiful with their curved necks and black and orange bills, but their aggressive behavior and voracious appetites can often damage local ecosystems--hence by bad swan reference. The Trumpeter swan is now making a come back from it's almost extinct status and can be identified by it's black beak and loud trumpeting. Beautiful elegant birds. If you're lucky to see them taking off or landing, it is amazing to note the size of the wings when fully out stretched that the noise the wings make as they pick up air. We were so lucky as well to view as well, common golden eye, common mergansers, canada geese, a bald eagel, pileated woodpecker, robins, downy woodpecker, chickadee and mourning doves. We even had the chance to see a mink up-close-and-personal as he ran across the ice in a partially open bay. It was a great day for birding.in reply to: Activities: Local Bird Exploration #954441
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SandyParticipantActivity 4 In 1976, the Toronto Blue Jays played their first season of baseball in my home town. Up until that year, I had never seen a Blue Jay --the bird-- in person, do it was surprising to me, in 1976 that I would see bluejays suddenly appearing in my family's backyard. I honestly believed that it was a marketing ploy where the Blue Jay organization actually released live bluejays into the city of Toronto to help create the excitement of our new ball team. Well excitement it did cause, but not for the sport. In Toronto, our main viewing of birds were house sparrows and European Starlings. I can't remember hardly any other bird in my yard so when this beautiful blue bird showed up, I was really impressed. The bluejay was easy at that time to identify due to the pictures of bluejays that were diplayed with the city ball team, otherwise, I may have had problems distinguishing it to a blue bird perhaps. But if I used a field guide or had access to Merlin , I would have quickly learned the differences. A bluejay is about the size of a blackbird. it has the predominant colours blue and white with a bit of black trim. A bluejay as well, has a crest of feathers on the top of its head. I noticed bluejays like to stay within the branches of a tree but when they want to be heard, they have a loud screechie sound as opposed to a trill or song. When in flight, they make their calls and fly high and straight. They like to visit feeders and really love peanuts. I have always had a fondness for bluejays even when they boldly screech at me while awaiting the next toss of peanuts. I like to set out peanuts on my back deck banister and watch them fly in and scoop up that peanut.in reply to: Activities: Bird ID Practice #951197
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SandyParticipantActivity 3 Today in Ontario, we awoke to about 10 inches of snow. We went from green yesterday to all white today. In anticipation of the snow, I had put out more suet and checked my feeders yesterday. This morning I had to shovel a pathway for my dog in my backyard in order for him to do his morning routine. As soon as I stepped outside, I noticed that the buckthorn tree was filled with starlings, a few chickadees, 2 white breasted nuthatches and a pair of crows. The bigger birds were waiting for (starlings and crows) me to toss some dry cat food out to them while to chickadees took turns flying to the small bird feeder. The 2 nuthatches were frantically scurrying up and down the tree pecking away at the bark. It was a busy morning for birds. Once I had tossed out some catfood for the larger birds, I noticed that the crows, one-at-a-time went down and collected what offerings they wanted and the starlings, although fluttering around, gave them space to get first setting at the table. It appeared that as the crows took turns eating, while one went down to to eat, th other one was on guard acting as a sentinel. I didn't see them going down together to eat at the same time. Once Mr. and Mrs. Crow (whom I'll call Edgar and Allena) had flown up to the rooftop to eat and stash their food, then the starlings settled and it was choas and bad manners at its best!! Man they are fast, bold and furious in their approach to food that including alot of bickering. It seemed like 2 minutes later, my backyard was quiet and had returned to whiteness with no more birds around.in reply to: Activities: Bird ID Practice #951193
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SandyParticipantActivity 2 The 3 birds I chose are the White Breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker. All 3 speices visit my feeders, are black and white in colour, and love to walk all over my ash tree while taking time to peck as well at the tree leaving lots of evidence of their visits. The Nuthatch is easier to identify as it is smaller, black, white and gray with the colour splats being solid and not spotted or lined. The two woodpecker are almost identical in appearance and habits, but according to Merlin, are distinctly different. They are black and white, with white being spotted and the back of their feathers. The males sport as well, a red spot on their heads. The downy has more spotting on its back and has a much smaller beak, while the Hairy has a beak nearly as long as its head, less white spotting on its back and more white on the underside of the tail. Merlin has an excellent side-by-side picture which really helps point out the differences. I still struggle determining whichin reply to: Activities: Bird ID Practice #951094
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SandyParticipantActivity 1 - here in Ontario, Canada, I have always felt sorry for the bigger birds that cannot use my feeders due to their size. When it starts to really get cold, I usually buy some cheap dry cat food and will throw out some each morning after I put the dog out out. These birds are waiting for me now and will call out, expecially the crows to their mate, when they see me. Yes, they have me trained. I find beauty in the the blackness and intelligence of the crows and have really grown to appreciate the cunninest and antics of the starlings. They keep me amused for hours. Meet Edgar the crow and note the disgusted look on the starling as he tries to land on my empty suet feeder.in reply to: Activities: Bird ID Practice #950985
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SandyParticipantActivity 3 - Meet Edgar one of three crows that visits my yard. I find crows so inquisitve and interesting. There are 3 that visit each day (Edgar, Allena and Poe) that have my routine down pat and show up as soon as let my dog out. I usually put out peanuts or dry cat food for them and I watch them review their surroundings before taking turns to pick up the food. The other day, the ruckus they were making along with the other birds led me to think there might be a predator in the yard. Sure enough, when I went out to check, I found a cat lurking under my car. The other day when I was at my desk in my bedroom, I looked up to see them on the hydro wire in my backyard watching me through my window!!! I got up, grabbed some food and headed out. They had moved to the tree to await my arrival. I was thinking I could maybe train them, but now I'm thinking that they got me tained. Peterborough, Ontario, Canadain reply to: Activities: Exploring Birds #945630
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SandyParticipantActivity 2 - Tree Creepers - Red Breasted Nuthatch as seen from my livingroom window. I love these guys and their cousins White Breasted Nuthatch. Just watching them moved around my tree and feeders puts a smile on my face and they are one of the first birds I hear each day!in reply to: Activities: Exploring Birds #945624
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SandyParticipantAny7 Activity 2 - Water bird - a beautiful showing of a Wood Duck as my first viewing while on vacation in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I had always heard tell of them and their beauty and was once again, excited to actually see this bird.in reply to: Activities: Exploring Birds #945618
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SandyParticipantActivity 2. From the Woodpecker Group - Here is a picture of a Red Bellied Woodpecker as taken from my living room window. I usually have a Downy and a Hairy visiting my suet. This bird's visity sure made me happy. Peterborough, Ontario, Canadain reply to: Activities: Exploring Birds #945617
Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)