Category Archives: birds

  New life abounds in the spring. Here are three rarely featured species. Robin Four robin chicks look out from a nest under a building’s eves.  One of the chicks seems to be getting more than its fair share of … Continue reading →

  When one watches a Turkey Vulture’s morning, it certainly seems to reveal a ritualistic behaviour. The day begins with the vulture spreading its wings to warm then in the early morning sunlight. Then comes the obligatory stretching of the … Continue reading →

  There is a narrow window of opportunity to be able to see dipper chicks leaning out of their nest and being fed. When slightly younger, they stay inside; when slightly older they have fledged and are gone. When I … Continue reading →

  Gregarious, garrulous, and guileless, a couple of dozen Cedar Waxwings feast on the petals of a black hawthorn tree. This is the first time I have seen a flock of these birds feeding on the petals of flowers.  The … Continue reading →

  We are a few weeks into the hummingbird season. It started slowly with the arrival of male Rufous Hummingbirds. Then some female Rufous arrived. Now are added the Calliope and Black-chinned. Sometimes they share a feeder, sometimes they fight … Continue reading →

  The Great Horned Owl is billed as widespread and common throughout North America. But, just try to find one: it has camouflage colouring, it is primarily active at night; it nests unobtrusively high in trees. My favourite observing location … Continue reading →

  The hummingbird’s gorget is iridescent: See it at one angle to the sun and it is dark, twisted to another angle and it glows brilliantly. A male Rufous Hummingbird twists its head and flashes its gorget.  

  I have been visited by male Rufous Hummingbirds for about a week. But, until yesterday, I only managed poor shots of it. The males arrive here first; I trust the females will be along shortly. And maybe some other … Continue reading →