The EOB group found an adult Red-necked Phalarope at the Embrun Sewage Lagoons today; hopefully a harbinger of a season of rarities for our group! This was the first time to juices flowed in many weeks, and I must admit, my pupils are still dilated! 🙂 Continue reading Shorebirding sites in the west end of Ottawa
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Purple Finch “vireo song”
From late summer, through to the following spring, Purple Finch can sing a confusing rendition of their song. The flow to their sweet, melodious song is chopped, and what can be heard are brief spurts of notes followed by pauses. Continue reading Purple Finch “vireo song”
Mistakes in Birding
While attending the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Montreal this past June (2017), I had yet another opportunity to lose myself in pondering a subject I enjoy considering: the journey toward peak performance, and coping with the minor (and sometimes major) mistakes made along the way. Continue reading Mistakes in Birding
Baby Birdies Babbling
By late summer, one may begin to overhear garbled, tempo-less cacophonies of notes while out birding. From approximately August through until the following spring, “baby” songbirds “babble” as they take to learning and developing their songs. Continue reading Baby Birdies Babbling
Thayer’s Gull is now recognized by the AOS as a subspecies of Iceland Gull
The results of the AOS meeting are in: Thayer’s Gull is now considered a subspecies of Iceland Gull, rather than its own species. There are other changes too, such as a new species of Red Crossbill. For eBird users, these changes will be reflected in August, when eBird taxonomy is fully updated. Continue reading Thayer’s Gull is now recognized by the AOS as a subspecies of Iceland Gull
Signs of Fall Migration
Sorry to say, as you’re reading this while sipping your lemonade, basking in the summer sun by your pool, but birds will soon be heading south again! The first signs of migration are found in the blackbirds, flycatchers, swallows, and shorebirds. Continue reading Signs of Fall Migration
Target Birds in Eastern Ontario
For me, as far as 2017 tour highlights go, first is Point Pelee in May, then comes the Target Birding in Eastern Ontario trip. On 17 June 2017, our birding group birded along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, from the eastern limit of Hastings County, through to Frontenac Provincial Park, near Verona. Continue reading Target Birds in Eastern Ontario
Sedge Wrens: tales from a nomadic improviser
Sedge Wrens are unique in that their songs are improvised, not learned. The variation to their song occurs during the ‘trrrrrrrrrrr’ portion, after the ‘cut-cut-cut.’ Amazingly, males have repetoires of upwards of 300 different ‘trrrrrrrrrr’ notes. Continue reading Sedge Wrens: tales from a nomadic improviser
Before there were birds, there was F1
Rewind to a Sunday morning in April. The year is 1999. I am at the local Blockbuster Video in Barrhaven, browsing Nintendo 64 video game rentals. I decided to try out a racing game, called F-1 World Grand Prix. Continue reading Before there were birds, there was F1
Juvenile Northern Rough-winged Swallows
Juvenile Northern Rough-winged Swallows provide an excellent example of subtle beauty. The throat, suffused with cinnamon; and the lesser, median, and greater coverts (wing bars), broadly-brushed with cinnamon. Continue reading Juvenile Northern Rough-winged Swallows