BIRD PHOTOS OF THE DAY: BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE & RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

   This morning as we took our dog out of the house to walk I managed to get a photo of a Black-capped Chickadee.  It was flitting from tree to tree.  We then drove to High Park in Toronto where I took photos of a male and female Red-winged Blackbird.

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE
HAS BLACK CAP, BLACK BIB
& WHITE CHEEKS

FEMALE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
BROWNISH WITH DARK STRIPS 
UNDERNEATH; REDDISH THROAT;
SHARP POINTED BEAK

MALE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
MOST NOTICEABLE FEATURE IS
RED/YELLOW ON WING WHEN
 PERCHED;  SOMETIMES YOU CAN
ONLY SEE YELLOW

PHOTOS OF THE DAY: BIRDS, SQUIRRELS, SCENERY & FLOWERS

   This morning Sharon and I took our dog Kenya (a Shetland Sheepdog or Shelty) for a walk and sighted a House Finch - see first photo below.  Later on this morning we traveled to the Toronto Botanical Gardens and Wilket Creek Park and took the photos below.

HOUSE FINCH

AMERICAN ROBIN



DOWNY WOODPECKER

ABOVE 3 PHOTOS - TWO MALE MALLARDS
SWIMMING UPSTREAM PAST RAPIDS ON
WILKET CREAK

FEMALE MALLARD

ABOVE 2 PHOTOS
EASTERN GREY SQUIRREL

BLACK SQIRREL - SUBGROUP OF
EASTERN GREY SQUIRREL
COMMON IN SOUTHEASTERN CANADA

OUR WALKERS & BIRDERS

SCENIC VIEWS & SOME FLOWERS

AT TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDENS &

WILKET CREEK PARK

BIRD PHOTOS FROM MY ARCHIVES: RAPTORS

   Raptors are birds of prey, they hunt and feed on other animals. Generally these birds have good eyesight and powerful talons and beaks.  The good vision allows them to detect prey during flight.  The strong talons allows the bird to hold its prey and their strong curved beak allows them to tear the flesh of its prey.

   Here are photos of the raptors I have so far managed to photograph.

BLACK VULTURE IN FLIGHT - NOTE THE

LIGHT GRAY AT END OF WINGS

EAGLE LAKES

ABOVE 2 PHOTOS - BLACK VULTURE
NOTICE WRINKLED GREY HEAD
EAGLE LAKES

TURKEY VULTURE IN FLIGHT - NOTE THE
RED HEAD & THE BLACK LEADING EDGE
WINGS & DARK GREY REAR EDGE WINGS
AND WING TIPS

ABOVE 3 PHOTOS - NORTHERN HARRIER
EAGLE LAKES

ABOVE 2 PHOTOS - OSPREY
NOTE BLACK STRIPE THROUGH EYE &
GREY FEET
EAGLE LAKES

ABOVE 2 PHOTOS - RED-TAILED HAWK
NOTE THE REDDISH TAIL & WHITE
PATCHES ON BACK
ALONG THE NIAGARA RIVER IN
ONTARIO

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
YOU CAN JUST ABOUT MAKE OUT
THE FORKED TAIL
EAGLE LAKES

ABOVE 3 PHOTOS - RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
THIS IS THE SOUTH FLORIDA TYPE
NOTE THE PALE ORANGE BARS ON CHEST &
RED STREAK ON UPPER WINGS
VARIOUS LOCATIONS

BALD EAGLE
NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN

PHOTOS OF THE DAY: BIRDS & TURTLES

   Sharon and I went for a walk with our dog Kenya in Richmond Green Park in Richmond Hill, ON.  In addition to a few birds,we also took photos of Painted Turtles.  In addition to several single turtles we also saw four turtles together, probably a family.

ABOVE 3 PHOTOS - COMMON GRACKLE

MOURNING DOVE

ABOVE 2 PHOTOS - SONG SPARROW

ABOVE 3 PHOTOS - PAINTED TURTLES

BIRD PHOTOS OF THE DAY: COMMON GRACKLE & SPOTTED SANDPIPER

   Today Sharon walked around Unionville and Toogood Pond Park.  We sighted a Spotted Sandpiper with breeding plumage and a Common Grackle.  Here are there photos.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER IN BREEDING PLUMAGE

ABOVE 3 PHOTOS - COMMON GRACKLE