RING-BILLED GULL, COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK, TORONTO, ON

MARSH WREN, COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK, TORONTO, ON

   We can ID this bird as a Marsh Wren by its prominent white eyebrows; dark crown; slender bill that is dark above, light below and slightly downsurved; white throat and upper chest; and upright tail.   The Marsh Wren  was heard by a number of birders before it was seen.  It was hidden among cattails.  It was finally sighted because a sparrow came along and disturbed it.

   The Marsh Wren is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 523.

LEAST BITTERN, COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK, TORONTO, ON

   We can ID this wading bird as a Least Bittern by its small size (it is one of the smallest herons in the world), crown of dark brown, back of dark brown with white lines,  underparts of buff and white stripes and neck and sides of buff.

   The Least Bittern is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 522.

GRAZING WHITE-TAILED DEER, SOYBEAN FIELD, LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA, WHITBY, ON

FEMALE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD EATING, CRANBERRY MARSH, LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA,

RACOON, CRANBERRY MARSH, LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA, WHITBY, ON

MUTE SWANS, CRANBERRY MARSH, LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA, WHITBY, ON

   The majority of these swans are adult Mute Swans, but the ones with a completely dark bill are probably juveniles.