Tree Swallows, Tachycineta bicolor
One of the sign that summer is ending is when the swallow join in flocks, ready to migrate. Tree Swallows, Tachycineta bicolor, often find a bug rich area to stoke up for the journey and often remain there for a few weeks. Here in Ontario, sewage lagoons are a favored spot as is true for sandpipers and plovers. It is not unusual to see thousands along hydro lines, trees and fences.
Tree Swallows, Tachycineta bicolor
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Costa Rican sunset
A couple of views as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean from the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. The images were processed to simplify the elements and to try to give a smoth gradient to the sky.
Costa Rican sunset
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Young Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena
For many years Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena, have nested in the midst of a busy marina at Bronte Harbor in Oakville, Ontario. They nest on old tires that have been anchored for their use. They are unconcerned with the many nearby people and boat traffic.
These images show the adult on the nest with a tiger striped chick, as well as an individual chick swimming. They were taken in late summer a few years ago.
 Young Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena |
 Young Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena |
 Young Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena |
 Young Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena |
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The Commons Chamber, Ottawa
Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa is the legislative body of the country and is made up of the Canadian Monarch, represented by the Governor General, the Commons and the Senate. You can take a free tour of the Parliament Buildings and visit the chambers they use which are located in the Center Block of the Parliament Buildings. It is sometimes called the Green Chamber as opposed to the Senate’s Red Chamber.
 The Commons Chamber, Ottawa |
 The Commons Chamber, Ottawa |
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Cape Sugarbird, Promerops cafer
When I first began photographing birds ten years ago, I used a P&S Camera held to a birding scope, a process known as digiscoping. There were many inherent problems in working with equipment in a way it was not designed for but I remember it as being very exciting to think about how to overcome these obstacles.
This is one of my favorite images using that process, a Cape Sugarbird, Promerops cafer, which is standing on a flower called a Protea. Both the bird and the flower are endemic to the Cape Region of South Africa, the southern tip of the continent of Africa.Although it has a limited breeding area, it is not uncommon there and Birdlife International lists it as a species of Least Concern.
 Cape Sugarbird female, Promerops cafer |
 Cape Sugarbird, Promerops cafer |
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Screaming Piha, Lipaugus vociferans
Although it is drab in appearance being a dull gray in color, it is easy to know when a Screaming Piha, Lipaugus vociferans, is around. As you would guess from it’s name, it’s call is loud and persistent. There are a number of samples of it’s song on the following link.
Scraming Piha call (Xeno-Canto)
This interesting bird is a member of the Cotinga Family which has a great many unusual members. It is found in Tropical South America, especially in the Amazon Basin. These images were taken at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh.
Screaming Piha, Lipaugus vociferans
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Razorbill, Alca torda
The Razorbill, Alca torda, is one of the larger members of the Auk family, with a distinctive large blunt bill. It is the only member of the Alca genus. It breeds in the northern coasts of North America, Europe and parts of Russia and winter further south at sea. The species seems to be faring well and Birdlife International lists it as Least Concern.
 Razorbill, Alca torda |
 Razorbill, Alca torda |
The birds in these images were from the Island of Westry in the Orkney Islands. On the day of my visit there was a high wind which was lifting birds to the top of the cliffs where they could be viewed at eye level.
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Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida
Like the Grasshopper Sparrow of a past post, the Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida, is a species that prefers to breed in open areas, generally shrubby. It breed in the northern U.S. and Canada, east of the Rocky mountains and winters in Texas and Mexico.
 Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida |
 Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida |
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The Biosphere, Montreal
The Biosphere in Montreal was originally built for the 1967 World’s Fair and is based on the geodesic dome and ideas proposed by Buckminster Fuller. It was originally enclosed in an acrylic bubble but this was destroyed when a fire broke out during renovations in 1976. It remained closed until 1990 when Environment Canada began a museum based around issues of water and climate change. This was opened in 1995. The structure has been shown in a number of sci-fi movies such as Battlestar Galactica.
 The Biosphere, Montreal |
 The Biosphere, Montreal |
 The Biosphere, Montreal |
 The Biosphere, Montreal |
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American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
The American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, is found along the shores of the Americas. Its preferred area are the Atlantic coast from New England to Florida, the Gulf coast, and the coast of eastern South America to northern Argentina. It is also found on the Pacific coast from the Northern portion of South America to Mexico.
Although it is widespread and Birdlife International considers it of least concern, it has declined in many areas due to loss of habitat.
 American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus |
 American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus |
 American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus |
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