Water Thick-knee, Burhinus vermiculatus

Found in Southern Africa, not surprisingly near water, the Water  Thick-knee, Burhinus vermiculatus, was known as the Water Dikkop or Waterdikkop from the Afrikaans. It is a bird of beautifuly fine markings.

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Wild Turkey with chicks

At one time Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, were very uncommon in Ontario, as they had problems withstanding the cold winters. As our winters have gotten milder in the last few years, there numbers are increasing and I often see them now, including large flocks in the winter. This adult with five chicks is the first time I have seen young birds and they were not far from my residence. So even if the bright sun was not the best for photography, I had to stop the car for a few shots.

Wild Turkey with chicks

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Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus

Hamilton harbor in Ontario is a breeding area for a large number of Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus. One of their nesting trees is beide a highway which makes it easy to observe them. The image above shows an adult with four chicks while the one below shows a chick being fed.

Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus

Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus

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Sandhill Cranes, Grus canadensis

A few miles from my house is an area called Grass Lake, which has been a breeding spot for Sandhill Cranes, Grus canadensis. After their chicks are born, they can often be seen in family groups foraging for food. This group had two young birds with the parents, which is very often the case. Incidentally, young birds are known as “colts”

Sandhill Cranes, Grus canadensis

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Chipping Sparrows with Cowbird chicks

The Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater, is a nest parasite, that is, it lays its eggs in other species nests and doesn’t raise its own young. Apparently the female Cowbird will often keep an eye on the fate of its egg, and will retaliate when it is ejected by the hosts by destroying their nest. It will then place another egg in the newly built nest. (See paper by Jeffrey Hoover and Scott Robinson) This would tend to go against the theory that the Cowbird became a nest parasite because of a nomadic life following Buffalo herds.

Chipping Sparrows,Spizella passerina, breed in our yard every year and it was interesting to see that they have two Cowbird chicks begging for food at the moment. I wonder if they may brag to other Sparrow pairs about their oversize offspring. “Look what we did”.

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Juvenile Cooper's Hawk, Accipiter cooperii

This is a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, Accipiter cooperii which was taken from the banding nets at the Long Point, Ontario tip station in May/2006. At that time of year, much of the sandy soil is covered with dried grass which makes a good background.

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Great Egret, Ardea alba

On a very quiet early morning at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, I found the water was completely still, which provided some great reflections of the many Great Egret, Ardea alba.

Great Egret, Ardea alba

Great Egret, Ardea alba

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Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica male

The Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica, is a common bird of second growth and scrub, which breeds in the northeast of North America and winters to the northern parts of South America. It is very distinct in its plumage with a yellow-green cap and bright chestnut flanks. The female is similar to the male although less colorful.

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica female

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica juvenile

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica male

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Eastern Fox Snake,Elaphe gloydi

The Eastern Fox Snake,Elaphe gloydi, has a very restricted range near the Great Lakes Huron and Erie, and found in Ontario in Canada and Ohio and Michigan in the U.S. Even in this range it is uncommon. It is said to be fairly docile, biting only if handled. Here in Ontario it is listed as Threatened and protected under the Species at Risk Act.

Eastern Fox Snake,Elaphe gloydi

They are yellowish brown with dark blotches and have a coppery colored head. They are quite large, from three to five feet when fully grown.

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Crimson-backed Tanager, Ramphocelus dimidiatus

Found in Columbia, Venezuela and Panama, the Crimson-backed Tanager, Ramphocelus dimidiatus, prefers lowland forests and can be commonly found in disturbed areas. It is a gorgeous bird,one of the smaller tanager species, but with a wonderful plumage in the male of bright crimson back along with a white lower mandible. The female is a rich brown. They are often found in family groups.

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