May migrants

Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2014 May 14

My morning trip southbound brought me back to Tiny Marsh where this Swamp Sparrow posed for me. All the identifying marks for this sparrow are readily seen here; rusty cap, white throat and gray breast.

Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) - Marden, Ontario - 2014 May 15

Early the next day I had time for a hike along the abandonned railway near Marden. Not long after I set out, I heard the distinctive distant call of a Cuckoo. I replied, imitating the call as best I could and a few minutes later the cuckoo called again from much closer. In the shrubs ahead I saw movement and caught sight of the wary Black-billed Cuckoo. The Red eye ring is very pronounced. This is the nicest time of the year for bird watching as the birds are quite vocal and as seen here the leaves have not yet filled out so as to block ones view.

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) - Marden, Ontario - 2014 May 15

A short while later I heard the irritated chirping of a Yellow Warbler. This female was obviously building a nest nearby.

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2014 May 17

Several days later I went to another favoured hiking location near the Grand River. The forest trails were muddy but again the leaves were just breaking out of their buds allowing this view of a Red-bellied Woodpecker. This is a male as the red wraps completely over the top of his head.

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2014 May 17

Several Caspian Tern cruised over the water of ponds on the flats and this one stood on a rock.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2014 May 17

Along a riverside trail I heard the thin wheezy call of a bird high in some willows. This Blue-gray Gnatcatcher came down and watched me for a while before returning to the treetops.

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2014 May 17

Not far away another bird sang for me. This male American Redstart showed off his colourful black and orange plumage

Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2014 May 17

Another brightly coloured male was this Magnolia Warbler, with its bright yellows, black mask and necklace. This bird was interested in what I was doing but hid well in a shrub only rarely giving me an unobstructed view.

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2014 May 17

Here is another masked bird the male Common Yellowthroat. This bird also has a habit of watching a person from behind shrubs. Rather than staying up in the top parts of a tree or shrub this bird is more likely seen around the base of a shrub or in the surrounding grass.

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) - Drumquin, Ontario - 2014 May 18

The next day I was on the road again south of Milton, at Drumquin I stopped at a park with trails through the surrounding forest that I remembered from my younger days growing up in the area. I heard the delightful call of several Baltimore Orioles high up in maple and oak trees. This female came down low enough for a picture. Her colours are somewhat muted compared to the bright orange and black on the male.

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2014 May 19

The end of my work week found me northbound again with a stop at Tiny Marsh. This Gray Catbird posed in the sun.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2014 May 19

There were several families of newly hatched Canada Geese following their parents around. A month ago there was still snow on the ground and with the late spring most geese decided on small egg clutches. All the families I saw had only four or five young goslings where other years I would normally see eight or ten young.

Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) - Brady Park, Garson, Ontario - 2014 May 22

Spring is finally finding us here in the Sudbury area as well. The first trees are showing their green leaves and the blackflies and mosquitos are out. Perfect food for the arriving birds. Out for a walk this morning I came upon this male Northern Parula high in a poplar tree. The very distinctive slate back and head contrast with the white belly and yellow throat banded in red and black.

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) - Brady Park, Garson, Ontario - 2014 May 22

It is not often that woodpeckers are seen on the ground but my walk took me through a grove of White Birch where this Pileated Woodpecker was interested in a fallen and much rotted birch log.

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) - Brady Park, Garson, Ontario - 2014 May 22

There are some large birds which spend most of their lives on the ground. When the Pileated Woodpecker flew off to other sections of the forest I heard in the distance the drumming of a Ruffed Grouse. Approaching the sound I found this male perched on an old dead log which they like to use as a resonator to help propagate their drumming wing beats. The black ruff feathers are pronounced and ready to be fluffed up if a female should wander in to view.  As I was snapping this picture I could hear another competing male drumming in the distance so I quickly left this fellow to the defense of his territory.

Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata) - Brady Park, Garson, Ontario - 2014 May 22

Not far away as I passed through a thicket this plain olive bird landed for only a quick photograph. This bird mostly greenish olive with no prominent wing markings, and a slightly streaked underside are indicators of the Orange-crowned Warbler. The name sake orange crown is almost always hidden from view.