Summer arrives

Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) - Marden, Ontario - 2014 June 12

Last month on a hike towards Marden I heard a Mourning Warbler and this time he flew into a nearby shrub and looked back at me. His grey cap and black chest patch stand out in this photograph.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) - Marden, Ontario - 2014 June 12

While I was watching the Mourning Warbler, I heard a bird close and spotted this female Rose-breasted Grosbeak. It sat very still only a few meters away. With a beak full of food I am sure there was a nest nearby, as this was in the same location I saw signs of breeding behavior a few weeks earlier.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) - Marden, Ontario - 2014 June 12

Several kilometers further along the trail in a small tree I came across a male of the same species, again he sat and posed for me only a few meters away.

Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) - Westover, Beverly Township, Ontario - 2014 June 13

The next morning I did some travelling to a variety of potential bird habitats. A Grasshopper Sparrow was heard calling from shrubbery under a powerline near Westover.

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) - City View Park, Burlington, Ontario - 2014 June 13

At another stop numerous sparrows were seen in a fenced meadow. The pink bill clearly identifies this as a Field Sparrow.

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) - City View Park, Burlington, Ontario - 2014 June 13

Not far along the park trail this female Eastern Bluebird posed on a post top. Her back lacks the dark blue of the male.

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) - Windermere Basin, Hamilton, Ontario - 2014 June 13

Near the Windermere Basin in Hamilton I spotted this female Red-winged Blackbird perched on last years dried Common Teasel stalk. She is very drab coloured bird compared to the jet black male with the bright red wing patches.

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2014 June 16

Several days later a stop at Tiny Marsh found this Eastern Phoebe with a freshly caught fly.

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2014 June 16

Along a trail, I spotted this Green Heron through the trees. It ignored me standing still hoping for prey to appear.

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2014 June 20

Returning south a few days later brought me back to Tiny Marsh. The resident Black Tern colony was very active over the water and I managed this quick shot of an adult as it flew by.

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2014 June 20

On top of a nearby flowering shrub was this Song Sparrow. It took a break from singing to watch me as I approached.

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) - Pilkington Township, Ontario - 2014 June 22

A pair of Eastern Bluebirds have taken up nesting in one of the many boxes my father has erected in his yard. This brightly coloured male sat for me in a locust tree.

Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) - Pilkington Township, Ontario - 2014 June 22

Later while hiking through the fields this Great Crested Flycatcher came out of the treetops when I responded to it's call. The lemon yellow lower belly shows up well.

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) - Marden, Ontario - 2014 June 23

Next day I once again followed a favorite hiking trail towards Marden. Here a Yellow Warbler is seen with a beak full of green caterpillar.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) - Marden, Ontario - 2014 June 23

In a willow tree further along the trail I came upon a small flock of Cedar Waxwings. They have a very distinct gentle whistle of a call. And their feathers are of a very fine texture.

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) - Marden, Ontario - 2014 June 23

Next, quite literally on the trail I saw this juvenile bird. There was a question to its identity. As adult Red-winged Blackbirds were making a real racket overhead I presumed this was one of their young. Although it may have come from the nest of a Red-winged Blackbird, after studying this photograph, I have decided this is a young Brown-headed Cowbird. Cowbirds are parasitic nesters, the female laying eggs in the nests of other birds. The bill is more conical in shape than the more pointed one found on the Red-winged Blackbird. Also it is not as heavily streaked.

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) - Marden, Ontario - 2014 June 23

Another bird with young mouths to fill was this male Baltimore Oriole.

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) - Marden, Ontario - 2014 June 23

On the return to my vehicle I was serenaded by this male Indigo Bunting. I heard him from some distance away. He kept up his singing as I walked by, but there was no sign of a female.

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) - Marden, Ontario - 2014 June 23

Another male calling out over his territory was this Common Yellowthroat. Perched high on a dead branch the breeze was ruffling his feathers.

Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2014 June 25

A few days later I once again caught a bird singing over territory. This time a Swamp Sparrow at Tiny Marsh.

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2014 June 29

It has been a busy spring and we are finally enjoying some time at our summer cottage at Kukagami Lake. On a walk one morning in late June this Hermit Thrush sat for a while on a dead tree branch. There are several similar thrushes found in the northern forests. The identifying marks of this Hermit Thrush are a brownish head and back with reddish tones in the wing and tail. The breast has dark spots. This bird also has a beautiful call heard more often near dusk and dawn.

Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides articus) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2014 July 6

On another hike in early July, tapping on a tree lead me to this Black-backed Woodpecker. Without a yellow head patch this was the female. The male was on a tree nearby but did not pose for me.