Some late fall birds

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) - Melanchton Township, Ontario - 2014 October 6

Travelling through Dufferin County, I came upon this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. Normally attempting to get near a hawk perched at roadside has the bird flying away as your vehicle comes to a stop. This one was curious enough to stay for a while. This juvenile still shows the banded tail which will become red as it molts into adult plumage.

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2014 October 10

A few days later I was hiking at Tiny Marsh. A Hairy Woodpecker was busy on a dead branch of a maple attempting to extract a meal from within. This photograph shows how woodpeckers use their tail to brace for the heavy jackhammer like attack on the tree. The wood chips arte flying.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) - Marden, Ontario - 2014 October 11

Next morning the sun was shining bright and I was again hiking this time on a trail near Marden. Migrating birds were busy foraging for a morning meal. Here is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) - Marden, Ontario - 2014 October 11

Later on the hike this White-throated Sparrow posed for me.

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2014 October 15

At the end of my work week I stopped again at Tiny Marsh. A group of Chickadees were busy in the dried grasses and thistles picking out seeds. This bird seemed to think that a dry rolled leaf may hold an insect meal, as it spent some time hanging upside down unravelling the leaf.

Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) - Lasalle Park, Hamilton Harbour, Ontario - 2014 November 2

On another bright sunny day, I stopped at some favorite spots around the west end of Lake Ontario. As I entered the parking area at Lasalle Park, a small group of people were gazing up into a willow tree, next to the boat launch. I had been told by locals several years ago, that this tree had a hole where a family of Screech Owls resided. Sure enough an owl was the subject on this day. The grey phase Eastern Screech-Owl was perched in a hole dozing in the late afternoon sun.

Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) - Lasalle Park, Hamilton Harbour, Ontario - 2014 November 2

A light breeze would occasionaly ruffle some feathers.

Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) - Lasalle Park, Hamilton Harbour, Ontario - 2014 November 2

An itchy foot allowed this close up look at the business end of this small owl.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) - Lasalle Park, Hamilton Harbour, Ontario - 2014 November 2

Not far away along a lakeside trail this male Mallard was busy preening his feathers. Fine work on his tail feathers showed him contorted into a very un-ducklike pose.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) - Lasalle Park, Hamilton Harbour, Ontario - 2014 November 2

Nearby a pair of Canada Geese swam towards me. Their forwardness lead me to believe that they are used to being fed.

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2014 November 7

A few days later I stopped again at Tiny Marsh. Many times this summer I had observed a family of Trumpeter Swans in the distance. On this hike they were swimming near a boardwalk trail through the marsh. This photograph allows one to compare the grey plumage and pink bill of the juvenile bird to the white feathered, black billed adult.