Yellowknife Excursion

Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 May 20

Last week we were out at our cottage on Kukagami Lake enjoying the nice weather. There were many warblers active in the forest and this Northern Parula perched in a birch tree was one of the few that slowed down for a photograph.

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

A few days later I was fortunate to have an opportunity to travel to Yellowknife. The weather was beautiful with blue sky, not a cloud in sight, perfect for birdwatching. Being the end of May the days had more than 18 hours of sunlight but Great Slave Lake was still mostly ice covered. Fortunately the warm weather had recently melted the ice off the smaller water bodies and the trees had started to fill in with leaves. I set out on a hike around Frame Lake and found this Chipping Sparrow at the top of a Tamarack which is just showing signs of needles emerging from their buds.

Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

In the calm of early morning on Frame Lake this Bonaparte's Gull was swimming erratically about picking up insects off the surface of the water.

Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

In a nearby shallow bay with last years faded cattails a pair of Green-winged tail were not concerned about my presence as they dabbled for food. This photograph shows the namesake green wing patch on the female and the brightly patterned head of the male.

Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

The male then posed for me and showed a full broadside view of his beautiful side markings. The dark rump, grey patterned side and white slash just behind the neck allow this duck to be identified even from a distant viewing.

Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

A little further down the trail an Orange-crowned warbler took some early morning sun in a birch tree. I have spotted this warbler on several other occasions, but this is the first time I have seen even a hint of orange at the top of the head which is most often not visible despite the birds name.

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

Continuing along the trail, on the eastern shore of Frame Lake was the Legislative Assembly Building. In a small pond in front of this building a pair of Horned Grebe's were showing signs of nesting in a tuft of grass. Here one of the pair is excited and has raised its head feathers into the namesake "horns".

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

Here is a second photograph of the Horned Grebe showing off its very distinctive face markings and bright red eye.

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

As the trail followed the south shore of Frame Lake, I heard a noisy group of terns. Closer inspection proved them to be Arctic Terns which I had hoped to see. One of the birds stopped his hunt for food to perch on a rock. The bright red bill with no black tip is one of the identifying marks.

Common Loon (Gavia immer) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

Out on the lake I heard the unmistakeable call of a Common Loon. This photograph shows one of a pair as it stretches its wings.

Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

A little further along on my hike this Black-billed Magpie flew overhead and landed to search among a dry grassy area for anything edible. The magpie posed nicely showing off its long tail.

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

Above the magpie this Arctic Tern hovered in one spot for a while probably having spotted something of interest below. Before diving to catch some prey the tern moved on down the lake so whatever caught his attention was lucky this time.

Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

In a small group of shrubs I heard the interesting song of a sparrow. This bird was keeping well hidden in the shrubbery but finally sat in an opening where I could identify it as a Lincoln's Sparrow.

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophyrus) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

In the top of a Black Spruce another sparrow showed itself. This was a male White-crowned Sparrow with its distinct black and white head stripes.

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

Later in the afternoon I was out on another hike this time at Range Lake. This is a distant photograph of a group of ducks which includes a male and female Northern Shoveler and also a pair of Lesser Scaup. The male Northern Shoveler has a reddish side and large bill. The female Northern Shoveler is a rather plain brownish duck but with the same large bill. In this photograph the male and female Lesser Scaup are both resting with their heads tucked back.

Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

Elsewhere on Range Lake, I came upon a pair of Pacific Loons. They have a very distinctive grey head and patterned neck and back.

Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 24

The second photograph shows the pair of Pacific Loons, one watching below the surface for fish.

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 25

The next afternoon I was on a different hiking trail at Niven Lake. A second grebe species presented itself here, the larger Red-necked Grebe.

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 25

Not far away in a protected bay was this pair of Lesser Scaup. The female is a brownish duck with a white patch at the base of its bill. The male has a white body, grey back and rounded head with a purplish tint.

Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 25

Further out on the lake were a few Canvasack. This photograph of a distant male shows the distintive red head, sloped forehead and long bill.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 25

Meanwhile closer to shore, this pair of male Mallard, looked like synchronized swimmers as they tipped side by side to reach food on the shallow bottom showing off their curly tails.

Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 25

Not far away in a group of trees this Northern Waterthrush sang for me.

American Wigeon (Anas americana) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 25

In a small pond along the trail this pair of American Wigeon swam side by side. The male has a very remarkable white stripe along the center of his head while the female is a rather plain if slightly greyish duck.

Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 25

Back along the trail at Frame Lake a Bonaparte's Gull was doing some of its daily preening. Here it is using a foot to get those hard to reach feathers on its chin.

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - 2015 May 25

Nearing the end of my stay in Yellowknife I caught this Arctic Tern chattering at some others flying overhead.