Birds of Summer

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 July 04

On a morning hike at Kukagami Lake the forest was full of birdsong. Among them was the song of the Hermit Thrush. Following the beautiful song led me to this Hermit Thrush singing from a branch on a Jack Pine.

Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus ) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 July 04

Not far away another beautiful song was heard from the tree tops. This time from a Purple Finch sitting on a dead branch for a good view of his neighbourhood.

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 July 04

Continuing on my hike I heard several Blue Jays in the trailside shrubs. As I neared the group I caught this one which flew up from the ground and looked back at me. Judging by the fresh look of its feathers and the thinner than usual neck and body I believe this to be a juvenile bird.

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 July 04

Here I caught a male American Redstart upset at my presence. His black and orange plumage is very distinctive.

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 July 04

Later on my hike I managed to catch a female of the same species. On the female the black feathers are instead browns, greens and greys. The orange of the male is toned down to a pale yellow. However looking carefully one can see that the patterns of dark and bright feathers are similar, especially on the tail. Indeed it is this tail pattern, dark center and tip with bright spots on either side at the base of the tail, that usually identifies this active member of the warbler family.

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 July 06

A few days later on a hike through the local Kukagami forest I startled a family of Ruffed Grouse. The hen called to her chicks who then scattered through the underbrush. The hen then flew up into the lower branches of a White Pine where she could watch me. This photograph shows her underside patterns well and her feathered legs.

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2015 July 08

Several days later I was again traveling south with a stop at Tiny Marsh. While hiking along a dike through the marsh I heard a Flicker calling behind me. Turning around I was surprised to see this bird acting in an agitated manner but seemingly uninterested in flying. Then I noticed movement in the grass and wildflowers along the trail and out came a mink. For several minutes the flicker and mink watched each other carefully. The mink approached to within about a meter and the flicker hopped away. Only when the mink lost interest did the flicker fly off.

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2015 July 08

On a different trail through the marsh forest I came upon this Gray Catbird perched in a tree. The catbird posed nicely showing off his black cap and rufous undertail feathers.

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) - Pilkington Township, Ontario - 2015 July 08

Later that day, I watched several bluebirds feeding in my parents back yard. Here the female sits on a fence rail watching for insect activity in the grass below. When something was spotted the bluebird would fly down, grab the prey and return to the fence rail.

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2015 July 10

A few days later I went out on an early morning hike at Snyder's Flats along the Grand River. Here a juvenile Downy Woodpecker was catching some early morning sun. The black markings on the outer white tail feathers and stubby bill point to this being a Downy Woodpecker and not the similar Hairy Woodpecker. The red cap is only found on young birds. Adult females have no red and adult males only have red at the back of their head.

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2015 July 10

Close along the trail a pair of Eastern Kingbirds were making a lot of noise leading me to find their young. Two fledgling kingbirds were perched in the willows nearby. Like many young birds the edge of their bills are lined in yellow, giving the parents a good target when the mouths are open begging for food.

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2015 July 10

Early morning is feeding time for most birds. Here a Gray Catbird has some white dogwood berries probably food for its young.

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2015 July 10

In this photograph I caught a male American Goldfinch feeding on a favoured source of seeds, a thistle.

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2015 July 10

Another seed eating bird is the Mourning Dove. Here I found one feeding in a patch of wildflowers.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2015 July 10

A landmark at Snyder`s Flats is the Osprey nest on the top of a very tall utility pole that carries a hydro line across the Grand River. I managed this photograph of one of the adults approaching the nest.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2015 July 10

Along a trail that crosses a former gravel pit, I came across this Spotted Sandpiper. The spotted breast and white eyebrow are identifying marks.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) - Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale, Ontario - 2015 July 10

Another bird which is at home on these gravel flats is the Killdeer. In this photograph one can see the typical plover bill, rufous back, orange eye ring and white and black patterned breast.

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) - Lasalle Park, Hamilton Harbour, Ontario - 2015 July 12

A few days later I went to visit the Lake Ontario shoreline. Here at Lasalle Park on the north shore of Hamilton Harbour, a pair of Mute Swans was parading with their family of cygnets.

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) - Windermere Basin, Hamilton, Ontario - 2015 July 12

At the eastern edge of Hamilton Harbour a Caspian Tern flew past.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) - Hamilton, Ontario - 2015 July 12

For many years a Peregrine Falcon has established a nesting territory at the lift bridge over the Burlington Bay Canal, alongside the Skyway Bridge. As I was walking along the beach path I spotted one of the falcons diving towards a group of Rock Pigeons. The falcon was unsucessful in several attempts and then landed for a rest on a hydro tower. The telltale dark face markings and sideburns are visible in this photograph.

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) - Burloak Park, Burlington, Ontario - 2015 July 12

Continuing east along the Lake Ontario shore I stopped at several lakeside parks. At Burloak Park I found the resident pair of Red-necked Grebe in the early evening sun.