August 2015

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2015 August 14

On a trip south in mid August, I stopped again at Tiny Marsh. Here a Green Heron walks gingerly along a dead branch overhanging a stretch of water. When the heron got comfortable it stood still and waited to ambush some prey.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 August 21

It was a week later when I was fishing with my brother-in-law at Kukagami Lake. We spotted this Bald Eagle sitting at the top of a dead pine hoping to spot a meal.

Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 August 21

Later on the same outing we spotted another raptor flying overhead. The alternating light and dark patterns of the tail and barred underbody are distinctive markings of the Broad-winged Hawk.

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 August 21

Finally something on the water caught our eye. A female Common Merganser swam along the rocky shoreline. The sharp merganser bill, reddish-brown head and white chin patch are sure identifying marks.

Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2015 August 24

A few days later I was out on a morning hike at Tiny Marsh once again. Along the forest trail I spotted this male Black-throated Blue Warbler overhead. The white wing spot is sometimes all one notices as this bird tends to stay in heavy underbrush.

Merlin (Falco columbarius) - Tiny Marsh, Tiny Township, Ontario - 2015 August 28

At the end of the week another stop at Tiny Marsh found this Merlin at the top of a dead tree. In the bright afternoon sun I almost overlooked this bird. It sat still for quite some time before flying out across the marsh. As this day marked the end of my 35 year career, I will miss stopping at Tiny Marsh for my regular mid trip hike.

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 August 31

In retirement I hope to spend much more time at Kukagami Lake. On a morning hike I came upon a loose mixed flock of birds feeding in the early morning sun. While most of the flock foraged in the mid to upper branches, movement below caught my eye. On a low branch this Ovenbird posed for me.

Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 August 31

One of the many species higher in the trees was this male Black-throated Blue Warbler. Once again it is the white wing patch that stands out brightly in the morning sun.

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 August 31

Another of the birds in this mixed flock was a Red-eyed Vireo. Here the red eyes and thick Vireo bill help identify a somewhat drab bird.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 August 31

Out on the lake later that afternoon we came across several gulls on the rocky shoreline. Immature gulls can be very difficult to identify. The pinkish legs and large stocky size are the marks of a Herring Gull in ths part of the country. This is probably a first summer juvenile. This species slowly lightens until after four years the young acquire the bright white under plumage and grey back of the adult.

Common Loon (Gavia immer) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 August 31

Not far away in an isolated bay a Common Loon surfaced and posed for some photographs. We noticed a smaller duller colored young loon nearby but it stayed in the distance diving before we got close.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 September 5

A few days later out on a morning hike through the forest, I watched as this Yellow-rumped Warbler caught prey hiding among the needles of a Jack Pine branch. Like many late summer young birds, this warbler has a different plumage than the adults.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 September 5

Later in a forest clearing I headed towards the sound of a woodpecker. Here I found a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker drilling a series of holes on a maple tree. This species will return to its predrilled holes and sip at any dripping tree sap as any insect stuck in the sap.

Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) - Kukagami Lake, Ontario - 2015 September 5

Almost back at our cottage, I spotted this Blue-headed Vireo with a green inchworm. It spent some time ensuring the inchworm was dead before swallowing it.

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) - Brady Park, Garson, Ontario - 2015 September 9

A few days later I was back at home in Garson. On a hike through the local forest l spent some time watching this female Hairy Woodpecker foraging in a grove of White Birch. After pecking through a few layers of bark, the woodpecker twisted its head to position its tongue for retrieving something it had detected underneath.