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Friday, July 31, 2015

MATING PAIR OF BLUE DASHER DRAGONFLIES, NONQUON SEWERAGE TREATMENT LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON

   While birding at Nonquon Sewerage Treatment Lagoons we came across these two Blue Dasher Dragonflies mating.  The dragonfly which is completely blue is the male; the other is the female.  The male grasps the female by the head with his claspers at the end of his abdomen.  The male and female then fly in tandem and perch on a twig or plant stem.  The female then curls her abdomen to pick up the seman from the male.  The posture of the two dragonflies is called the "heart" or "wheel".



CEDAR WAXWING, NONQUON SEWERAGE TREATMENT LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON


BONAPARTE'S GULL-BREEDING & NONBREEDING, NONQUON SEWERAGE TREATMENT LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON

   This photo shows both a nonbreeding (lower left) and breeding (upper right) Bonaparte's Gull.


GREEN DARNER DRAGONFLY, NONQUON SEWERAGE TREATMENT LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON


LESSER YELLOWLEGS IN FLIGHT, NONQUON SEWERAGE TREATMENT LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON


KILDEER IN FLIGHT, NONQUON SEWERAGE TREATMENT LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON



KILDEER, NONQUON SEWERAGE TREATMENT LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON


Thursday, July 30, 2015

COMMON WHITETAIL DRAGONFLY, MILL POND PARK, RICHMOND HILL, ON

  The Common Whitetail or Long Winged Skimmer is a common dragonfly across most of North America.  This is the male of the species as it has a white body; the female has a brown body.



Wednesday, July 29, 2015

SONG SPARROW, LAKE WILCOX PARK, RICHMOND HILL, ON


PURPLE FINCH, THORNHILL, ON

   Just outside the house these Purple Finches' have a nest high in an evergreen tree.  We see them coming and going.  The first photo is of a male, the second of a male and female together and the third of a female.
   We identified these as Purple Finches (vs. House Finch, which is similar) as follows:
  • Conical bill, rather than bill with curved culmen of the House Finch
  • Female has deeply notched tail vs. slightly notched tail of House Finch
  • Female has brown and white pattern on head, rather than plain head of House Finch
  • Female has white undertail, rather than tall dark streaks of House Finch
   The purple Finch is a new species for our Life List, which now stands at 141.







OSPREYS IN NEST, CENTENNIAL PARK ROAD CAUSEWAY, CANAL LAKE, ON




EASTERN KINGBIRD, CARDEN ALVAR PROVINCIAL PARK, KIRKFIELD, ON


BARN SWALLOW, CARDEN ALVAR PROVINCIAL PARK, KIRKFIELD, ON




Saturday, July 25, 2015

AMERICAN ROBIN GUARDING ITS CHICKS, THORNHILL, ON

   The adult robin stayed in this position for quite awhile,  seemingly guarding its chicks.


HUNGRY ROBIN CHICK, THORNHILL, ON

   We just noticed this American Robin's nest right outside the house yesterday.  The chick has its mouth open, probably waiting for dinner.



VARIETY OF BIRDS IN SECOND MARSH, OSHAWA, ON

   Here are four photos of birds on the sandbars and elswhere in Second Marsh.  These photos were taken yesterday.  We could identify the follwing species:
  • Double- crested Cormorant
  • Great Blue Heron
  • Great Egret
  • Caspian Tern
  • Canada Goose
  • Trumpeter Swan
  • Mallard
There may be other species, but they were too far away to identify.






Tuesday, July 21, 2015

BONAPARTE'S GULL IN FLIGHT, NONQUON SEWERAGE LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON


SULPHUR BUTTERFLY ON RED CLOVER, NONQUON SEWERAGE LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON


LESSER YELLOWLEGS IN FLIGHT, NONQUON SEWERAGE LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON

   The Yellowlegs (both the Greater and Lesser) are migrating.  In the spring they migrate to Northern Canada and Alaska, where they breed.  Their breeding season is short and they start their migration south as early as late June.
   We believe this is a Lesser Yellowlegs for the following reasons:
  • Bill is about the same length as the head
  • Bill is straight - on Greater Yellowlegs it is slightly upturned
  • Strips on flanks less extensive than on Greater Yellowlegs