KILDEER, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON, 9/5/2015

   This plover has been identified as an American Golden Plover, rather than the similar looking Black-bellied Plover as follows:

• The black on the undertail coverts, rather than the all-white of the Black-bellied Plover.
• The black cap vs. the pale cap of a Black-bellied Plover.

   This plover as partially molted and is migrating.  The American Golden Plover is among the migratory birds that interrupt molt for migration and then resume it at the end of migration.  This plover has one of the longest migratory journeys of any shorebird.  It breeds in the Canadian and Alaskan high Arctic tundra and migrates to central and southern South America for the winter.

   The American Golden Plover is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 150.

ADULT & CYGNET MUTE SWANS, CRANBERRY MARSH, LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA, WHITBY, ON

   The three bright white swans are adult Mute Swans and the grey/buff swan in the middle is a juvenile Mute Swan (cygnet).  The cygnet has a black bill, so it probably is in its 1st year.

CHIPMUNK HAVING LUNCH, LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA, WHITBY, ON

MOURNING DOVE, LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA, WHITBY, ON

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA, WHITBY, ON

MALE WOOD DUCK IN ECLIPSE PLUMAGE, CRANBERRY MARSH, LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA, WHITBY, ON

   This photo was taken at a great distance and then enlarged further, so it is somewhat grainy.  However you can see the multicolored bill (white and red), red eye and part of the white chin strap.  This is a male Wood Duck in eclipse plumage (nonbreeding plumage).  This is the plumage when it molts from its very colorful breeding plumage.  The eyes, bill and chin strap do not change, but the rest of the Wood Duck becomes very subdued.