HAIRY WOODPECKER, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

   We can ID this woodpecker as a Hairy Woodpecker, rather than the very similar Downy Woodpecker mainly by its relatively large size.  We were able to get within a few feet of it and could easily determine it was in the 9-10" range (Hairy Woodpecker), rather than the 6-7" range (Downy Woodpecker).  Other field marks which indicate a Hairy Woodpecker are:

• Long, chisel like bill which is almost the size of the head.  The Downy Woodpecker's bill is short, dainty and about 1/3 the size of the head.
• The red patch of this male is split in two.  This occurs on the Hairy Woodpecker, but not the Downy Woodpecker.

   The Hairy Woodpecker is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 300.

AMERICAN RED SQUIRREL, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

PURPLE MARTINS AT PURPLE MARTIN HOUSE, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

   This Purple Martin house was a at a private residence just outside the park.  The all bluish-black birds are male Purple Martins, the other are females.

SONG SPARROW, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

    We can ID this sparrow as a Song Sparrow by its relatively heavy bill, rufous tail and wings and dark streaks that converge into a central spot on the chest (see third photo).

CEDAR WAXWING, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

BREEDING MALE SEMIPALMATED PLOVER TAKING OFF, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

BREEDING WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

   We can ID this "peep" as a White-rumped Sandpiper as follows:

• First we can narrow the species of this "peep" to either a White-rumped Sandpiper or a Baird's Sandpiper by the fact that its wing tips extend beyond its tail.  The wing tips of other small sandpipers do not extend past the tip of the tail.  The wing tips extending past the tail is particularly noticeable in the third and fourth photos.  
• The dark streaks on the breast extending well along the flanks towards the tail indicates this is a White-rumped Sandpiper.  In a Baird's Sandpiper the flanks are not streaked.
• The  base of the lower bill being orangish also indicates this sandpiper is a White-rumped Sandpiper.  Baird's Sandpipers do not have this two tone lower mandible.  This is noticeable in all the photos.
• The white rump of this sandpiper is generally seen only when it is preening or in flight.

   The White-rumped Sandpiper is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 299.