SONG SPARROW, ROSETTA McCLAIN GARDENS,SCARBOROUGH,TORONTO,ON, 4/30/18

FIELD SPARROW, ROSETTA McCLAIN GARDENS, SCARBOROUGH,TORONTO,ON, 4/30/18

   We can ID this sparrow as the rufous variety of the Field Sparrow by its pinkish, short and conical bill; pinkish legs; rufous crown; white eyering; rufous marking behind eye; rufous and brown upperparts with streaks; buffy breasts and two whitish wingbars (you can just make out the edge of the wingbar on the left, the rest is blocked by a branch).

   The Field Sparrow is a partial migrant. Northernmost breeders move South in the fall; southernmost breeders may move only a short distance or may be permanently resident.  In spring in the northern areas, males arrive 2-3 weeks before females.

   The Field Sparrow is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 781.

TUNDRA SWAN, REESOR POND, REESOR RD. & HIGHWAY 7, MARKHAM, ON, 4/26/18

   A Tundra Swan was posted as being at Reesor Pond on ebird, so on the way home from Cranberry Marsh we stopped off there.  Low and behold we sighted it.

   We can ID this swan as the Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus), rather than the very similar Trumpeter Swan by the following:

   - The U-shaped border on the forehead, rather than the V-shaped border of the Trumpeter Swan. 

      The U-shaped border can be seen in the first two photos.

   - The thin connection of the eye to the bill, rather than the broad connection of the Trumpeter Swan.

      Because of this, the eye is prominent in the Tundra Swan, as in these photos.

   - The curve at the gape, rather than the straighter edge of the Trumpeter Swan. This can be seen in 

      the last four photos.

   - A slightly concave bill, rather than the straight bill of the Trumpeter Swan.  You can see this in the

      the fourth photo.

   The Tundra Swan has two subspecies, the American or Whistling subspecies and the Eurasian or Bewick's subspecies.  This Tundra Swan is of the American or Whistling subspecies.  Most of this latter species have some yellow in their lores, however about 10% have all black lores, such as this swan.

   The Tundra Swan is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 780.

BONAPARTE'S GULLS IN FLIGHT, CRANBERRY MARSH,LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA,WHITBY, ON, 4/26/18

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GREAT BLUE HERON, CRANBERRY MARSH,LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA,WHITBY,ON, 4/26/18

MUTE SWANS, CRANBERRY MARSH,LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA,WHITBY, ON, 4/26/18

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BREEDING MALE EURASIAN WIGEON, CRANBERRY MARSH,LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA,WHITBY, ON, 4/26/18

   The last few days, ebird has indicated that a Eurasian Wigeon had been sighted at Cranberry Marsh at Lynde Shores Conservation Area in Whitby.  We went on Tuesday and today and finally sighted and photographed it today.  We were able to sight it with the help of another birder who had a scope.

   We can ID this duck as a breeding male Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) by its following characteristics:

      - Dark rufous head and neck with a buffy forehead (you can just make the buffy forehead out in 

         the first two photos).

      - Gray flanks and back.

      - Black rear end.

      - White patch on wings.

      - Pinkish-gray breast.

      - Bluish-gray bill with black tip.

   The Eurasian Wigeon is common and widespread in the Old World and is a sporatic visitor to North America.  Eurasian Wigeons can often be found in the company of American Wigeons.

   The Eurasian Wigeon is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 779.