#120 - i can barely keep up with myself

I really wasn't expecting to have so much to post this winter, and certainly not any new birds. I don't really know what's going on...I feel like I'm posting all the time!
I worked on Friday while Matt got to scamper around the island, and I'm a leeetle bit jealous that he saw a ring-necked pheasant. Ok, now that's a pretty bird!

Saturday the weather was terrible and we didn't really think the birding would be any good but the tripod was with dad so we went to pick it up. We went to the owl woods, but only as far as the feeders since I was feeling pretty satisfied with the owls I'd seen there...and because the weather was terrible. Still a few interesting things...
Firstly, this one chickadee that had been there the last time. Something weird is going on with its feathers. Anybody know what's going on? Is it just immature? Or molting? Or sick?

Also saw a white-throated sparrow (immature). Haven't seen one of those in a while!

Finally, we started to head back and that's when I noticed that a red-bellied woodpecker had come to the feeders too. This was a real treat for me a) because it's a new one and b) because they don't generally come as far north as my normal stomping grounds. It flew off, but I found it again, and got a less-than-stellar shot, but I'm good with that!
#120: Red-bellied woodpecker; Amherst Island, Ontario; December 15, 2010.

Today I went for a ski and actually (gasp!) risked it and left my camera at home. In the end, it was ok because I didn't see anything and I didn't have to haul it around for nothing (except I missed lots of pretty snowy scenes)!

I decided to go through some old pics from trips and stuff before this whole thing started. This may be my unrelenting wanderlust exerting itself again....like I'm trying to get my travel fix by going through old trip photos or something. Obviously I wasn't really into birds at the time, but it's pretty obvious that I took pictures of things that looked unfamiliar or unusual or cute, so I've found quite a lot. Anyway, I've got this little collection of birds that I didn't even realize I'd seen...it's actually really interesting for me!

Identifying them is a little bit of a challenge...since almost none of them are in my North American bird guide. So far I've been using Avibirds.com, but I don't like it as much as some of the North American sites. I don't know, is retroactive bird counting frowned upon? I'll dedicate a post to them in the near future...some of them are pretty cool!

weekend birding, part 1 (#41-44)

On Wednesday I got my OFNC membership in the mail, and I was so happy because that meant I could finally go on a field trip! That night there was a field trip to the Bill Mason Centre in Dunrobin. It was incredible the knowledge that some people had. They would just hear a bird and know immediately what it was. Ok, I will admit that there wasn't much representation from my age group, but I think it's good to start young while your senses are their best! Plus, I'm sure if I wait till I'm that old, most of the species I could have seen will be extinct or endangered....which is sad, but I believe true.

So, on the excursion we saw yellow warbler, snipes (most likely), barn swallows, a Baltimore oriole, a female rose-breasted grosbeak, Purple finch, and American Goldfinch. We also heard (so they tell me) Virginia Rail, Sora, and Wood Thrush. Not bad!

Anyways, I was dying to go back the next day and shoot the stuff we missed. Ended up seeing even more than on the trip because we took our time. Matt came along even though he was dying with strep throat and sat in the car most of the time...poor guy! Couldn't get the snipe (way too sneaky), but came away with a few pics acceptable enough for the blog (except the finch, which is definitely not my best work)!

#41: Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male); May 15, 2010; Bill Mason Centre, Dunrobin
We saw a pretty lady rose-breasted grosbeak the first time we went to Bill Mason Centre.

#42: White-crowned Sparrow; May 15, 2010; Bill Mason Centre, Dunrobin
Hello! How cool am I?


#43: Yellow Warbler; May 15, 2010; Bill Mason Centre, Dunrobin


#44: Purple finch; May 15, 2010; Bill Mason Centre, Dunrobin
The purple finch looks kind of similar to the house finch which was in an earlier post. The hous finch is like this guy's urban cousin. The purple finch is red all over, but the house finch only has isolated red parts.

I still have more birds to post from today, but I'm going to need to figure a few of them out first!