Tag: Birds

Lincolns Sparrow at Hotel Rancho San Cayetano

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Lincoln's sparrow at zitacuaro, michoacan, mexico, 8

Before we even arrived at Hotel Rancho San Cayetano in Zitacuaro, Mexico, we knew it was going to be someplace special.  Not only was the location centrally-located in relation to three nearby monarch butterfly preserves, but it also turned out to be a haven for interesting birds given the lush grounds and proximity to a sheltered river valley.  To our surprise, one day at lunch, a brave Lincolns Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) fluttered to the ground next to our sunlit table and cast a curious glance our way. Read more

Berylline Hummingbird at Hotel Rancho San Cayetano

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Berylline Hummingbird sitting on a tree at Hotel Rancho San Cayetano in Zitacuaro, Mexico

During the course of our stay at  Hotel Rancho San Cayetano     in Zitacuaro, Mexico, Bob and I observed several different species of hummingbirds, but it always seemed that they were either far away or prone to disappear as soon as we got near.  On our hike down to the river adjacent to the hotel, we came across this Berylline Hummingbird basking in the morning sun. Read more

Long-eared Owl at Tommy Thompson Park

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photograph of a long-eared owl at Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto, Ontario.

long-eared owl, tommy thompson park, toronto 1

Owing to family demands this winter, Bob and I have had no opportunity to do birdwatching, much less skiing or hiking.  One past Sunday was our first day of liberty, and we seized the moment by going to one of our favorite spots for birdwatching…   Tommy Thompson Park    in Toronto.  We were not disappointed and came up with a lifer, a gorgeous Long-Eared Owl. Read more

Vermilion Flycatchers At Hotel Rancho San Cayetano

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Vermilion Flycatcher, male, zitacuaro, michoacan, mexico 2

Bob and I arrived at Hotel Rancho San Cayetano in Zitacuaro, Mexico, late in the afternoon after having landed in Mexico City that morning, so it wasn’t until the next day that we set out for a walk to explore the extensive landscaped grounds surrounding the well-kept resort.  That is when we came upon a Vermilion Flycatcher that was frequenting a bench in one spacious area of open lawn. Read more

Hepatic Tanager At El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Reserve

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photograph of a female Hepatic Tanager at El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Preserve in eastern Michoacán state in central Mexico.

Hepatic Tanager -male- on rope fence at El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Reserve, in Michoacán, Mexico

As Bob and I climbed the mountain at El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Reserve in Mexico, we were on the alert for any new bird species living in that forest habitat.  It wasn’t until we returned to the visitor centre back at the trailhead that we were treated to a sighting of Hepatic Tanagers. Read more

Eastern Screech Owl Red Morph In Burlington

Eastern Screech Owl - Red Morph at Woodland Cemetery in Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Well, Bob and I can finally say that we have seen an Eastern Screech Owl in the wild, as opposed to one we visited at the Mountsberg Raptor Centre a couple of years ago.  It has taken us two years to finally see the Eastern Screech Owls in Burlington and not for lack of knowing where to look.  It was overcast one day last week when Bob and I again ventured west of Toronto in hopes of finding at least one of the known Screech Owls out of its nest hole.  Read more

Belted Kingfisher At Colonel Samuel Smith Park



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Belted Kingfisher At Colonel Samuel Smith Park

belted kingfisher at colonel sam smith park, etobicoke, ontario

What a challenge to capture any Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) in a photograph!  Over the years, as Bob and I have canoed on various lakes and rivers, we have observed countless Kingfishers taunting us with their perpetual cat and mouse routine.  Always just one step ahead of us, it seems that these birds are playful at best, and always wait until we are in sight before taking flight for another tree a couple of hundred feet further down the shoreline.  This handsome female took no notice of our presence on the observation deck at Colonel Samuel Smith Park in Toronto. Read more

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron At Colonel Samuel Smith Park

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron At Colonel Samuel Smith Park

yellow crowned night heron - juvenile - col sam smith park - etobicoke pic 7

For weeks, Bob and I had been hearing about a Yellow-crowned Night Heron  making a stay at Colonel Samuel Smith Park on Toronto’s lakeshore.  When finally we had a chance to pop down there for a look, it was quite late in the afternoon so we did not hold out much hope of seeing it since other people had been numerous times without success.  Lo and behold, after we circled the main pond on an obscure trail through the woodlot, we came out to a clearing and found the Night Heron perched nonchalantly on a rock. Read more

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