It is safe to say that we saw many species of birds when we visited San Blas, in Mexico. Among them is this beautiful Tri-coloured Heron. Read more
Tag: Birds
Yellow-crowned Night Heron Deep In The San Blas Swamp
When Bob and I visited San Blas on the Pacific coast of Mexico, our objective was to see some of the endemic bird species as well as others that winter in that southern locale. We had seen a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron in our hometown of Toronto a couple of years earlier. As we cruised through the mangrove jungle on our guided tour, closeup views of these rather elegant birds were fairly frequent. Read more
Australasian Gannets at the Muriwai Gannet Colony
Bob and I had a long list of sights to see in New Zealand and first up was the gannet colony at Muriwai Regional Park just outside of Auckland. About an hour’s drive north of where we were staying on the North Island, it made for the perfect day trip. Over 2,000 Australasian Gannets make up the colony at Muriwai, which is one of only three mainland gannet colonies in New Zealand. Read more
Northern Parula Warbler in a Backyard Oasis
One spring, during peak bird migration, we finally visited the Long Point area here in Ontario, Canada. We had a long list of birds that we hoped to see, and on the list was a Northern Parula. We failed to spot one at Long Point, but what a surprise when we had one spend the afternoon in our backyard soon after returning. Read more
An Osprey carries branch to its nest at Carden Alvar
On a mid-June visit to Carden Alvar in Ontario, Bob and I opted to tour the area in the reverse direction from our first visit when we crossed Canal Lake at dusk. First thing in the morning provided better light for photography, and there was no lack of activity near the Osprey nests. We were hoping that the Osprey did not drop its load as they flew over! Read more
Green Kingfisher In The Mangrove Swamp At San Blas
Bob and I were so excited as we set off from the pier on our mangrove swamp tour in San Blas, Mexico. With our guide, Chencho at the helm of our substantial launch, we were confident that many tropical birds would not allude detection. One species that caught our eye on several occasions was a Green Kingfisher, seen here perching at the edge of the San Cristobal mangrove estuary. Read more
Whimbrels Along Lake Ontario Shoreline
It was late spring and because of the warm temperature, we opted to bike from Scarborough to the Lake Ontario shoreline in Ontario, Canada. At the first rocky breakwater east of Highland Creek Trail, we spotted 5 whimbrels grouped on some large flat slabs of concrete. Read more
A Great Blue Heron plays to the camera at Milliken Park
Patience is a virtue, and often when Bob and I are birdwatching, time is of the essence so patience goes out the window. On one “quick” visit to Milliken Park in Toronto, to check the progress of the recently-hatched Trumpeter Swan cygnets, what actually stole my attention was this Great Blue Heron. Bob left me to my stakeout while he enjoyed the company of the 2-week old cygnets. Read more
7 Trumpeter Swan Cygnets at Milliken Park, Toronto
For the second year in a row, the mated pair of Trumpeter Swans that have taken up residence at Milliken Park in Toronto gave birth to a new set of cygnets…7 in all this past spring! Within a couple of days, Ashton and Tango, as they are fondly known, lost one cygnet to unknown causes, but the other six are thriving. Read more
Piping Plover Chicks at Darlington Provincial Park
What a thrill to learn that, this year, not one but two pairs of Piping Plovers have nested on the beach at Darlington Provincial Park here in Ontario. This is really noteworthy for three reasons. Read more