Blue Jays are another common and easily recognizable bird in our area. With their large crests and blue, white and black markings they definitely stand out. Another give away that Blue Jays are in the area is by their distinct call. Blue jays can be found almost anywhere from forest edges to urban parks and backyards. One of their favorite native foods is acorns so they can always be found where oak trees are present.
If your backyard is lacking Blue Jays make sure you are offering peanuts at your feeders. Whether it is a specific feeder just for peanuts or as part of a mix, Blue Jays will always go for the peanuts first. Peanuts in the shell or peanut halves will attract Jays, and various feeders are available to present these seeds to them. Blue Jays tend to prefer a tray or hopper style feeder mounted on a pole rather than a hanging feeder, but my hanging cylinder feeder filled with peanut halves gets it’s fair share of Jays to it.
Blue Jays are known to mate for life and remain with their partner throughout the year, so it is likely you will have at least two visit your feeder. Families of Jays can be quite large with clutch sizes ranging from 2-7 eggs. I am fortunate to have a pair nest in a row of large spruce trees behind my house every year. On average I have 3-4 young along with both parents visiting my feeders each summer and into the winter months. Their beautiful plumage and loud calls are a delight to any yard.
Photographing birds in flight is a fun challenge and can make for some great photos. A flight shot captures the action and in some cases is more interesting than a static shot. When set against a great background the photos really come to life. Songbirds are incredibly difficult to capture in flight because they move quickly and erratically. It is virtually impossible to predict where they will go next, unless it is to a food source. Waterfowl and birds of prey are much easier to capture in flight because they fly much slower and generally in a straight line.
Capturing birds in flight requires a few basic camera adjustments. I always shoot birds in flight in manual mode with a shutter speed of at least 1/1000 in order to freeze the action. Using this high shutter speed requires a decent amount of light, so flight shots are more difficult early and late in the day and when under overcast skies. Slower shutter speeds can be used but you may still get a little blur. A slight blur can be nice as it adds the element of motion to a photo. On a clear sunny day higher shutter speeds can be used, just make sure your aperture and ISO are set accordingly for proper exposure.
Most cameras have incredibly high ISO settings, but the photos become very noisy above a certain level. Get to know what maximum ISO your camera will shoot at and still produce a clear image. Don’t just crank up your shutter speed and ISO and expect to get a print quality shot. Practice your birds in flight photography during the best weather conditions to familiarize yourself with the best settings for your camera. You can then adjust your settings depending on the weather in the future. Gulls are excellent birds to practice on because they are easy to find and fly relatively slow. Most times you can get quite close to these birds and they will fly around you in circles hoping to be fed.
I hope these tips help you out if capturing birds in flight is something you are trying to achieve.
One of my favourite places to go birding is along the Thames River in London, Ontario. I find myself walking the river several times a week with good results for birds. I woke up to clear blue skies and decided to grab my camera and head down to Greenway Park. As I entered the park I could see two Bald Eagles perched in the poplar trees on the far side of the river. Once parked, I walked up river in the direction of the eagles, keeping an eye to the sky in case they flew down river. As I got further up river I could see the two eagles hadn’t moved from their perch. I was able to get right across the river from where they were sitting and fortunately found a small opening in the branches where I was able to get some clear shots.
After several minutes and many photos, I decided to carry on with my walk, when the first eagle took off and then so too did the second. They only flew about sixty yards down river where they landed again. This resting spot didn’t present the same kind of view as the first as the eagles were a little deeper in the trees off the river bank. It wasn’t long before the first eagle took off again down river before gaining altitude and slowly disappearing to the west over Wonderland Rd. I knew it wouldn’t be long before the second eagle followed so I moved down river to a clearing on the bank where I could still see the resting eagle. After making sure my camera settings were just right I waited patiently for the eagle to fly. Only a few minutes passed and I watched as the eagle took flight. My location was perfect as the second eagle quickly came towards me and eventually flew right past where I was able to snap off several shots.
Bald Eagles are regulars up and down the Thames River and winter months present excellent opportunities to view these majestic raptors. Next time you are out walking the river pay close attention to the tops of trees as eagles prefer a tall perch. Keep your eyes to the sky as these birds continually fly up and down the river in search of food. By scanning the area where you are walking, you are bound to come across one of these amazing birds.
Snowy Owls often perch on hydro poles. I took this shot from my truck window so I wouldn’t spook it or put added stress on the bird, plus it stayed perched for someone else to enjoy.
Snowy Owls breed on the Arctic tundra, but many birds overwinter in Southwestern Ontario and the Great Lakes area. They are our largest owl by weight and reported sightings in our area have increased in the last week, with birds being observed near Belmont, Strathroy, and Kettle Point. Snowy Owls like wide open spaces so look for them across farmland, beach dunes, or airport fields. Snowy Owls spend a lot of time sitting on the ground. Adult males are almost completely white, while females are marked with black bars so spotting them can be a bit tricky in a snow covered field. When trying to locate them look for their stocky bodies sticking up from the ground or a flock of smaller birds harassing them. These owls prefer having a good vantage of their surroundings for hunting, so a slightly high spot in a field is a perfect place for them to sit. Hay bales, grain elevators, fence posts, telephone poles, and the rooftops of farm buildings also provide great views not only for the owl but for birders to spot them. Snowy Owls are diurnal hunters so unlike most owls they are quite active during the day. They feed primarily on small rodents such as lemmings, mice or voles, but will also consume larger prey such as rabbits, squirrels and birds.
If you happen to come across one of these amazing owls remember to keep your distance. They have travelled many miles, are under incredible stress and hungry. If you see one while driving the county roads stay in your car. Stop, roll down your window, take pictures and enjoy it’s beauty but don’t try to approach it. I know from experience you can get much longer looks from a car than on foot. I have seen too many people try to walk up to the bird for a better look only to see it fly away. Snowy Owls will stay in the same area all winter and will return to the same area year after year if not disturbed. If you can’t get a good enough look or picture return to the area another day. Snowy Owls will be here throughout the winter months so be patient, and a good look will present itself.
Winter is my favourite time of year to observe and photograph Bald Eagles in our area. Layering up with quality warm clothing allows me to spend hours in the field with this majestic raptor.
Winter presents excellent birding opportunities in that many species only inhabit our area during the colder months. Many songbirds, waterfowl, and birds of prey including the ever-popular Snowy Owl can be found if you are willing to get out and brave the elements. Staying warm and being comfortable are the keys to enjoying winter birding. I quite prefer winter birding to summer birding because not only are there many interesting species to observe, but it is easier to dress for the cold than the heat. Let’s face it, you can only remove so many clothes.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are a resident species that can be enjoyed year-round in our area. The leafless trees during the winter months provide better views of these and other birds.
Today’s clothing technology makes staying warm and comfortable quite easy. Garments are made warmer and thinner than they were in the past which will make your time in the outdoors more enjoyable. I like to start with a good base layer and my preference here is Underarmour 2.0 leggings and 3.0 top. These long john style shirts and pants fit tight to my body and are available in various weights for a range of temperatures and provide excellent warmth while wicking moisture away from my body. Keeping the moisture off your skin is very important because nothing cools you down faster than sweat evaporation. In extremely cold temperatures I will wear a flannel shirt over my Underarmour base layer but quite often find that the mid-weight base layer shirt is more than adequate.
The Great Black-backed Gull is the largest gull in the world and only found in our area during the winter months. Bundling up and photographing one of these giants is always exciting.
Next, I like to put on a fleece-lined pair of cargo pants. The fleece lining provides added warmth and the many pockets are great for carrying small items such as spare memory cards. Avoid nylon ski pants as this material is too noisy when walking and will startle many birds. For my jacket, I like Mark’s Work Warehouse T Max hoodies. These jackets are extremely warm, made of a quiet material, and are available in models that repel water which makes them great in wet snow.
Birding during the winter months is a great way to stay active. Not being dressed for the conditions will limit the amount of time you can tolerate in the field.
Footwear is probably the most important piece of clothing. If your feet get cold and wet, then the rest of you will get cold and your day will not be very enjoyable. I always buy boots designed for hunting as I find them the best for warmth, comfort, and being waterproof. I like a boot with at least 1000 grams of Thinsulate insulation to guarantee my feet stay warm. Look for a fairly aggressive tread to provide better grip in packed snow and icy conditions.Rocky Blizzardstalker is my choice for winter boots. These boots are incredibly warm, waterproof, and comfortable.
Many waterfowl species like the Redhead pictured here, only visit our region during winter months. It is important to dress properly when heading out in search of these beautiful birds.
Gloves can be one of the trickiest items to purchase. I have had countless pairs of gloves that claim to be warm but just don’t cut it when out in the field. My personal recommendation isManzella Bruin. These gloves are the warmest I have ever owned not to mention waterproof and very thin. I can easily operate the tiny buttons and switches on my camera and lens without having to remove these gloves.
If you avoid birding during the winter months because you can’t keep warm, give some of these articles of clothing a try and prepare to be comfortable all day.
Last but not least don’t forget to cover your head. How many times have you heard in your life that you lose 90% of your body heat through your head? Whether or not this fact is accurate who knows? I do know this, cold ears will ruin your day in a hurry. I like a toque style hat with a lining that wicks away moisture. It is quite easy to work up a sweat while winter hiking and again sweat evaporation will cool you off incredibly fast. Many companies manufacture great lined toques and winter hats.
Cold weather has never prevented me from getting outside and enjoying my favourite pastime.
I spend a lot of time outdoors photographing wildlife and have wasted a lot of money on winter attire that claims to be warm. All of these items keep me warm and allow me to stay outdoors for hours on the coldest days. I think that if you give some of these items a try you won’t be disappointed and your time outdoors will be much more enjoyable.
Good birding,
Paul
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White-throated Sparrows were observed in good numbers this past week.
It was another slow week of birding for me. I didn’t find many opportunities to get out and as a result, no new species to report. The highest numbers observed were Dark-eyed Juncos and Mourning Doves. Good numbers of American Tree Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows were seen feeding throughout the various goldenrod fields. A few walks along the Thames River revealed both Common and Hooded Mergansers and the number of Buffleheads seem to be increasing. Great blue Herons were also present along the banks in search of food.
Westminster Ponds turned up the two previously mentioned sparrow species as well as juncos. I observed a Cooper’s Hawk and a Red-tailed Hawk chase each other out of the woods on the east side of the ESA. It was difficult to tell who was chasing who but the Cooper’s Hawk returned to the wooded area so I scored it Cooper’s 1 Red-tailed 0.
The greatest activity of the week took place at my feeders with seventeen species recorded in my yard. My favourite regulars in the yard are definitely the woodpeckers with the Red-bellied and Northern Flicker tied for top spot. The Cooper’s Hawks that have been making appearances in the backyard were not seen this week but watching all the birds scatter for cover on numerous occasions led me to believe there were a few fly overs for sure. Sunday’s heavy snowsqualls kept the feeders busy all day with multiple refills required. A Mourning Dove hit the window on Sunday afternoon and fell to the deep snow. Most of the bird was buried in the snow but we could see it was still breathing, but quite heavy. Thankfully it took off unscathed when we pulled it from the deep snow. It seems that there was too much snow for it to right itself into a position where it could take off. Good thing we heard it hit or it would have perished in the snow for sure.
I’m hoping this week will provide better weather and more opportunities to get out. Cooler temperatures in the forecast combined with all this snow may be just what is needed to see a new winter species in the area.
By filling this feeder with just peanut halves, the Northern Flicker pictured here gets exactly what it wants. The fact that it doesn’t scatter seeds in search of peanuts saves me money.
Do you ever wonder when you fill your feeder with mixed seed exactly what birds are eating which seeds? By knowing what birds want will help you choose which seeds to offer and effectively bring more birds to your yard, not to mention save you money.
When I first started feeding the birds I only had one feeder and a bag of mixed seed. I purchased an inexpensive bag of seed and watched the birds arrive. I had a few birds at my feeder but my variety and quantities were limited. I quickly learned that all seed mixes are not created equal. After doing a little research as to what birds preferred I realized most of the ingredients in an economy bag of seed from a big box store were not tops on most birds lists. I began being more selective with my seed purchases and paying attention to what was in them. I now have more feeders in my yard that are only filled with one type of seed. For example one of my feeders is filled with just black oil sunflower, another with peanut halves, and yet another with peanuts in the shell. Birds will quickly find the feeder with the seed of their preference and continue returning to that feeder. I do still offer mixed seed at a couple of my feeders but purchase a quality mix from a bird feed retailer with less ingredients and no fillers like milo or cracked corn. Less ingredients means the birds will not scatter the seeds as much looking for what they want. As a result less seed ends up on the ground going to the squirrels. Ground feeding birds will consume this seed too but it stays much fresher on the feeder. I made sure that my feeders with mixed seed have large landing areas so birds that typically feed on the ground like doves and juncos have easy access to them. The more seed that stays off the ground and in the feeder means less waste.
Here is a list of some common types of bird feed and the birds that consume them. Hopefully this will help you select what to offer in your area.
Black oil sunflower seeds Peanuts in the shell Cut corn Safflower White Millet Peanut Halves
Cardinals Blue Jays Doves Cardinals Doves Woodpeckers
Chickadees Woodpeckers Cardinals Chickadees Juncos Blue Jays
Nuthatches Blue Jays Grosbeaks Sparrows Chickadees
Finches Sparrows Towhees Nuthatches
Blue Jays Wrens
By being a little more selective about what you offer your birds, not only will you attract more quantity and variety to your yard, but you will save money in the long run. Seed specific feeders are a great way to cut back on seed use by reducing waste. Remember when purchasing a seed mix pay close attention to the ingredients.
The male Northern Cardinal is easily recognized by it’s bright red plumage and black mask.
Northern Cardinals are one of the most recognized birds throughout their range. Males with their bright red bodies and black masks can be identified by just about anyone. In the United States the Cardinal is the mascot of two professional sports teams, twelve colleges or universities and is the state bird in seven states so it is easily recognized by birders and non birders alike.
Attracting Cardinals to your yard is quite easy. They will accept almost any kind of seed, but their two favourites are black oil sunflower, and safflower. In my yard I have one feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds and another with a mix of the two. These birds can be quite territorial especially during the breeding season so spacing feeders out around your yard will get you more of this species. Cardinals are great ground feeders so they will clean up any seed that finds it way underneath your feeder. Northern Cardinals are generally the first and last bird at your feeder during the day. Their silhouettes can be seen on your feeder at first and last light, but will provide colour and beautiful sound to your yard all day long.
When not eating at a feeder Cardinals consume berries and seeds and prefer the cover of dense shrubs and thickets. Nesting also takes place in these same areas so consider planting your garden accordingly. In recent years I have added red osier dogwoods to my yard. These are a native species that provide excellent cover from predators as well as nesting areas for many birds. I have read where as many as 102 species of birds consume their berries with Cardinals being one of them. As well as attracting birds these shrubs with their red branches provide beautiful colour to any garden and really stand out in winter against a snowy backdrop.
Cardinals will nest in a birdhouse but prefer an open platform or shelf style. These types of houses should be mounted in dense shrubs and many sites suggest 2-15 feet off the ground. I would personally recommend higher than two feet because that at least rules out any non climbing predators such as cats from accessing it. Areas higher up in a shrub will also provide denser cover. Cardinals will generally not use the same nest area twice so it is recommended that the platform is moved to a new location at the end of the year.
Common Mergansers like this male seen here overwinter on the Thames River and a few appeared this week.
This past week didn’t see me getting out much, but during my walks along the Thames River I encountered several species of birds. Nothing out of the ordinary but many nice views nonetheless. The two most abundant species were American Robins and Cedar Waxwings. Both could be seen in large flocks feeding on the berries of the various trees and shrubs that line the river banks. Small groups of Buffleheads and Common Mergansers were seen diving on the river in search of food. I found American Tree Sparrows in the many goldenrod fields adjacent to wooded areas along the pathways.
Birds of prey were spotted in small numbers but included Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and an American Kestrel. I have an adult and immature Cooper’s Hawk that check out my feeders quite regularly and a Merlin briefly passed by overhead while I was filling them.
My backyard feeders have been very busy all week especially earlier when we had cooler temperatures and snow. Mourning Doves, Dark-eyed Juncos and Black-capped Chickadees appeared in the largest numbers. Blue Jays, Red and White-breasted Nuthatches and three species of Woodpecker were frequent visitors too.
Here’s hoping that the upcoming week will present some new species.
This leucistic American Robin was a nice surprise one April afternoon.Watching a pair of Peregrine Falcons achieve top speed as they dove at a flock of Mourning Doves was a sight I’ll never forget.
When I think back to all the birds I’ve seen and photographed this year, a few stand out. With over a month left in this year there is still time to see a new species or two but some will be hard to top. To date I’ve seen and photographed over 150 species within the city of London. I am constantly amazed at the many different species that either live in or pass through our great city.
In January I found myself walking the banks the Thames River every chance I got searching for the many Bald Eagles that use the river as a food source throughout the winter. I had quite a bit of success and found the colder and more miserable the weather the better. Not ideal conditions for photography but I usually saw at least one eagle. Several species of waterfowl wintered on the river including Common Goldeneye and three types of Merganser.
Once spring approached the warbler migration was in full swing. I observed many species that were new to me with my favourite being the male Blackburnian Warbler. It’s black and white body with bright orange head and throat were a real treat to see. In April I managed a few shots of a leucistic American Robin as it searched for food in the grass at a local park. Leucism is a condition characterized by reduced pigmentation in animals. Another April highlight was watching a pair of Peregrine Falcons hunting Mourning doves off a line of hydro wires. You cannot appreciate the speed of this bird until you witness it in person.
Summer was a little slow for birding, but the resident Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles, and Indigo Buntings provided lots of colourful pictures. The highlight of summer was coming across a White-tailed Doe and her two fawns at one my favorite birding places. I still encounter this family and have watched the two fawns go from being smaller than my dog and covered in spots, to being not recognizable as fawns unless next to their mother.
As fall set in their were plenty more warbler opportunities, the return of many sparrows, and of course the fall raptor migration. Seeing a kettle of 30 Broad Winged Hawks over the Thames River a mere blocks from downtown was an impressive sight. The Rusty Blackbird was a new species for me that I was able to photograph at Westminster Ponds ESA.
Now that we are into late fall and winter nears, I am hoping to add more birds to my list. Owls are a species in particular that have eluded my lens in the past but I am optimistic that will soon change. Hopefully all of you have had great success birding this year and encountered a new species or two. The possibility of encountering something new is what drives us all.
Blue Jays are another common and easily recognizable bird in our area. With their large crests and blue, white and black markings they definitely stand out. Another give away that Blue Jays are in the area is by their distinct call. Blue jays can be found almost anywhere from forest edges to urban parks and backyards. One of their favorite native foods is acorns so they can always be found where oak trees are present.
Photographing birds in flight is a fun challenge and can make for some great photos. A flight shot captures the action and in some cases is more interesting than a static shot. When set against a great background the photos really come to life. Songbirds are incredibly difficult to capture in flight because they move quickly and erratically. It is virtually impossible to predict where they will go next, unless it is to a food source. Waterfowl and birds of prey are much easier to capture in flight because they fly much slower and generally in a straight line.
