A Search For Warblers Reveals A Family Of Owls

Last Friday, I awoke to steady rain. The forecast was calling for showers and thunderstorms into the afternoon so birding that day wasn’t on my radar. I was moving pretty slow enjoying my coffee and still in my pajamas. By mid-morning, the rain had stopped and the sun was out. I quickly got dressed, grabbed my camera and binoculars, and headed out the door. I planned to check an area close to home for warblers as birding immediately following rain can be highly rewarding as the showers tend to push birds close to the ground resulting in amazing views. Some of my best days birding have been during similar conditions.

IMG 0157 Edit - A Search For Warblers Reveals A Family Of Owls — **A flock of Blue Jays harassing this adult Great Horned Owl alerted me to its presence.**

Shortly after arriving, I tallied a multitude of warblers moving through the low trees and shrubs slightly higher than eye level. Blackburnian, Magnolia, and Bay-breasted were all observed within a matter of minutes. As I made my way into a clearing in the forest, I heard a flock of Blue Jays calling aggressively. To my delight, I saw a Great Horned Owl perched in a tree being mobbed by the jays.

IMG 9943 Edit 6 - A Search For Warblers Reveals A Family Of Owls — **One of two young Great Horned Owls observed on this day.**

Raising my camera, I captured a few images of the owl perched in a large tree. All of a sudden, something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. It was a young owl flying past eventually landing in a nearby tree. As the young owl again took flight, the adult followed making their way to another tree. Looking with my binoculars I saw a second adult and young owl deeper in the forest. I was pretty excited to have stumbled upon this family of owls.

IMG 0017 Edit - A Search For Warblers Reveals A Family Of Owls — **Within a few minutes of spotting the first adult bird, it became apparent this was an entire family of Great Horned Owls.**

As I watched the family of owls it appeared the young ones were possibly learning to fly or hunt. I stood motionless under a tree and watched as the owlets made short flights from tree to tree while the parents watched carefully. One of the adult owls stayed close to each juvenile at all times never taking their eyes off them.

IMG 0005 Edit - A Search For Warblers Reveals A Family Of Owls — **Adult Great Horned Owls keeping a close watch on their offspring.**

Watching the eyes and heads of the adult owls move in unison as the owlets flew around was almost comical. This spectacle reminded me of the emphatic motions of synchronized swimmers performing a well-choreographed routine.

IMG 0080 Edit - A Search For Warblers Reveals A Family Of Owls — **As I stood motionless in the forest the adult Great Horned Owls were more interested in the whereabouts of their owlets than my presence.**

Not wanting to put added stress on the adults or young owls during what was seemingly a vital life lesson, I carried on after watching for only a few minutes while quickly capturing photos. Despite being a brief encounter, it is one I will always remember. Out of respect for the birds, I do not share owl locations but I will say these are not any of our over publicized owls here in the city.

IMG 0133 Edit - A Search For Warblers Reveals A Family Of Owls — **Finding this family of Great Horned Owls is certainly a highlight of birding this spring.**

As I carried on through the forest, my focus once again turned to warblers. As more and more of these colorful songbirds came into view, I kept thinking about the amazing encounter I had just had with these Great Horned Owls. This is one of the elements of birding I love the most, you never know what you are going to see. I look forward to getting out again this week for more adventures and the endless possibilities they may bring and sharing my experiences in nature with each of you.

Good birding,
Paul

Subscribe To My Blog

Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion

In my recent post, Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants I wrote about birding lately at a secluded location while achieving great views of a variety of species. This past week I returned to this area several times to bird in seclusion which resulted in great birding and many more first of year species.

IMG 9126 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **Large quantities of White-crowned Sparrows, a first of years species for me, were observed this past week.**

As was the case last week Eastern Towhees, Brown Thrashers, and Gray Catbirds were among the most abundant species. Several first of year sparrow species were observed including White-crowned and Lincoln’s. As I scanned the open fields and forest edges with my binoculars the sight of these birds strewn across the ground could be seen while the sounds of leaves rustling under their feet as they foraged could be heard. It truly was impressive.

IMG 1396 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **Several thrushes were observed including Veery**

Thrushes were also abundant with Hermit, Gray-cheeked, Wood, and Veery all recorded. When it comes to thrushes, Veery seem to be the least concerned about people and incredible views from a few feet are often obtainable if you move slowly.

IMG 1481 2 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **The Ovenbird can easily be mistaken for a thrush as they are similar in appearance and are typically observed on the forest floor. Despite these similarities, Ovenbirds are a warbler.**

Several first of year warblers were observed with Black-throated Green, Nashville, Common Yellowthroat, and Ovenbird all seen. Other warblers present were Pine, Palm, Yellow-rumped, and many Yellow.

IMG 8713 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **This past week I saw an increased number of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks**

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore Orioles were noticed in higher numbers this week as were flycatchers with several Least Flycatchers observed.

IMG 9679 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **This cute baby Raccoon and its siblings emerged from a broken-off tree.**

While working my way along a trail I heard a familiar sound. With my brain focussed on birds, I couldn’t place the call I was hearing. I then realized the sound was not a bird but in fact raccoons. As I looked around I saw several cute baby raccoons spilling out of a broken-off tree as their mom wandered down into the ravine.

IMG 9564 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **Eastern Chipmunk**

Eastern Chipmunks could be seen scurrying along the forest floor and across fallen logs while their chip and chuck calls could be heard throughout the property.

IMG 9009 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **Male Yellow Warbler singing**

I still haven’t seen an impressive number of warblers in this area as I have with some of the other species mentioned. Geographically and in terms of habitat this area has plenty to offer warblers so it may be a case of these birds running a bit late this year. Whether this will happen or not at this location remains to be seen. Every aspect of this spring has been unusual so far including the weather and lack of winds with a southerly component so I am still optimistic large quantities of warblers will appear and I will certainly be returning next week to find out.

IMG 9818 2 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak**

The element of seclusion added to the experience as it was just me and the birds. It’s not that I’m antisocial or don’t like people, birding in seclusion is my way to distress, let go of any unwanted emotions, and reset my brain. While some may meditate or turn to other self-care activities, I go birding. Given the uncertainty of everything going on in the world right now and the advice to continue with physical distancing, I have been avoiding any location I feel will be too busy. This includes all of the locations I would typically visit at this time of year. Being able to relax and unwind in nature has been something I am grateful for.

IMG 8904 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **Unlike many other warblers that are typically observed high overhead, the Palm Warbler prefers to spend most of its time on the ground.**

I have uploaded a new video to YouTube from my visit to this area last week titled A Great Day Birding At A Secluded Area where you can see many of the aforementioned species in action. If you enjoy my videos, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

IMG 8953 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **This area of seclusion has been full of Eastern Towhees over the past several weeks. Pictured here is a male.**

I want to thank everyone who has been using the Amazon links I provide in some of my blog posts to purchase products. This is one way you can support my photography which allows me to devote more time to writing blogs and working on videos for my YouTube channel. For those of you not familiar with the Amazon affiliate program and how it works when products are purchased from Amazon through a link I provide, Amazon pays me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please note, I only provide links to products I have purchased with my own money, have used myself, and am happy with based on their performance and durability.

IMG 8369 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **I am still seeing good numbers of Ruby-crowned Kinglets in our area leading me to believe that migration may be a little bit behind this year.**

If you have the opportunity, find your own secluded area and get out and enjoy nature. I think with more consistent weather, warmer temperatures, and a south wind we could see a big movement of birds, in particular, warblers to our area. With parks and conservation areas opening up remember to take the necessary precautions and continue to physical distance. With a little forethought, we can all enjoy the great outdoors while not setting society back or making our sacrifices over the past two months for nothing.

Good birding,
Paul

Subscribe To My Blog

The Best Hummingbird Feeder For Your Backyard

Walk into any store that sells hummingbird feeders and the selection can be overwhelming. Choosing a feeder to attract these little beauties to your yard doesn’t have to be difficult and in this post, I’m going to share my favourite.

Whenever I’m asked what hummingbird feeder I recommend the Perky-Pet 203CPBN Pinch Waist Glass Hummingbird Feeder is my answer every time. Why do I like this feeder so much? There are many reasons this feeder gets my vote but the first is it simply works. My parents had this feeder in their backyard when I was growing up and I use this feeder in my own yard. We also use this feeder at the family cottage. I have been watching hummingbirds use this feeder my entire life and the birds love it.

IMG 9818 - The Best Hummingbird Feeder For Your Backyard — **This hummingbird was having a difficult time deciding between the cardinal flowers and the fresh nectar in my feeder.**

Another reason I love this feeder so much is the price. Who doesn’t love a product that works and doesn’t break the bank? Not only is this the best hummingbird feeder out there it’s one of the least expensive. Just because this feeder doesn’t cost much doesn’t mean it isn’t high quality. This feeder is incredibly durable.

The glass reservoir is easy to clean with an appropriately sized bottle brush and the wide mouth makes it easy to fill. I also really like the size of the reservoir as it holds just the right amount of nectar. This generally allows the birds to consume all the nectar before it spoils so none is wasted and I’m continually putting out fresh food thus attracting more birds.

IMG 9554 - The Best Hummingbird Feeder For Your Backyard — **Ruby-throated Hummingbird approaching the feeder.**

The feeding ports feature bee guards to protect the nectar from flying insects while the top of the feeder incorporates a built-in ant-moat to prevent these crawling pests from accessing the food.

A free pack of instant nectar comes with this feeder but I discard this as I do not know what this nectar contains including potentially harmful red dye. I make my own hummingbird food by adding 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of boiling water and giving it a quick stir. Once the liquid has cooled the feeder can be filled. Boiling the water not only helps dissolve the sugar it also helps remove chlorine and other impurities from our tap water.

IMG 2585 2 - The Best Hummingbird Feeder For Your Backyard — **A cedar hedge not only provides a windbreak but also a place for this hummingbird to perch before and after visiting the feeder.**

Feeder placement is essential when trying to attract hummingbirds. I like to position mine out of the wind and close to somewhere the birds will perch. I find that hummingbirds like to perch before and after visiting a feeder. This could be a small tree, the top of a shepherd’s hook, or even a clothesline. At the cottage, we often get a chuckle watching the hummingbirds sitting on the clothesline trying to feed from the pink plastic clothespins.

Having flowers in your garden will also help attract more hummingbirds to your yard. I am a huge fan of native flowers and have found the red blooms of the cardinal flower work particularly well. Butterfly weed not only will attract Monarch Butterflies but the hummingbirds seem to like it too.

IMG 9566 Edit - The Best Hummingbird Feeder For Your Backyard — **Butterfly weed will not only attract Monarch Butterflies to your backyard but in my experience, the hummingbirds love it too.**

Fresh food is imperative to attracting hummingbirds to your feeder. During hot weather, you are going to want to change the nectar and clean the feeder every two days. Making a larger batch of food can be convenient as it will keep in the fridge for 7 to 10 days.

Having hummingbirds visit your backyard is incredibly enjoyable. These birds require food almost constantly and once they find your feeder will visit from sunrise to sunset. A backyard feeder is one of the best places to see and photograph hummingbirds as you know exactly where the birds will be.

46912621885 a8a5837450 o - The Best Hummingbird Feeder For Your Backyard — **Ruby-throated Hummingbird in flight as it nears the Perky-Pet feeder.**

If you are having trouble choosing the best hummingbird feeder for your yard, I highly recommend giving the Perky-Pet 203CPBN Pinch Waist Glass Hummingbird Feeder a try. This inexpensive, lightweight, easy to clean, durable feeder simply works, and with proper placement and care will attract hummingbirds to your yard. Mix up a batch of fresh nectar, place your favourite easy chair in close view, and get ready to enjoy beautiful hummingbirds in your backyard.

Good birding,
Paul

* Please note this post contains an Amazon affiliate link. You can help support my website by using the above links when you purchase products on Amazon (they send me a few bucks when you do at no additional cost to you). I only provide links to products I have purchased and am satisfied with based on my own experience. Thanks for your support!*

Subscribe To My Blog

Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants

Birding this spring has certainly been unique. Unique in the sense that with provincial parks and many conservation areas closed the obvious destinations for taking in spring migration have been off-limits. As a result, I have found myself frequenting an area that remains open and is underutilized to get my fix of spring migrants.

IMG 6866 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **Yellow Warblers are one of the earliest arriving warblers in Southwestern Ontario and can now be readily observed.**

Now when I say underutilized I don’t just mean in regards to birding I mean underutilized period. This area has been almost absent of birders, dog walkers, runners, you name it. If fact, having spent all day at this location multiple times this spring the busiest day saw just three other users over the course of the entire day. I’ve had this area virtually to myself all day and the birding has been great.

IMG 1816 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **Brown Thrasher**

All of the migrants I would expect to see the first week of May have been present with some seen in greater numbers than others. On one visit, I saw more Brown Thrashers in a single day than I have before in my entire life. Warblers, orioles, grosbeaks, as well as a plethora of resident species, have also been plentiful.

IMG 7304 Edit 2 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **On one visit to this area, I was greeted to the calls of a Wood Thrush as I exited my car. After scanning with my binoculars I located the bird foraging under a spruce tree.**

Wood Thrushes, a species currently listed as special concern on Ontario’s species at risk list, have been surprisingly prevalent at this location. These birds along with the aforementioned Brown Thrashers, Eastern Towhees, and White-throated Sparrows could be heard scratching in the leaf litter on the forest floor.

IMG 5855 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **Gray Catbirds can be a challenge to see due to their propensity to frequent thick cover. Fortunately, their cat-like call helps reveal their location.**

Working my way along the dense thickets at the edge of the forest, the cat-like meow of Gray Catbirds could be heard. Fortunately, some birds could be observed on top of the thickets feeding on berries affording me the opportunity for a photo or two.

IMG 6068 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **This Black-and-White Warbler is one of the many warblers I have observed while birding in this area.**

Most of the warblers that return the first week of May have been recorded including Yellow-rumped, Yellow, Palm, and Black-and-White. Large numbers of Chipping Sparrows have also been seen and heard from around the property.

IMG 3814 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **The White Trillium is the provincial flower of Ontario. In the underutilized area I have been birding lately these gorgeous wildflowers are abundant.**

IMG 3799 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **Red Trillium also known as the Wake Robin**

This area is home to a multitude of wildflowers including Trilliums, Trout Lillies, Mayapples, and a host of others I have yet to identify. Wildflower identification is something I continue to work on with the help of my Peterson Field Guide To Wildflowers. The sight of the forest floor displaying a rainbow of colours was something to behold.

IMG 7115 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **Red Admiral Butterfly**

Mornings last week started cool but each day the temperature quickly climbed and the birds and wildlife became more active. As the mercury rose Red Admiral, Mourning Cloak, and Eastern Comma Butterflies were observed flying in and around the forest.

IMG 6234 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **The bold white eyering of the Least Flycatcher helps separate it from other Empidonax flycatchers.**

With Doug Ford announcing the opening of provincial parks and conservation areas next week I imagine many birders will be flocking to Rondeau, Komoka, and the Pinery as well as everyone else who has been missing these great parks. I think I’ll sit this spring at the usual hotspots out and continue to physical distance just to be on the safe side. After all, I have found an underutilized area I have enjoyed all to myself and plan to return this week.

IMG 7997 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **Baltimore Oriole**

Normally I am happy to share where and provide directions to the areas I bird, but given the current situation I’m keeping this area a secret and I hope you support my reasoning for this. If you get the chance this week, head out for some birding and enjoy the great outdoors. Remember we still need to physical distance as we are not out of the woods yet. The second week of May is typically the best week of spring migration and I’m curious to see what species will appear at this amazing location. Stay safe and as always

Good birding,
Paul

* Please note this post contains an Amazon affiliate link. You can help support my website by using the above links when you purchase products on Amazon (they send me a few bucks when you do at no additional cost to you). I only provide links to products I have purchased and am satisfied with based on my own experience. Thanks for your support!*

*I’ve uploaded a new video to my YouTube Channel titled Birding At My Local Patch. In this video, I find several species including warblers, Wood Ducks, and a Bald Eagle to name a few.*

Subscribe To My Blog

New Video Uploaded &
Help Wanted

IMG 3057 - New Video Uploaded & <br> Help Wanted — **Northern Flickers have been abundant lately providing me the opportunity to photograph and video them.**

Earlier this year I launched a video blog (also known as a vlog) on YouTube. I thought this would be a nice compliment to my written blog published here on my website. Photography remains my main focus but being able to share the behaviour of birds and wildlife through video is something that interests me. Video also allows me to share the wonderful sounds of nature from my adventures, something not achievable through photos.

IMG 2166 - New Video Uploaded & <br> Help Wanted — **Hermit Thrushes are easily identified by their rusty red tails.**

Video is new to me and like photography, there are always different camera settings to try and lots of trial and error with error often winning. I’ve been experimenting with a few different cameras and have quickly learned that video is more challenging than still photography. Birds often only pause briefly which with the correct camera settings can result in an image I am happy with. On the other hand, a one-second video clip of a bird before it takes off isn’t very riveting.

IMG 4033 - New Video Uploaded & <br> Help Wanted — **Ruby-crowned Kinglet showing off the ruby crown for which they are named.**

Over the past week, I took advantage of the beautiful weather to search for spring migrants and practice shooting video. I was able to capture several short clips of various species including Yellow-rumped Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. I put these clips together into two videos which I have uploaded to YouTube. The links to those videos are posted below.

If you enjoy my videos, please subscribe to my YouTube channel and click the bell for notifications of future videos.

IMG 4586 - New Video Uploaded & <br> Help Wanted — **Earlier this week, I saw my first goslings of the year. A short clip of this family of geese is featured in my latest YouTube video.**

I enjoy sharing my adventures with subscribers and showcasing the amazing birds and wildlife we have close to home and around Southwestern Ontario. My blog allows me to tell the story of my time spent outdoors and I hope my vlog will do the same while providing even more of a visual aspect and the element of sound.

IMG 4504 - New Video Uploaded & <br> Help Wanted — **Capturing an image of this Carolina Wren singing was an amazing experience, but recording a video provided the element of sound not achieved in a photo.**

Due to the pandemic, I am currently off work and using this time to improve and grow my photography. If you know someone you think might enjoy my blog, I would appreciate you sharing it with them. Physical distancing is something I take very seriously and I have a few areas where I can get out and enjoy nature while avoiding contact with others. I very much enjoy the interaction I have with all of you through my blog and social media and appreciate everyone who takes the time to read, watch, and comment on my posts. I look forward to sharing more with you during the coming weeks as migration reaches full height.

IMG 3676 - New Video Uploaded & <br> Help Wanted — **A fallen tree provided excellent camouflage for this White-tailed Deer.**

Providing content you enjoy is important to me and I would appreciate your feedback on what you would like to see. Are you a birder who enjoys keeping tabs on my recent sightings? Do you enjoy photography and want tips on how to improve your images? Maybe you want to know more about the gear I use. Perhaps you simply enjoy looking at the images within the blog itself. Have you watched my videos on YouTube or do you prefer my written blog and photos? I would love to hear from you so I can continue to create posts that appeal to you. Let me know what you like and want to see more of. If you have suggestions or ideas for future blog posts or videos, please let me know. I have already received some great ideas from subscribers and look forward to working on them. If you can offer constructive criticism on what you dislike or what I can improve on, I would appreciate that too. Feedback can be provided in the comments below, or if you wish to remain anonymous please contact me privately.

IMG 3209 - New Video Uploaded & <br> Help Wanted — **Downy Woodpecker**

I would like to thank all of you for subscribing to my blog and following along on my adventures. When I launched my website several years ago I never expected such an incredible response to my photography or my writing. I have been fortunate to meet many of you in person along the way and talk birds in the field while enjoying amazing interactions online with others and for that, I will always be grateful.

Good birding,
Paul

Subscribe To My Blog

Orioles And Hummingbirds Are On Their Way

In my last post, Good Birding Report: London, Ontario April 17-24, 2020, I mentioned the migration floodgates are about to open. Here in London, I typically see my first oriole and hummingbird by May 5 each year. Now is the perfect time to get your feeders up in anticipation of these birds returning. Having your feeder out when these species arrive will ensure they have nourishment to replace spent energy after their long migration north.

IMG 1258 Edit 2 Edit - Orioles And Hummingbirds Are On Their Way — **Ruby-throated Hummingbird approaching a feeder.**

One of the easiest ways to provide nourishment and attract orioles and hummingbirds to your yard is with a nectar feeder. For both birds, a simple mixture of sugar and water is all you need to make food that will fill their hungry little bellies. In a pot on your stove mix four parts water to one part sugar (1 cup of water to 1/4 cup sugar) and bring it to a boil. Boiling helps dissolve the sugar while removing chlorine and other impurities from our tap water. Once the mixture has cooled simply fill your feeder. A larger batch can be made and stored in the fridge for 7 to 10 days if your feeders are quite busy.

IMG 1271 Edit 2 Edit - Orioles And Hummingbirds Are On Their Way — **Red food colouring is potentially harmful to hummingbirds. Please note the glass on this feeder is red not the mixture of water and sugar inside.**

There are conflicting reports about whether red food colouring is harmful to birds. I do not use or recommend using red food colouring as anything potentially harmful to birds does not go in my feeders. The red color on the feeder itself is all that is required to attract plenty of hummingbirds. Orioles are typically attracted to the orange colour on the oriole feeders. That being said, both birds regularly visit feeders designed for the other species demonstrating that color isn’t that important so why bother with food colouring?

48527453946 547aa61e83 o - Orioles And Hummingbirds Are On Their Way — **A cedar tree provides not only a windbreak at my feeder but also a place for the hummingbirds to perch en route.**

Properly placing your feeder will help ensure greater success. I like to position mine out of the wind and close to a nearby perch. A tree in the proximity of the feeder works great as orioles and hummingbirds will often land here first before moving on to the feeder. For hummingbirds, a small leafless or dead branch is best to accommodate their tiny bodies.

17680631798 563b8eb36b o - Orioles And Hummingbirds Are On Their Way — **The vibrant orange plumage of the male Baltimore Oriole is a welcome sight in any yard.**

A shepherd’s hood works perfectly for hanging either an oriole or hummingbird feeder. Certainly with a sweet mixture of sugar and water you are also going to attract insects. Ants will readily climb the shepherd’s hook to get to the feeder and the nectar in it. Do not spray your hook with AntOut or Raid to kill the ants as orioles will gobble them up off the pole. Some feeders now feature a built-in ant moat or commercial ant moats are also available to hang over both oriole and hummingbird feeders. These moats are essentially reservoirs filled with water causing the ants to fall in and drown before reaching the feeder and are a much safer option than insecticides that will inadvertently harm the birds and beneficial insects.

IMG 1686 Edit Edit - Orioles And Hummingbirds Are On Their Way — **A rather wet oriole after an early May downpour.**

Oranges are another great option for attracting orioles to your yard. These can either be cut in half or slices and skewered onto tree branches, shepherd’s hooks, or placed on deck railings. Like the sugar water, oranges too will attract insects so be mindful of where you place them. In my experience, squirrels also love oranges and the fresh fruit often disappears shortly after placing it outside.

IMG 1491 Edit Edit - Orioles And Hummingbirds Are On Their Way — **Orioles readily eat insects and will naturally control pests in your yard. Insecticides are never a good idea as inadvertently poisoning birds and beneficial insects is a real possibility.**

Grape jelly is also popular with many homeowners for attracting orioles. Unfortunately, most of the grape jelly made for human consumption is sweetened with fructose or corn syrup and provides no nutritional value for birds. If you are going to offer jelly, make sure it contains no artificial sweeteners, colors, or flavours. BirdBerry Jelly is by far the best option; however, it is pricier. Given the challenges with getting groceries these days, sugar and water is the cheapest and easiest option for feeding orioles and hummingbirds.

44301291684 6e26f87081 o - Orioles And Hummingbirds Are On Their Way — **Having areas near your feeder to perch will attract more hummingbirds to your yard.**

Tracking the migration of orioles and hummingbirds is easy thanks to the Journey North maps. Recent sightings for both species can be viewed on the maps while watching their progress each day.

17249796209 19919c4f71 o - Orioles And Hummingbirds Are On Their Way — **Orioles are on their way, be ready for their arrival by placing your feeders out now.**

If you haven’t already, get your oriole and hummingbird feeders out in anticipation of their arrival. Having them out when these birds return will provide nourishment to replace energy burned after their long migration north. With warm temperatures and south winds in the forecast, there is a good chance we could see orioles and hummingbirds by the end of the week, will you be ready?

Good birding,
Paul

* Please note this post contains Amazon affiliate links. You can help support my website by using the above links when you purchase products on Amazon (they send me a few bucks when you do at no additional cost to you). I only provide links to products I have purchased and am satisfied with based on my own experience. Thanks for your support!*

Subscribe To My Blog

Good Birding Report:
London, Ontario April 17-24, 2020

IMG 8115 - Good Birding Report: <br> London, Ontario April 17-24, 2020 — **After seeing my first warbler of the season, a Yellow-rumped on Easter Sunday, the recent southwest winds brought more of these birds to the city.**

Unlike the weather this past week, birding has been quite consistent. Despite each day flip-flopping between winter and spring the migrants we expect to see at this time of year are present while good numbers of resident birds can also be found. In my last post, Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times I talked about birding frequently at a couple of areas close to home. Fortunately, the patch closest to me is void of people and full of birds allowing me to enjoy the great outdoors without worrying about close contact with others.

IMG 2953 - Good Birding Report: <br> London, Ontario April 17-24, 2020 — **Watching these male flickers joust presumably over territory looked more like a well-choreographed dance than an epic battle.**

One species I am seeing (and hearing) impressive numbers of lately is the Northern Flicker. The loud call of these large woodpeckers can be heard throughout the woods letting their presence be known. It’s not always necessary to look up to find flickers as their favourite food is ants so they are often seen on the ground probing the earth with their large beaks.

IMG 1666 - Good Birding Report: <br> London, Ontario April 17-24, 2020 — **Song Sparrow**

Song Sparrows are another abundant species and can be heard long before they are seen. If you are familiar with this bird’s song, they can typically be located singing from a high perch after hearing them. Sparrows are often overlooked by many and even referred to as LBJs or little brown jobs because of their seemingly nondescript appearance.

94129987 2710200652436700 3421038706503450624 o - Good Birding Report: <br> London, Ontario April 17-24, 2020 — **The white eye-ring and pink bill separate this Field Sparrow from other sparrows.**

The subtle differences in sparrow plumage are quite striking and their songs a pleasure to listen to. One of the most pleasant sparrows to hear sing is the Field Sparrow which I have observed several of this past week.

IMG 2619 - Good Birding Report: <br> London, Ontario April 17-24, 2020 — **Even with its immense size and my proximity to it, this Wild Turkey was a challenge to see through a maze of tree trunks.**

Some of the largest birds have been the hardest to see. Despite their impressive size, I came within a few feet of several Wild Turkeys and almost missed them.

IMG 2655 - Good Birding Report: <br> London, Ontario April 17-24, 2020 — **This un-cropped image at 400mm shows how close I got to a well-camouflaged Wild Turkey hiding in a brush pile.**

On some occasions, I have noticed these birds and managed a few photos before stepping away quietly while in other cases the birds have popped up and run or flown leaving me with a racing heart.

IMG 3753 - Good Birding Report: <br> London, Ontario April 17-24, 2020 — **Fortunately, this Ruby-crowned Kinglet paused briefly allowing me to capture a photo.**

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are another bird whose numbers drastically increased this week. Walking through the local woods I was treated to the sights and sounds of these tiny songbirds. In my opinion, kinglets are one of the hardest birds to photograph as they do not hold still very long. Even with a fast shutter speed capturing sharp images is a real challenge.

IMG 2211 - Good Birding Report: <br> London, Ontario April 17-24, 2020 — **Cooper’s Hawk**

A pair of Cooper’s Hawks have built a nest in the forest where I do my daily birding. After watching the couple start several nests close to each other over the past few weeks they finally decided on the perfect location. When visiting this area, I always give these birds a wide berth to not add to the already stressful task of raising young. From a distance, I regularly see the female’s tail overhanging the side of the nest while the smaller male keeps watch from a nearby tree.

IMG 3245 - Good Birding Report: <br> London, Ontario April 17-24, 2020 — **Female Red-winged Blackbirds arrive several weeks after the males and can now be observed.**

Over the week, I shot several video clips of some of the birds and wildlife I encountered and pieced them together into one short video I called A Walk In The Woods which I uploaded to my YouTube channel. I hope to capture more videos in the coming weeks of my adventures.

IMG 0235 - Good Birding Report: <br> London, Ontario April 17-24, 2020 — **Yellow-rumped Warbler with a small insect.**

In a little over a week, the migration floodgates are going to open. Orioles, hummingbirds, and of course warblers will be streaming in. It’s a good idea to get your feeders out early filled with water and sugar mixed at a ratio of 4:1 (1 cup of water to a 1/4 cup of sugar). This will ensure orioles and hummingbirds have nourishment to replace spent energy upon their return. Several of my followers have reached out letting me know how much they are enjoying my photos and posts during this difficult time which means a lot to me. I look forward to visiting my “secret” spot often and continuing to share my adventures and images with you. Until then stay safe and as always

Good birding,
Paul

Subscribe To My Blog

Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times

Patch birding certainly isn’t a new term but one we are hearing a lot more lately given the COVID-19 pandemic. With provincial parks and other natural areas closed until further notice, many of us are resorting to patch birding. This phrase simply means birding regularly in an area close to home. This could be a park down the street, around a neighbourhood stormwater pond, or even your own backyard. For me, the majority of my birding would be described as patch birding anyway even if we weren’t experiencing a pandemic.

IMG 0867 - Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times — **The wetland at my local patch is home to several Wood Ducks.**

Lately, I have been visiting a couple of patches on alternating days to give me a bit of a change of scenery. The variety and number of birds present at both these locations are quite impressive and I have been more than satisfied with my observations. The nice thing about patch birding is I can pop over to my local patch on short notice and at any time during the day to see what birds are active.

IMG 0566 - Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times — **Red-tailed Hawk**

The mixed habitat at my local patches attracts a wide variety of resident birds and migrants with songbirds, birds of prey, waterfowl, and even shorebirds present. Being walking distance to one of these areas and only a short drive from the other means I am not spending much on gas getting to my birding destinations which is nice since I have been without work for almost a month.

IMG 1171 - Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times — **The rapid notes of the Downy Woodpecker’s call can be heard in both the patches I regularly visit.**

Regardless of where you live a local patch exists nearby. As mentioned earlier, this could be your local park, backyard, or for those of you who live in a more rural area even walking past a wooded area or meadow on your county road. The nice thing about patch birding is there are endless possibilities to find an area all to yourself where you can enjoy the great outdoors while practicing physical distancing.

IMG 0789 2 - Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times — **Northern Flickers love ants and as such are often observed feeding on the ground.**

With several area bird festivals already canceled and others sure to be, it looks like we will all be patch birding during the peak of migration in May. Now is a great time to get out and search for your own patch for when the big wave of migrants arrive.

IMG 0643 - Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times — **Mallards and other waterfowl have now paired up in preparation of the upcoming nesting season.**

Normally I am happy to share my locations with blog subscribers; however, given the possibility of these areas becoming too crowded, I have chosen to keep them to myself. I would encourage others to keep their patch a secret too.

IMG 6219 Edit Edit - Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times — **Eastern Phoebes are the first of the flycatchers to return to our area each spring and are once again present.**

If you find yourself not getting out enough lately with the closure of provincial parks and other natural areas, find your own patch and discover the abundance of birds present within it. Remember to practice physical distancing while outdoors and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature that surrounds you. Let the simple things in life remind you of what is really important and guide you through these difficult times.

Good birding,
Paul

Subscribe To My Blog

Butterflies Emerge As Temperatures Rise

Last week the mercury rose to the mid-teens and as such, I observed my first butterflies of the year. With new bird species arriving daily, it’s easy to forget about butterflies emerging on a warm spring day; however, seeing the first one of the year is equally exciting.

Not all butterflies overwinter as adults, in fact, there are only a few species that do in our area. In order to survive the cold winter months overwintering butterflies seek shelter behind tree bark, in woodpiles or other crevices and enter a state of dormancy similar to other animals that hibernate. During the first warm days of spring, these butterflies become active and take flight.

My first sighting this year, as is the case most years, was a Mourning Cloak Butterfly. Seeing this while hiking in the warm sunshine instantly put a smile on my face and my smile widened when the butterfly landed in some nearby leaves allowing me to capture a handful of images. On this day I saw several Mourning Cloaks more so than I’ve ever seen in a single day before.

IMG 0167 Edit - Butterflies Emerge As Temperatures Rise — **Eastern Comma Butterfly**

As I continued on a little further my second species of the day appeared, this time an Eastern Comma. It too landed in the dry leaves after a brief aerial joust with a Mourning Cloak. Seeing the two butterflies spin rapidly in circles was like watching a colourful funnel cloud.

Nearing the end of my hike, I saw my third butterfly species of the day, a Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, spreading its wings in the sunshine.

IMG 0194 Edit - Butterflies Emerge As Temperatures Rise — **Milbert’s Tortoiseshell Butterfly**

Finding the first butterflies of the year can be quite easy if conditions are right and you search the best areas. First and foremost temperatures must be warm enough for the butterflies to be active. As mentioned earlier, temperatures in the mid-teens (Celsius) or warmer are required. On sunny days in deciduous forests is where I have the best luck preferably in wet areas near streams or swamps.

As far as photographing butterflies go you can get away with a much slower shutter speed than you can when photographing birds. I follow the reciprocal rule which means my shutter speed is set to at least the reciprocal of my focal length. For me shooting at 400mm this means I use a shutter speed of 1/400 or faster. On sunny days I use a lower ISO as well and typically find myself shooting between ISO 200 and 400 to achieve a shutter speed of 1/400. As in most cases, I shoot at f/8 as not only is my lens sharper at this aperture than it is wide open the added depth helps keep the entire butterfly sharp when I focus on its head.

IMG 0243 Edit - Butterflies Emerge As Temperatures Rise — **Though not as colourful from the underside, this Mourning Cloak Butterfly was a treat to see on a sunny spring afternoon.**

Remember to use your histogram to check your exposure because in sunny conditions a butterfly’s wings will reflect the light resulting in overexposure and loss of detail. In these situations, I often underexpose my images by 1/3 to 2/3 of a stop to retain as much detail as I can. Lastly, be sure your shadow does not project over the butterfly as this change from light to dark will cause the butterfly to spook and take flight.

Butterfly identification can be quite challenging and something I am still working on. To aid me with this I use the Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies.

With plenty of warm spring days to come there will be ample opportunities to get out and search for these early emerging butterflies. Find a sunny deciduous forest close to water, and keep your eyes peeled for their colourful aerial dance. With a little patience, these butterflies will land displaying their beautiful colours. This experience combined with the warm spring sun is bound to a smile on your face.

Good birding,
Paul

* Please note this post contains an Amazon affiliate link. You can help support my website by using the above link when you purchase products on Amazon (they send me a few bucks when you do at no additional cost to you). I only provide links to products I have purchased and am satisfied with based on my own experience. Thanks for your support!*

Subscribe To My Blog

The Hawk And The Vole

In my last post, Spring Has Sprung And The Birds Are Arriving On Cue I mentioned birding lately where there are no people so I can get out while practicing social distancing. These locations have proven to be incredibly rewarding in terms of birds and I have found the solitude to be incredibly beneficial for clearing my head and reducing stress.

IMG 9448 - The Hawk And The Vole — **A high perch provides a great vantage point of the meadow below.**

At one location in particular, I have had great views of a Red-tailed Hawk routinely seen soaring overhead or perched in a tree overlooking a large meadow. On my last visit as I made my way back to the car, I saw the hawk sitting up high in a tree and moved in for a better view.

IMG 9494 - The Hawk And The Vole — **After noticing something move in the field below the hawk took flight.**

One thing I always do when trying to get close to any type of wildlife is never walk directly towards it. I find by taking a zig-zag approach or going wide around the subject and advancing from the periphery I can get much closer. Also, I avoid direct eye contact rather keeping the subject in view out of the corner of my eye. In my opinion, approaching an animal straight on replicates a predator stalking its prey and the subject is almost guaranteed to flee.

IMG 9861 Edit 2 - The Hawk And The Vole — **At first, I couldn’t tell if the hawk had captured something of simply had a talon full of grass.**

As I got closer, I took several photos of the hawk perched against the clear blue sky. Sticking with the adage if my behavior changes their behaviour than I’m too close, I did not proceed as the bird remained calmly at rest in the tree. Watching the hawk, I could see something in the long grass caught its eye. With my camera still held near my face, the hawk took flight and swooped down to the ground about forty feet from where I was standing. As the bird hopped around on the ground I wasn’t sure if it had captured anything or not. After repositioning itself I could see the hawk had a vole in its talons.

IMG 9900 Edit - The Hawk And The Vole — **After repositioning itself I could see the hawk had captured a vole.**

I watched for several minutes as the hawk consumed the vole. First a few small bites then eventually swallowing what was left whole. Once finished the hawk took flight and retreated to a nearby tree. The whole experience lasted less than ten minutes and was a treat to see and photograph.

IMG 9924 Edit - The Hawk And The Vole — **The hawk’s sharp beak easily made short work of the vole.**

To capture these images I used my Canon 7D and Canon 100-400mm lens (both the old versions not the MkII) at 400mm. The images in this post are cropped only slightly to improve the composition. As far as camera settings go I was using aperture priority mode with my aperture set to f/8 and ISO at 800 resulting in a shutter speed of 1/1600.

IMG 9963 Edit - The Hawk And The Vole — **After tearing off several smaller pieces the hawk swallowed the vole.**

I hope everyone is getting an opportunity to get out and enjoy the warmer temps and spring weather we have been experiencing lately. The sunny skies sure are brightening our days both literally and metaphorically. If you get the chance, find a secluded place near you and spend a few minutes immersed in nature and sunshine. This is a great way to forget about what is going on in the world, relieve stress, and appreciate the little things that surround us each day.

Good birding,
Paul