Looking for Raptors? Start With The Red-Tailed Hawk

If seeing a large raptor is on your birding wish list, look to the sky for the Red-tailed Hawk. They are equally at home in an urban or rural environment and can be found throughout a wide variety of habitat including forest edges, farmland, city parks, and even backyards. These large raptors are frequently seen perched on fence posts, hydro poles, or in large trees, and are the bird of prey that is most frequently seen when traveling along any highway.

Red tailed Hawk - Looking for Raptors? Start With The Red-Tailed Hawk — **The reddish orange highlights of an adult Red-tailed Hawk’s tail are visible from underneath when in flight.**

For the most part, Red-tailed Hawks are easily identified. Large stocky bodies, rounded wings, and a short wide tail are key features that assist in positive identification. Adult birds have dark brown backs and are streaked brown and white underneath. As the name suggests, adult Red-tailed Hawks display a reddish-orange tail most visible from the topside. In flight, the reddish highlights of the tail are visible from the underside. Juveniles, as with many raptors, are a little tougher to identify. Their tails lack the reddish colour and are dark brown with narrow darker bars. Sometimes a view of the tail is not always available. If this is the case, juveniles are also distinguished from adult birds by their eye colour. A yellow iris indicates a young bird. As the birds mature, the iris becomes a reddish-brown.

IMG 7018 1 - Looking for Raptors? Start With The Red-Tailed Hawk — **The brown tail with dark narrow bars combined with the yellow iris of its eye, identify this as a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk.**

Small mammals including rabbits, squirrels, mice, and voles make up the majority of the Red-tailed Hawks diet, but they will also consume birds and reptiles. Their diet varies depending on range and season. In my travels, I have personally seen Red-tailed Hawks eating squirrels, rabbits, starlings, and frogs. Their varied diet and habitat are things that lead to their wide range and abundance.

IMG 7022 1 - Looking for Raptors? Start With The Red-Tailed Hawk — **The loud screech of this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk quickly gave away it’s location.**

The loud screeching call of this raptor is most often heard during courtship and when juveniles leave the nest. If you hear this call look up, as this large hawk is most likely overhead. On one of my recent walks through a city park, I came across a group of young hawks that had recently fledged. Their sharp calls quickly gave away their location and their short flights were a joy to watch and photograph.

10380144924 2b2773292a o - Looking for Raptors? Start With The Red-Tailed Hawk — **The red tail for which this hawk is named is most visible from the topside.**

Keep an eye to the sky and treeline next time you are out for a walk or traveling down your local highway. Chances are you will see one of these beautiful raptors.

Good birding,
Paul

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Nature, Fun and Free; The Perfect Family Activity

Are you looking for an activity this long weekend that is fun for the entire family and doesn’t cost a thing? Then why not explore nature? City parks and ESAs are loaded with all kinds of wildlife and admission to them is free. Regardless of where you live in the city, a park or ESA is just minutes away. These areas provide hours of entertainment for all ages and a quick walk though will reveal an abundance of nature.

IMG 4330 1 - Nature, Fun and Free; The Perfect Family Activity — White-tailed Deer are prevalent in many city parks and all the ESAs within the city.

Nature in the city comes in all shapes and sizes. From the tiniest of insects, to the largest of mammals, London has it all. Birds, butterflies, snakes, turtles, and deer make up only a portion of the beautiful wildlife our great city has to offer.

IMG 6960 1 - Nature, Fun and Free; The Perfect Family Activity — Groundhogs are one of the many mammals found in the city. They can be found in open areas, such as fields and meadows.

Any park will do, but ones with mixed habitat will produce the best variety of wildlife. If quantity is what you desire, look for parks that have a combination of forests, meadows, and a water source, such as a pond or river. Greenway, Springbank, and Gibbons along the Thames River are perfect examples of parks with mixed habitat. London’s seven public ESAs all have mixed habitat, making any one of them a great choice. If you are unfamiliar with London’s ESAs, a complete list as well as locations and maps can be found here.

IMG 6365 1 - Nature, Fun and Free; The Perfect Family Activity — Butterflies such as this Black Swallowtail can be found feeding on nectar from the various wildflowers throughout the city.

No special equipment is required to enjoy nature, just your eyes and ears. A digital camera will capture and save the memories of your encounters, but is not necessary. If you happen to own a pair of binoculars take them along. They can be advantageous when viewing smaller animals such as birds or ones at a distance, but again not a necessity. Much of the wildlife in the city is accustomed to human activity and close encounters are often had. The key thing to remember when searching for wildlife, especially with excited children is to stay quiet. Animals will quickly run, fly, slither, or swim away at the sound of shouting children.

IMG 6899 1 - Nature, Fun and Free; The Perfect Family Activity — Encounters with baby animals are always exciting, like the one I had with this Red-winged Blackbird fledgling. Wild animals can become aggressive protecting their young, so viewing from a distance is best. Approaching too closely puts added stress on the parents, which in some animals can cause the young to be abandoned.

Exploring nature is a fun and relaxing activity that can be enjoyed by all ages. The physical and mental health benefits are tremendous. Combine that with the look on a child’s face when an animal is encountered, make this an activity all families should try at least once. I am willing to bet that you will be hooked, just as I was many years ago when my Dad first introduced me to nature. So give it a try, put down the smartphones, Xboxes and other electronic devices this weekend and explore the beautiful nature that London has to offer. I would be happy to hear about your encounters with nature in the comment section below.

Good birding,
Paul

Milkweed Attracts More Than Just Monarch Butterflies

If you still haven’t added Milkweed to your garden to help save the Monarch Butterfly, what are you waiting for? Not only is Milkweed essential to the monarch’s survival, it also looks and smells great in any garden. When in bloom, the fragrance from a patch of Milkweed can be taken in from quite a distance. With it’s height, Milkweed is the perfect plant to add to the back row of a garden, or use to conceal unsightly objects, such as gas meters or telephone boxes on front lawns.

A native species to Ontario, Milkweed is perfect for attracting not only Monarch Butterflies but other insects as well. Several species of butterfly readily feed on the nectar from it’s beautiful flowers and other pollinators like bees can be seen gathering pollen throughout it’s bloom. Aphids, gnats, and spiders can also all be found on Milkweed. Dragon and damselflies will quickly be attracted to Milkweed patches to feed on these smaller insects.

IMG 5099 1 - Milkweed Attracts More Than Just Monarch Butterflies — This Great Spangled Fritillary feeds on the nectar of a Milkweed flower.

IMG 4363 1 - Milkweed Attracts More Than Just Monarch Butterflies — Several species of butterfly, like this Red Admiral, are drawn to the nectar of the Milkweed flower.

As the quantity and variety of insects increases in a Milkweed patch, so too will the number of bird species. Insects are a food source to almost all birds and they will soon find quite the smorgasbord within the Milkweed. Some of the bird species I observed this past week feeding on insects in various Milkweed patches include: Yellow Warblers, Warbling Vireos, Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Phoebes, and Eastern Kingbirds.

As you can see, adding a section of Milkweed will not only help the future of the Monarch Butterfly, but will create a diverse habitat for other organisms and thus increase the amount of wildlife in your yard. Definitely a win-win situation for both the monarch and nature lovers too.

Good birding,
Paul

How To Attract The Beautiful Ruby-Throated Hummingbird To Your Backyard

Another beautiful migrant that makes its return to our area in early May is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Be on the lookout for this erratic, fast-flying, tiny bird as sightings have already been reported.

Hummingbirds can be found almost anywhere throughout the city from forest edges, open fields, stream sides, city parks, and backyards. They feed on nectar from flowers and also consume insects. Attracting these birds to your backyard is quite easy with the addition of the right flowers and a hummingbird feeder. It is said that hummingbirds prefer red and orange tubular flowers, but many common backyard garden plants will attract them. These consist of begonias, butterfly bush, clematis, lilac, and fuchsia to name a few. If you are looking to add native species to your garden to attract these tiny birds than Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), and Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), also know as Monarda or Bee Balm, are great choices. Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is an excellent addition to your garden. Not only is it a native flower that attracts Hummingbirds, but it is also one of the milkweeds that Monarch Butterfly caterpillars feed on. Adding this colourful orange flower will attract beautiful hummingbirds to your yard, and you’ll be helping save the Monarch Butterfly, a species of special concern in Ontario. For more on helping the Monarch Butterfly see my previous blog post here.

IMG 2504 1 - How To Attract The Beautiful Ruby-Throated Hummingbird To Your Backyard — Hummingbird feeders come in all shapes and sizes. They can be purchased inexpensively from your local independent bird feed retailer.

Hummingbirds feeders come in all shapes and sizes, and are made from different materials including glass and plastic. These along with commercial hummingbird food are available at your local neighborhood bird food retailer. These feeders are easily hung from trees, hooks on fences, or by adding a shepherd’s hook to your garden. Remember that these birds are small, so you are going to want to place the feeder within close sight where it can be easily viewed.

A cheaper alternative to buying commercial hummingbird food is to make your own using ordinary white sugar. Simply mix 1/4 cup sugar to 1 cup water in a pot on your stove. Bring to a boil while stirring the mixture to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and cover while it cools. Once the mixture has cooled, fill your feeder and place it outside. Many people add red food colouring to their hummingbird food to help attract the birds. Some food colouring has been known to be toxic to these small birds, so it it advised that you don’t add any colour or dye to the mixture. The bright colours on the feeder itself are all that is required to attract hummingbirds. Hummingbird food should be replaced frequently and the feeder washed to prevent mold and bacteria from growing that is harmful to the birds. Place the feeder out of the sun to keep the food fresh for longer.

With the late arrival of spring this year many flowers are behind when it comes to blooming, leaving very little nectar for hummingbirds to feed on. Adding a hummingbird feeder to your yard now will help these birds find food that is otherwise scarce.

Good birding,
Paul

Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds

Point Pelee National Park, located on the north shore of Lake Erie in southwestern Ontario, is about to come alive with birds and birders. Every May the park hosts the Festival of Birds, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors wanting to view some of the thousands of birds that migrate through the area. This year’s 2014 festival runs May 1st through May 19th.

8751680718 b9b445f32e b 1 - Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds — Common Yellowthroat

8732837300 b9a7cce4e3 z 1 2 - Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds — Black-throated Green Warbler

Point Pelee is the southernmost tip of mainland Canada and sits at the crossroads of two major flyways. This combined with it’s mixed Carolinian habitat makes it the perfect stopover location for migrating birds that have just crossed Lake Erie. More than 380 bird species have been recorded in the park with over 100 of them breeding within its boundaries. In fact, 80% of all the birds recorded in Ontario have been seen at least once within Point Pelee’s birding area.

8929513078 5c0a6b1feb b 1 2 - Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds — Several species of shorebird like this Sanderling will be observed on the sand point during the Festival of Birds.

The many shorebird species found feeding along the sandy spit are a popular draw, but the main attraction for most birders is the warbler species. Of the regularly occurring warblers in North America 42 of the 55 species have been observed in Point Pelee National Park, giving it the distinction of “The Warbler Capital of Canada”. On average 36 warbler species are seen each spring in the park. Prothonatary Warblers, an endangered species in Ontario, are a favourite among many birders.

9541559578 aeb2e4caa7 b 1 - Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds — Beach areas and mud flats throughout the park will provide excellent views of shorebirds like this Semipalmated Plover.

It is not just birds that Point Pelee National Park is famous for. The park is home to over 750 native plants, some of which are rare, threatened or endangered in Canada. Plants of concern include, but are not limited to: American Water Willow, Common Hoptree and Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus. There are also several rare forms of animal life including: Fox Snake, Spotted Turtle, Five-Lined Skink, and the recently reintroduced Southern Flying Squirrel.

8731767397 190e9be22e b 1 - Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds — Black and White Warbler

The American Birding Association has published daily updates on the birding news section of their website in previous years during the festival. This is a great place to keep on top of recent sightings, as well as where within the park they were seen. The link to the site can be found here.

8729469910 e585220de8 z 1 3 - Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds — Cape May Warbler

The Point Pelee National Park Festival of Birds is something that is on every serious birders’ bucket list and attracts visitors from all over the world. For more information on the festival including daily activities, fees, directions, and hours visit their website here. If you are planning a visit to the park for the festival be sure to read the code of ethics section, as this is something that is taken quite seriously and any infraction can result in your removal from the park.

If you happen to make it to this year’s Festival of Birds, please let me know of your sightings either in the comment section below this post or by using my contact form. I am always interested in hearing from fellow birders!

Good birding,
Paul

One For The Yard List: The Eastern Towhee

Tuesday’s much cooler temperatures and high winds were not ideal conditions for spring birding. This didn’t stop a new spring migrant and first time yard species from showing up at my feeder. Looking out the back window over my backyard I noticed a female Eastern Towhee on the ground foraging amongst the leaves under a row of Cedar trees. The bird then hopped along the grass and ended up underneath one of my feeders where it found some millet on the ground that had been scattered by Mourning Doves. I have never had one of these birds in the yard before and in fact had not seen one since I was a boy, so it was a pleasant surprise. I watched the bird feed for several minutes and when frightened it would retreat to the cover of the thick cedars and dense shrubs across the back of my yard. I looked out periodically throughout the afternoon and could see it either feeding beneath the feeder or foraging under the cedars.

The Eastern Towhee is typically found along forest edges, woodlands, and thickets where there is plenty of dense cover and leaf matter on the ground for them to forage in. Their diet consists of insects, seeds and fruit; which they scratch up from within the leaves using their feet. The back of my yard where this bird was first spotted matches this habitat perfectly. Towhees build a nest on the ground amongst the fallen leaves, with the female doing all of the construction.

It is likely that this bird will move on in search of a less busy area to build a nest, but was a nice surprise and one to cross off my yard list. If you tend to only feed the birds throughout the winter months, I recommend keeping your feeders full at least through spring migration. This Eastern Towhee is a perfect example of a bird that you may not otherwise see, but could visit your backyard feeder looking to replenish energy after a long flight.

Good birding,
Paul

Northern Cardinals

Northern Cardinal male

Northern Cardinal female

Northern Cardinal male

Northern Cardinal

Northern cardinal male

Northern Cardinal male

Good Birding Report: London, ON April 13-19 2014

This past week saw more consistency to the daytime highs and consequently more migrating bird species arriving in our area. Several first of year species were seen and with the weather looking to remain stable for the upcoming week, more will follow.

I finally saw my first Yellow-rumped Warblers of the year this past week after mentioning them as early returnees in previous posts. The number of sparrow species that have returned continues to grow with Field Sparrows now being added to the list. Chipping Sparrows have been regular morning visitors to my feeders this past week and White-throated Sparrows are more abundant. Northern Rough-winged Swallows can now be seen, along with increased numbers of Tree Swallows flying overhead in search of insects in areas close to water.

Many of the local ponds in the area are turning up several waterfowl species. Saunders Pond located in the Westminster Ponds ESA is a perfect example of this. Wood Ducks, Horned Grebes, American Coots, Common Mergansers, and Pied-billed Grebes were all present. A Great Egret was also observed on the north side of the pond, visible from the lookout behind Tourist Information on Wellington Road. In fact, the entire Westminster Ponds ESA provided great looks at many birds. The forest floor was alive with activity, with Hermit Thrushes and Brown Thrashers sifting though the leaf matter in search of insects. Eastern Meadowlarks could be seen and heard in the open field areas within the ESA. Five woodpecker species, the highlight being a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, were also found deep in the forests. A rather early Blue-headed Vireo was seen on the edge of the forest capturing insects. Vireos typically arrive later in April or early May, so this was a nice surprise.

IMG 1795 1 2 - Good Birding Report: London, ON April 13-19 2014 — This Blue-headed Vireo was seen at Westminster Ponds ESA.

A complete list of birds observed this week is as follows:

IMG 1985 1 - Good Birding Report: London, ON April 13-19 2014 — Brown Thrashers could be seen sifting through leaves on forest floors in search of insects.

American Coot
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
American Wigeon
Bald Eagle
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
Brown Headed Cowbird
Brown Thrasher
Canada Goose
Carolina Wren
Chipping Sparrow
Common Grackle
Common Merganser
Dark-eyed Junco
Double-crested Cormorant
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Phoebe
European Starling
Field Sparrow
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Great Egret
Hairy Woodpecker

Hermit Thrush
Horned Grebe
House Finch
House Sparrow
Killdeer
Mallard
Mourning Dove

IMG 1825 1 2 - Good Birding Report: London, ON April 13-19 2014 — Hermit Thrushes are another species that can be found on or near the forest floor searching for insects.

Merlin
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Osprey
Pied-billed Grebe
Pileated Woodpecker
Song Sparrow
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-billed Gull
Tree Swallow
Turkey Vulture
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-throated Sparrow
Wood Duck
Yellow-rumped Warbler

IMG 2003 1 - Good Birding Report: London, ON April 13-19 2014 — Several Butterfly species emerged this past week including this Milbert’s Tortoiseshell.

It wasn’t just bird activity that increased this past week. Reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies were all more prevalent. The calls of Spring Peepers and Chorus Frogs echoed from within flooded wooded areas. Painted Turtles could be seen basking on logs in the warm sun, and several butterfly species including Mourning Cloaks and Milbert’s Tortoiseshells emerged.

Spring Migration is really starting to pick up now that spring-like weather is finally here. The numbers of species previously reported will increase and new arrivals will be appearing over the next couple of weeks. If you get the chance over this period, head out to your local park, ESA, or Conservation Area and see what incredible nature we have right here in our own backyard.

Good birding,
Paul

Good Birding Weekly Report: London, ON March 30 – April 5 2014

There is a nice mix of birds around the forest city right now. Spring migration has been a bit slow with the weather holding it back, but new species continue to trickle in. The lower temperatures have the species that overwintered in our area sticking around, and there is also the wonderful population of resident species that call London home.

American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos are a couple of the winter species that are still present. Wintering waterfowl, including grebe species such as the Horned and Red-necked, were still seen on the Thames River this past week. Both are now starting to show their breeding plumage quite nicely. Buffleheads, Common Mergansers, as well as Greater and Lesser Scaup were also seen, but only a few remain. With upcoming high temperatures expected in the teens, this could be the last week we see these birds in our area.

IMG 0646 1 - Good Birding Weekly Report: London, ON March 30 - April 5 2014 — Turkey Vultures are one of the larger birds that can now be seen soaring over the city.

As mentioned, spring migrants continue to move in with a few new species seen this week. Tree Swallows, Eastern Phoebe, and Osprey all returned to London earlier this week. Other species observed were Chipping Sparrows and Golden-crowned Kinglets. A pair of Double-crested Cormorants were also seen on the river.

A complete list of birds observed is as follows:

IMG 0653 1 2 - Good Birding Weekly Report: London, ON March 30 - April 5 2014 — Song Sparrows are quite vocal this time of year. They are often heard long before they are seen.

American Black Duck
American Goldfinch
American Robin
American Tree Sparrow
American Wigeon
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Blue-winged Teal
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bufflehead
Canada Goose
Cedar Waxwing
Chipping Sparrow
Common Grackle
Common Merganser
Dark-eyed Junco
Double-crested Cormorant
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
European Starling
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Greater Scaup
Hairy Woodpecker
Horned Grebe
House Finch
House Sparrow
Killdeer
Lesser Scaup
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Osprey
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-necked Grebe
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-billed Gull
Song Sparrow
Tree Swallow
Turkey Vulture
White-breasted Nuthatch
Wood Duck

IMG 0744 1 - Good Birding Weekly Report: London, ON March 30 - April 5 2014 — This male Brown-headed Cowbird is a type of blackbird that can be found around the city.

It looks like we are finally going to see some consistent warm temperatures over the next week. Normally this would bring in new migrating species, but with isolated showers in the forecast, this may slow the process down. With each day that passes there is the possibility to see something new, which is what drives all birders. Remember to keep your feeders full as these birds will be looking to replenish energy. Hopefully you all will be able to find time this week to enjoy the weather and some of the wonderful birds we have here in London, Ontario

Good birding,
Paul

Fanshawe Conservation Area; A Paradise For Birders

Located in the northeast corner of London, on the shores of Fanshawe Lake, lies one of the best places for bird watching in the city. Fanshawe Conservation Area’s mixed habitat make it the perfect place to find resident birds and migrating species alike.

A series of marked hiking trails ranging in length from 1.5 kilometers to the 20 km Fanshawe Lake Trail, which circles the entire reservoir, will take you through the various habitat ranging from: coniferous and deciduous forest, open meadows, and low lying wet areas. These mixed habitats are what attracts so many birds, making it such an incredible place for bird watching. Fanshawe Conservstion Area is listed on eBird as one of London’s hotspots for birding with 155 species being reported.

IMG 8927 1 - Fanshawe Conservation Area; A Paradise For Birders — Ring-necked Ducks are one of the many species of migrating waterfowl that stop over on Fanshawe Lake to rest and feed.

Birding at Fanshawe Conservation Area is great year round, but with spring migration now underway I highly recommend a visit in the near future. As the lake becomes free of ice, many species of waterfowl will be found including both dabblers and divers. Canvasbacks. Ring-necked ducks, Wood Ducks, and American Coots are a few of the species I’ve observed on the lake in early spring. Tundra Swans are also known to stop over on the lake while migrating through Southwestern Ontario. Returning songbirds such as sparrows, blackbirds, and orioles can also be found. The open areas of the conservation area are a great place to find the Eastern Meadowlark, a species at risk in Ontario. As April passes and we move into May, look for many warblers to be flitting around the conservation area.

IMG 8992 1 - Fanshawe Conservation Area; A Paradise For Birders — The Eastern Meadowlark, a species at risk in Ontario, can be found within the conservation area.

Fanshawe Conservation Area is home to some wonderful resident species too. Birds of prey can be found throughout the area, including several species of owl, as well as Bald Eagles that nest on the shores of the lake. Cardinals, nuthatches, and woodpeckers are all readily seen. Don’t forget to bring some seed with you as the Black-capped Chickadees on the various trails will land right in your hand to accept your offering. This is particularly exciting for children.

IMG 6374 1 - Fanshawe Conservation Area; A Paradise For Birders — Hand feeding Black-capped Chickadees is wonderful way to get others, especially children, interested in birds.

If you have never visited Fanshawe Conservation area before, you are missing out. For more information including directions, maps, and other activites, visit their website here. Whether you are looking for a wonderful place for birding or to spend quality time in the outdoors with your family, Fanshawe Conservation Area is the perfect place.

Good birding,
Paul