Redstart, Red-breasted Grosbeak, Northern Parula (20160527) A great walk on a new trail

Angela was kind enough to be guide of the day once more for this trip out to the Brooklyn area here in Nova Scotia. We were a little later than ideal but still had a super walk. We started off with a Humming bird and a large brown bird that I think may have been a Thrasher. Our first photographable subject was this Red-eyed Vireo.

Our next bird is not common in NS, so getting a shot is always a bonus. I only have one other shot on the blog, I think, of a Veery. This is an evidence only shot.

Our primary target bird for Angela today was a Red-breasted Grosbeak, and today they were cooperative and put in an appearnce for us.

Shooting up into the canopy with such "white" skies make for difficult lighting.

We were even able to find a well hidden and distant female.

For those Calvin and Hobbs fans, we have missed them in the papers over the past many years. I expect Calvin is all grown up but I think we found where Hobbs the tiger has been hanging out. Not many people know that tigers are water critters.

Our next subject was this beautiful little Black-and-White Warbler. The air was just full of song.

 Birds were not the only subjects, I couldn't pass up on this little bush that seemed to have flowers on it.

As we neared the far end of our walk we were treated to this beautiful male Redstart, only second time posted on the blog.

This next image is a but of a curiousity for me. I don't know if it is a female Redstart or a female Northern Parula. I would be interested in your vote.

We were trying to get some Yellow-bellied Sapsucker photos, but they did not allow us to get close at all. What did pose briefly for me is this little Flycatcher.

We hustled out most of the way back to the truck, but did slow down as we neared the truck. A little Junco got our attention as it was kicking up a fuss on the trail side. We immediately found the agitator and was super surprised, and pleased, to find this little female Northern Parula.

We also found a couple of Yellow Warblers, more Flycatchers and even a Common Yellowthroat to add to another humming bird. That wraps up a very successful and pleasant stroll on this beautiful walk with Angela. Put some "wild" in your life!
Turbo

Oven Bird, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Creeper (20160524-26) A new park with some new birds!

Just hanging around the house do to very unpredictable weather. It is always nice to see all the spider webs around, it means the hummers have lots of material to build their nests.

I am guilty of overlooking Canada's bird too often so here is a yard Chicky.

I almost missed out on this rather large lady when she popped in to do a little ant eating. I have been hearing the Pileateds quite often so they are never far away.

It pays to keep the equipment ready around here this time of year. Two days later I hooked up with Angela, one of the CSI ladies from last December. We headed over to Jerry Lawrence Park, a place I had never been. While waited for her to arrive I shot this Rhodora.

I also managed to grab a very quick image of this little Brown Creeper. I haven't been seeing them around home lately.

After getting together and progressing nicely through our stroll, we were entertained by this little Chestnut-sided Warbler.

This is a new bird for the Blog, so as is my custom, when I am able, I like to add a second image. Here you go!

The next blog "lifer" on this trip is the Oven bird, another Warbler sided denizen of the woods. Its call is a rather loud "teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher".

Now that I know how to find them, I will be looking forward to getting some higher quality images in the future.

And now for the third blog "lifer" in a single day, a Black-throated Blue Warbler.

As you can see from the sky the light was terrible. Again a bird I will be working on in order to better quality images. So for the poor evidence shots. This one shows the white wing patches.

We were also fortunate enough to spot this little Bull Frog, my first of the year.

A super day except of the lighting conditions, but I will be back there with better light one day. Put some "wild" in your life, you might see something you have never found before.
Turbo

Black-throate Green Warblers, Ruby-throated Hummers, Blackburnians (201605-weekthree) Birds around the house

Well, I have been wanting to get back to the "tracks" for quite a while, so I finally managed a short stroll with the new puppy. It was a little disappointing for photo opps, I did hear one Ruffed drumming and since I had the dog I didn't go looking for him. At the far end of the walk this little fella started following me home.

 Then a little further down the rails a second Black-throated Green Warbler put in an appearance. These little fellas made my whole day! I love how this guy has a little yellow below the black throat!

I also found a number of these plants. I have to check with Clarence for an identification. He tells me it is a Shad Bush, one of his favourites.

At then end of the day I took this shot of the puppy. It kind of looks like she is in jail or the olden day "stocks".

A couple of days later I finally managed to get a couple of Hummer shots. The first of the year. Here is one of the guys doing a little grooming.

A little later in the day I came out and found this guy on the deck. I have to get some stickers for the deck to stop these strikes from happening. This guy was fine as he flew off as I approached.

The next morning as I was standing in the camp I spotted this little beauty flutter down from the tree tops. I have been waiting all spring to see the return of the Blackburnian Warblers.

It was pretty early in the morning so the conditions of the light were very poor.

A little later this same morning I received a visit from one of my residents from last year.

 I love these little Black-throated green warblers, they are entertaining if you can keep your eyes on them.

I'll finish this post up with one more Ruby-throated image.

Take some time this week and put a little "wild" in your life, I know I will!
Turbo

Yellow Warbler, Pied-billed Grebe, Black-and-white warbler (20160516) A stroll through Miners Marsh

Laurie Ann was nice enough to invite me to ride with her to go to Miners Marsh. The drive over was super and we thought we might suffer for sightings as the wind was up and blowing pretty well. After just entering the park I got this opportunity with what I think is my first posting of a Red-winged Blackbird for the year.

While I was shooting the Blackbird everyone else was busy with at least a pair of Yellow Warblers. I managed to get my own image.

Just behind me I noticed a closeby motion and spotted this little Pied-billed Grebe with his mouth overflowing.

Strolling on my own I was able to spot and work this little Black-and-White Warbler, another first for the year.

Here it in in a slightly different pose. I have just taken note of how much time these birds spend upside down, almost like a Nuthatch.

A little later I was able to get a much better image of this Yellow Warbler. He has a little something for his sweetheart, which she came to get it from him a few minutes later.

We had a couple of ladies mention this little fella hanging out on shore all by himself. I am not certain of the breed, but a cutie just the same!

This next bird is always a favourite to capture. This is the first I have been able to find since arriving here in Nova Scotia. The terrific coloured, and always elusive Sora. I think the reflection is actually sharper than the head.

A little later I was able to get this different angle on this beauty.

As we were leaving the Grebe made another appearance and even with the poor lighting conditions, I think this turned out okay.

That was the wrap up for this day. It was a real pleasure to have the company of Laurie Ann on the road, and at the park. I am going to throw in a couple of images from the yard a few days previous. This first image is a little accidental, I didn't see the second bird in the background when I took the shot. A Hairy pair.

A little later in the morning, as I was sitting on the deck I looked up and spotted this beautiful pair as they strolled through.

I am hoping to get some shots of the young pheasants this year. Put some "wild" in our life, it'll do you good!
Turbo

Sunrise, Pheasant, turtles (201605-early) A shot that turns into a disaster!

Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed. While letting our new puppy out for a morning relief, I spied a beautiful sun rise in the making. So I grabbed my tripod and camera and took this image.

I sent the image to my brother Len to see if he could remove the power lines from the shot as he has much better post production skills than I. Here is what he sent back:

I certainly need to give him an assist on this great shot! I call it Morning Mayhem as when I was repositioning for a shot my camera and lens fell off the tripod and completele destroyed both. So any images you see from here on in will be taken with back up gear of significantly lesser quality.
My brother Bill and his wife came to visit the clan here in Nova Scotia, so of course the boys went on a fishing trip. Back to the turtle lake. Here is a shot of three on a log, the one on the far right is only about half the size of the others.

Here is a closer shot of the mini unit. I really like how it had its hind feet tucked in.

 Here is a shot of one of the larger turtles. I was surprised at how much large their hind feet are, as demonstrated here. Beautiful creatures all the same!

The next day I was pleased to receive a visit from the lady Flicker which was being courted in the yard omnly a few days ago.

 On the following day I was joined in the yard by this majestic fellow.

The light was so nice and he was so cooperative I thought a second image was in order. Yet another beautiful bird.

Next up is a behaviour I have never captured before, the act of Blue Jays exchanging food. I expect it is a mating behaviour.

Having spent the afternoon at my mother's, my eye caught this verigated version of a Daffodil.

I hope you find something here that you enjoyed. Take the time to put a little "wild" in your life, it will do you good!
Turbo