Rondeau Ric

American redstart , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. This one wants to be a Baltimore oriole when he grows up. www.flickr.com/photos/ricmcarthur/2486444296/sizes/n/in/p... Latin name Setophaga ruticilla

Moose head , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. No not the beer. I have not been able to get a photo of a moose before. Probably because we don't live in moose territory. Spotted this one swimming across a lake, not a full body shot but it is a start. Yes I know he is swimming up hill.

Blue on blue , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. I have been trying for years to get a decent photo of an indigo bunting. We were "up north" on the Carden alvar when we saw this beautiful male. He was a bit far away but I'm not complaining . Passerina cyanea for those inclined to latin names. For more information go to: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/indigo_bunting/id

bay breasted warbler , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Another of the colourful warblers that have visited our back yard. This male took a while but he did come in for a quick bath. Setophaga castanea, for those that like latin. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bay-breasted_Warbler/id

loon in rain , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. I love loons. Only problem is they are waterproof and my camera and I are not. A plastic bag and a hat and I had the shot.

Commom yellow throat and Wilson's warblers , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Last June I put in a small water feature in the yard. Basically a small pond with a tiny stream with two small ponds. A pump keeps the water moving. total cost, about $50. We have had 22 species of warbler come in to drink/bath in the past year. In all 64 species have been seen at this small water source, there may have been more and we just didn't see them. Why go chasing the birds when they will come to you. For my non birding friends the Wilson's is on the right.

mellow yellow , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. A yellow warbler with water drops on his head.

Wet and wild , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. The yellow throated warbler is still coming to visit. It has been over a month since we first saw him/her, they look the same. This is a rare bird for Ontario, usually it is much further south. It no longer comes into our feeders but it does like the big willow in the front yard, lots of insects in willows. He made a brief apperance in our back yard and had a quick bath before disappearing. there are two birds and at least one of them is singing and they have been seen with nesting material. Maybe we will see young birds soon.

Canada warbler , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Wearing his fancy bling. Many warblers are named for where they were first seen such as Tennessee,Canada,Cape May and so on.

Red heads , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. The red headed woodpeckers are back and appear to be mating. This pair came into our peanut feeder. This was taken through the Wonderful Wildlife Window.

Tree swallows , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. We had a nest box that went unused for 5 years. This year both tree swallows and bluebirds checked it out. The tree swallows won.

In search of the yellow throat , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Our yellow throated warbler came back again this year and so are the birders. On Sunday we had about 35 people from the Ontario Field Ornithologists by to look for this rare, for here, bird. It took a while but they all got to see it as did another 40 birders.

Yellow-bellied sapsucker , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. These birds pass through in the spring leaving behind thousands of little holes in trees. They drill holes, leave, come back and drink the sap and eat bugs that have become caught in the sap. Hummingbirds also use this resource as there are few nectar sources in April. Without the sapsuckers, hummingbirds wouldn't be able to return in the early.spring sphyrapicus varius