Rondeau Ric

Grey tree frog . We had a 60 foot snag come down during a wind storm the other day. Really concerned as it was the tree the red-headed woodpeckers and flickers use for nesting. The birds are still here so they weren't in the tree or got out before it came down. While we were inspecting the nest holes this grey tree frog popped out and jumped onto a stalk of grass. I like the eyes on this frog. Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, Aug 30, 2022.

Right out of the early 1950's horror movies. Wasp coming out of its burrow. Cicada killer wasps are not a threat unless you're a cicada. Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 27, 2022. Sphecius speciosus Cicada killer tunnels usually have a distinctive U-shaped collar of loose soil around the opening. Individual tunnels are can range from 30- to 70-inches long and may run 12- to 15-inches below the surface. The first chamber is about a foot or so from the entrance. There are an average of 15 egg-shaped side chambers an a tunnel, each containing 1 to 3 paralyzed cicadas and an egg which hatches in 2 to 3 days source - University of Kentucky, Wikipedia.

We were out on the pontoon last Tuesday looking for birds along the marsh edge. We saw 3 least bitterns, 2 soras and a bunch of great blue herons. Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 23, 2022. Least bitten, Ixobrychus exilis. When alarmed, the Least Bittern freezes in place with its bill pointing up, turns both eyes toward the source of alarm, and sometimes sways to resemble windblown marsh vegetation. source - allaboutbirds.org.

Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 25, 2022. A great day at the pond, 14 warbler species, 3 vireos. Others in or seen from the yard included 5 woodpecker species and an eagle. Geothlypis philadelphia. Mourning Warbler is sometimes called a “fugitive” species because individuals sometimes have to search out new breeding habitat as its preferred early-successional habitat begins to mature, after about 7–10 years source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Warbler

Nashville warbler, Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 22, 2022. Migration has slowed the last few days probably because of heavy rain.  Leiothlypis ruficapilla Most first-year Nashville Warblers migrate south along the Atlantic coast, whereas adults tend to migrate along inland routes.

Slower at the pond today, seven species of warblers and a red-eyed vireo., among others. Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 20, 2022. Vireo olivaceus. The red iris that gives the Red-eyed Vireo its name doesn't develop until the end of the birds' first winter. Then the brown iris the birds were born with becomes dull brick red to bright crimson in different individuals. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-eyed_Vireo

Only 9 warbler species today. Ovenbird, Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 19, 2022. Not a common visitor to the yard. Seiurus aurocapilla . The Ovenbird female weaves the cup, side entrance, and roof of her domed nest from the inside as a single, integrated piece. Then she drops leaves and twigs on top to hide it. If the chicks inadvertently dismantle the dome as they grow, the female ignores the damage. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ovenbird/ #

Eleven species of warblers at the hedge and water feature. It's like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get. This time it is a pair of Blackburnians and a Tennessee. Who knows what the next group will be. If you don't have room or the patience for a recirculating pond check out WarblerFall, from Julie Zickefoose. www.warblerfall.com She is good people and gives great advice, you can't go wrong. Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 19, 2022.

Eleven warbler species at, in or near the pond/water feature. Mourning warbler, Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 17, 2022. At one point we had over a dozen warblers in the bush above the pond and 6 species in the water. Highlights included the mourning, Canada, Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rump, Tennessee, Blackburnian. if you don't have room or the patience for a recirculating pond check out WarblerFall, from Julie Zickefoose https://juliezickefoose013.lpages.co/warblerfall Geothlypis philadelphia. Both male and female Mourning Warblers may pretend to have broken wings to distract predators close to their nest.

Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 14, 2022. Identified with Merlin application. If I'm wrong let me know. Empidonax flaviventris. Yellow-bellied Flycatchers don't stick around on the breeding grounds for long. They have one of the shortest stays of any Neotropical migrant, often less than 70 days. source https://www.allaboutbirds.org/.../Yellow-bellied_Flycatcher

Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 12, 2022. An uncommon visitor to our yard and water feature. Vermivora cyanoptera Like many warblers, finding this bird is easier during the early part of the breeding season when they are singing their hearts out. The Blue-winged Warbler's distinctive, raspy bee-buzz is the key.

Somehow this bird managed to twist its head all the way around so it was looking over its back at its tail. Yellow warbler, Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 2022. Setophaga petechia Yellow Warblers eat mostly insects, so they don’t come to backyard feeders. Larger yards that have small trees or are near streams may provide nesting habitat for these birds.

Eastern kingbird, Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 1, 2022. I hadn't noticed how broad a kingbirds bill is, I guess I'm more used to the fine bill of warblers. The kingbirds bill seems to be designed to catch things n the air rather than probing for insects. Tyrannus tyrannus During the summer the Eastern Kingbird eats mostly flying insects and maintains a breeding territory that it defends vigorously against all other kingbirds. In the winter along the Amazon, however, it has a completely different lifestyle: it travels in flocks and eats fruit. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Kingbird

Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 7, 2022. We were surprised to see this Canada at the pond today. Evidently the fall migration is starting. We also had a black and white warbler and, as usual, lots of yellow warblers Cardellina canadensis Canada Warblers fly more than 3,000 miles from their wintering grounds in South America to their breeding grounds in the United States and Canada.

We see and hear American crows from the yard but they aren't a regular occurrence . Today we had one come into the yard and sit above the pond/water feature. After about 15 minutes it hopped down and wandered around the yard before flying up to a tree and then flying off. I was hoping it would have a bath. Perhaps next time. Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 6, 2022. Corvus brachyrhynchos Crows sometimes make and use tools. Examples include a captive crow using a cup to carry water over to a bowl of dry mash; shaping a piece of wood and then sticking it into a hole in a fence post in search of food; and breaking off pieces of pine cone to drop on tree climbers near a nest. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/

Immature red-headed woodpecker, Rondeau Provincial Park, Aug 1, 2022. Melanerpes erythrocephalus The Red-headed Woodpecker has many nicknames, including half-a-shirt, shirt-tail bird, jellycoat, flag bird, and the flying checker-board.

Still very dry around here and our little water feature is bringing in a lot of birds. It's like a living kaleidoscope, it changes every few minutes. This time it was 7 yellow warblers in the water. Rondeau Provincial Park, August 1, 2022. Setophaga petechia Yellow Warblers eat mostly insects, so they don’t come to backyard feeders. Larger yards that have small trees or are near streams may provide nesting habitat for these birds.

We were out on the pontoon boat with a couple of photographer friends searching for birds along the marsh edge. Anne spotted this American bittern who posed nicely for us. Rondeau Provincial Park, July 31, 2022. Botaurus lentiginosus The American Bittern's yellow eyes can focus downward, giving the bird's face a comically startled, cross-eyed appearance. This visual orientation presumably enhances the bird's ability to spot and capture prey. The eyes turn orange during breeding season. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Bittern