Rondeau Ric

Flaring white breasted nuthatch trying to scare off a house sparrow. It did succeed. Rondeau provincial Park, April 29, 2023. Sitta carolinensis The oldest known White-breasted Nuthatch was at least 9 years, 9 months old when it was found in Colorado in 1971.

Have you ever seen the bottom of the feet (sole) of a pileated woodpecker? Now you have. We spotted the pileated on a downed tree and it flew on to another while we were watching. I got several really good images but this one just made me smile. ISO 800, 500mm, f7.1. 1/800 sec. Rondeau Provincial Park, April 27, 2023. Dryocopus pileatus The feeding excavations of a Pileated Woodpecker are so extensive that they often attract other birds. Other woodpeckers, as well as House Wrens, may come and feed there.

Ruby-crowned kinglet, Rondeau Provincial Park, April 26, 2023. A regular visitor to the yard and water feature. Not sure how it lost the feathers at the edge of its bill. Corthylio calendula. This tiny bird is often hard to see in summer, when it lives high in tall conifers. In migration and winter, however, it often flits about low in woods and thickets, flicking its wings nervously as it approaches the observer. When it is truly excited (by a potential mate, rival, or predator), the male may erect his ruby-red crown feathers, hidden at other times. The song of the Ruby-crown is jumbled and loud, all out of proportion to the size of the bird. source - Audubon-org

Red-winged blackbird missing a few feathers, Rondeau Provincial Park, April 20, 2023. Agelaius phoeniceus. Different populations and subspecies of Red-winged Blackbirds vary markedly in size and proportions. An experiment was conducted that moved nestlings between populations and found that the chicks grew up to resemble their foster parents. This study indicated that much of the difference seen between populations is the result of different environments rather than different genetic makeups. source -allaboutbirds-org.

Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Rondeau Provincial Park, April 19, 2023. More often heard than seen eat least around our yard. Sphyrapicus varius The sapwells made by Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers attract hummingbirds, which also feed off the sap flowing from the tree. In some parts of Canada, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds rely so much on sapwells that they time their spring migration with the arrival of sapsuckers. Other birds as well as bats and porcupines also visit sapsucker sapwells. source- allaboutbirds-org.

Rondeau Provincial Park, April 18, 2023. Multiple cardinals came into the yard for the seed I put out. No warblers today. Cardinalis cardinalis. The Northern Cardinal's bright red plumage reminded early European settlers of the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church, high-ranking bishops who wear red robes and caps. Both this bird's common name and its scientific moniker Cardinalis cardinalis refer to these church officials. A group of Northern Cardinals is called a "college," "conclave," or "Vatican."

Pine warbler, Rondeau Provincial Park, April 17, 2023. First warbler of the year in the yard. Anne had a Louisiana Waterthrush on a trail near the cottage yesterday. Setophaga pinus The Pine Warbler is the only warbler that eats large quantities of seeds, primarily those of pines. This seed-eating ability means Pine Warblers sometimes visit bird feeders, unlike almost all other warblers. source -allaboutbirds-org

House finch, Rondeau Provincial Park, April 14, 2023. A welcome splash of colour at the water feature. Haemorhous mexicanus. House Finches feed their nestlings exclusively plant foods, a fairly rare occurrence in the bird world. Many birds that are vegetarians as adults still find animal foods to keep their fast-growing young supplied with protein. source - allaboutbirds-org

White throated sparrow, Rondeau Provincial Park, April 15, 2023. Several white throats showed up today and posed for photos. Zonotrichia albicollis. White-throated Sparrows typically nest on or near the ground. Occasional nests are built up to 15 feet off the ground in conifers. Usually, these nests are second attempts after a pair has had a ground nest robbed by a predator. source - allaboutbirds-org

Common loon, Erieau Ontario, April 13, 2023. Went to Erieau to launch the pontoon for the season and came across this loon cruising in the channel. Gavia immer. The Common Loon swims underwater to catch fish, propelling itself with its feet. It swallows most of its prey underwater. The loon has sharp, rearward-pointing projections on the roof of its mouth and tongue that help it keep a firm hold on slippery fish. source -allaboutbirds-org

Wild turkey, the bird, not the bourbon. Rondeau Provincial Park, April 12, 2023. A pari of turkeys wandered into the yard this afternoon. I managed to open a window and to get a few images before they left. Meleagris gallopavo When they need to, Turkeys can swim by tucking their wings in close, spreading their tails, and kicking. source - allaboutbirds-org

Brown creeper, Rondeau Provincial Park, Nov 6, 2022. Friend David posted a creeper in his water feature yesterday which reminded me I had an image I hadn't posted. Seen several creepers this year but none in the water. Certhia americana Though they eat mostly insects, in winter Brown Creepers will eat suet and peanut butter, and occasionally sunflower seeds, pine seeds, grass seeds, and corn. You’re more likely to see them if there are large, old trees nearby.  source- allaboutbirds-org.

Golden-crowned kinglet, Rondeau Provincial Park, April 8, 2023. Walked part of Marsh Trail and saw several golden-crowned kinglets. This is the only one that came out from behind the vines long enough to photograph. Regulus satrapa Though barely larger than a hummingbird, this frenetically active bird can survive –40 degree nights, sometimes huddling together for warmth. They breed in the far north and montane west and visit most of North America during winter. source - allaboutbirds-org.

American coot, Rondeau Provincial Park, Sept 15, 2016. Fulica americana Although it swims like a duck, the American Coot does not have webbed feet like a duck. Instead, each one of the coot’s long toes has broad lobes of skin that help it kick through the water. The broad lobes fold back each time the bird lifts its foot, so it doesn’t impede walking on dry land, though it supports the bird’s weight on mucky ground. source - allaboutbirds-org.

Eastern towhee, Rondeau Provincial Park, April 5, 2023. A first of year visit by a towhee. Image taken through the Wonderful Wildlife Window. Pipilo erythrophthalmus Eastern Towhees tend to be pretty solitary, and they use a number of threat displays to tell other towhees they’re not welcome. You may see contentious males lift, spread, or droop one or both wings, fan their tails, or flick their tails to show off the white spots at the corners. Studies have shown that male towhees tend to defend territories many times larger than needed simply to provide food.

This horned grebe was in slow down mode after dashing across the water. Not sure if I like the bow wave or the bubbles more. Long Point Provincial Park, April 2, 2023. Podiceps auritus A sleeping or resting Horned Grebe puts its neck on its back with its head off to one side and facing forward. It keeps one foot tucked up under a wing and uses the other one to maneuver in the water. Having one foot up under a wing makes it float with one "high" side and one "low" side. source - allaboutbirds-org.

Golden-crowned kinglet, Rondeau Provincial Park, April 3, 2023. First one this year, stopped by for a quick drink. Regulus satrapa The Golden-crowned Kinglet usually raises two large broods of young, despite the short nesting season of the northern boreal forest. The female feeds her first brood only up until the day after they leave the nest. She then starts laying the second set of eggs while the male takes care of the first brood. The male manages to feed eight or nine nestlings himself, and he occasionally feeds the incubating female too. source - allaboutbirds-org

Red-breasted nuthatch, Rondeau Provincial Park, April 1, 2023. Sitta canadensis -descends head downwards on tree trunks and branches to search in nooks and crannies of the bark for tiny organisms -wedges hard-shelled nuts in a bark crevice and then hammers them with its bill. -carries spruce or pine pitch, often from some distance, in its bill to smear on the entrance of its nest cavity -has a greatly enlarged hind toe and a stubby tail, which are probably both adaptations for climbing downwards source - Hinterland Who's Who

Six-spotted fishing spider, maybe. Image taken April 9, 2019 in Rondeau Provincial Park.