Rondeau Ric

 Thanks to some fellow birders and a very nice home owner we were able to see this long eared owl. The home owner was great, helping us see the birds in one of his cedar trees. He saw 9 in the tree in the morning but we "just" saw two. A real treat. Southern Ontario, Canada, February 25. 2025.. Asio otus The hoot of the male Long-eared Owl can sometimes be heard up to 1 kilometer (0.7 mi) away.

  Suns trying to come out on this blustery, grey late winter day and I need some colour. Common yellowthroat warbler, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, May 10, 2017. Geothlypis trichas Adult Common Yellowthroats sometimes fall prey to carnivorous birds such as Merlins and Loggerhead Shrikes. Occasionally they have more unexpected predators: one migrating yellowthroat was eaten by a Chuck-will's-widow, while another was found in the stomach of a largemouth bass.

  Now that's an ice-cycle! Anne broke it of the corner of a gutter.

 Sharp-shinned hawk with a tree sparrow meal.  Couldn't have grabbed one of those pesky house sparrows. Taken through the wonderful wildlife window. Our yard, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, February 20, 2025. Accipiter striatus The size difference between the sexes in Sharp-shinned Hawks influences the size of prey they can catch. Nestlings feed first on small prey caught mainly by their father, switching as they grow to the larger prey that their mother can bring. Before delivering prey to their mates or young, male Sharp-shinned Hawks typically remove and eat the head.

It is really sad to watch an old, friendly neighbour slide into dementia while the family doesn't' do anything because they are in denial. It's time to care for Uncle Sam America.

  Another from the archives, so ready for spring. Yellow-rumped warbler. October 7, 2023, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, in our yard. Setophaga coronata Yellow-rumped Warblers winter across much of central and southeastern U.S., and they sometimes come to backyards if food is offered. To attract them, try putting out sunflower seed, raisins, suet, and peanut butter.

Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, October2, 2023. From the archives on a cold blustery winters day. Corthylio calendula Ruby-crowned Kinglets seem nervous as they flit through the foliage, flicking their wings nearly constantly. Keeping an eye out for this habit can be a useful aid to identifying kinglets.

On a very crisp winter's day -15.4C or 4.3 F, I give you a touch of spring. A male American goldfinch to remind you that spring is coming and then it will be summer. Remember today when you are complaining about the heat. Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. July 30, 2014. Spinus tristis Spring males are brilliant yellow and shiny black with a bit of white. Females and all winter birds are more dull but identifiable by their conical bill; pointed, notched tail; wingbars; and lack of streaking. During molts they look bizarrely patchy.

In the middle of a snow storm we had a few jays drop in to have a snack. Not a lot  of feed available with the 6 inches that came down. Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, February 16, 2025. You might be a birder if you shovel your yard so birds can get at the seed before shovelling  the sidewalk. If you shovel your yard and don't shovel the sidewalk you are a birder. Cyanocitta cristata   Blue Jays lower their crests when they are feeding peacefully with family and flock members or tending to nestlings.

 Sitting on an icy branch, probably dreaming of a warm spring day just like me. Our yard, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Cardinalis cardinalis A perennial favorite among people, the Northern Cardinal is the state bird of seven states.

 We catch looks of the Carolina wren most days but photographing them can be difficult. Rondeau Provincial Park Ontario, Canada, February 13, 2025. Thryothorus ludovicianus Unlike other wren species in its genus, only the male Carolina Wren sings the loud song. In other species, such as the Stripe-breasted Wren of Central America, both members of a pair sing together. The male and female sing different parts, and usually interweave their songs such that they sound like a single bird singing.

I could tell it was election time in Canada and Ontario. Had a rafter of 7 turkeys show up in the yard today. Not sure which political party they represented but they all fed off the corn that was out for the little birds. Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, February 10, 2025. Meleagris gallopavo The Wild Turkey and the Muscovy Duck are the only two domesticated birds native to the New World.

He's not going to do it, of course, not today. Maybe later. Probably never.

 Northern cardinal on the ice in our water feature, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, January 2025. Cardinalis cardinalis The male cardinal fiercely defends its breeding territory from other males. When a male sees its reflection in glass surfaces, it frequently will spend hours fighting the imaginary intruder.

Bluejay up close and personal, Rondeau Provincial Park , November 18, 2022, in our yard. Cyanocitta cristata Familiar but stunning jay found year-round throughout most of eastern North America. Bright blue above and pale gray below with a fluffy crest. Also look for black necklace and black and white markings on the wings and tail. Pairs or small groups travel through mature deciduous or coniferous woodlands, often revealing their presence with loud, harsh “jay” calls. Frequently visits bird feeders, where it is often aggressive towards other birds.

 Don't know what type of butterfly this is but I liked the eyes. Taken in our front yard July 2023. Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario , Canada.

I am tired of the grey skies and cold weather so I am posting one from the archives to warm us all up.  Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, May 6, 2010. Sialia sialis Eastern Bluebirds eat mostly insects, wild fruit and berries. Occasionally, Eastern Bluebirds have also been observed capturing and eating larger prey items such as shrews, salamanders, snakes, lizards and tree frogs.