Female Purple Finch

Although not a frequent visitor this winter, we did have a few visits from a female Purple Finch last week.

Brrr.. Will Spring Be Here Soon?

To view other postings on a Gray Squirrel go to:

http://naturetales.blogspot.com/2006/12/gray-squirrel-visitor.html

http://naturetales.blogspot.com/2006/10/gray-squirrel.html

American Robin in February

While driving along Rothesay Ave this afternoon, near Renforth, I saw a bird fly across the highway in front of my car and it looked like it might have been an American Robin! We decided to turn around and see if we could relocate the bird to confirm our id for we have not often seen Robins at this time of year. After turning, but not having driven back as far as the location of our original sighting , we saw another red-breasted bird fly across the road. Was this the same bird or maybe there were two Robins? We had seen where the second bird had landed and so I got out of our car, crossed the highway, and captured a few pictures; thus confirming our sighting of an American Robin in February.

Song Sparrow

This over- wintering Song Sparrow surveys its snowy world in our feeder area.

Another Eagle More Crows

While driving along highway #105 near Sheffield we noticed what may have been two clumps of snow high up in the trees bordering the fields along the highway; or perhaps it was the white head and tail of a Bald Eagle? We stopped to get a better look, and confirmed with our binoculars that it was a Bald Eagle.The smaller circle in the photo above indicates where we saw the eagle. The larger circle with the arrow shows an enlarged view.

Just as we stopped a murder of Crows arose from the remnants of a corn field beside the highway and headed off in the direction of the eagle perched in the tree. A murder (or group) of noisy Crows can sometimes draw your attention to an Eagle or Owl in the area; so if might be worth your while to follow through and check out the focus of their activity.

Young Bald Eagle

Yesterday, while driving east, along highway #1 at Saint John we saw a very large bird feeding nearby the sewage lagoon in that area. We did not identify it immediately; but as the huge bird lifted its wings in flight we could easily see the white mottling on its belly and under- wings and we could see that it was a second or third year Bald Eagle.

Accipiter

This yellow-eyed, juvenile accipiter is either a Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawk. And it probably would have an interesting tale to tell for the bottom feathers on its tail were rather crumpled and frayed! The condition of its tail feathers make identification of this accipiter a bit more difficult. The Sharp-shinned Hawk has a shorter, squared off tail while a Cooper's Hawk has a slightly rounded tail. Another difference between a Cooper's Hawk and Sharp-shinned is size. This hawk was quite large; larger than the usual Sharp-shins that I see occasionally in our feeder area. As well as its size, and dubiously rounded tail; its head, when seen in profile, seemed rather flat. A flat, rather than a rounded head, is also a sometimes mentioned characteristic of a Cooper's Hawk.

A Deer Along the Roadside

Having decided to take a seldom used old road through the woods to connect to the highway, we were rewarded with a beautiful sighting of a lone White -tailed Deer along the roadside. At first we did not immediately see it as its dark colouring blended in with the darkness of the tall evergreens bordering the road. This woodland creature stood and watched the slow approach of our car before disappearing into the surrounding woods.

European Starling

This European Starling has found the suet feeder in our bird feeder area and although it is difficult for it to maintain a stationary position to feed from; it still manages to get some food. Here the Starling is keeping its wings in motion for balance and positioning as it feeds on the homemade bird suet.

Portrait of a Sharp-shinned Hawk

My first sighting of a Sharp-shinned Hawk in our feeder area occured this week. This red-eyed, hooked beak, handsome plumaged accipiter perched in our High Bush Cranberry tree and surveyed its surround -ings. Not having located any small birds to pursue in the area; after a few moments it left.

Eight White-tailed Deer

After having driven over a few back country roads hoping to see some White-tailed Deer, and having found none, I decided to return home. However enroute home, much to my surprise and amuse -ment, I found eight White- tailed Deer standing in a driveway in the center of a neighbour- ing village; looking at me as I cruised by.

Mallards in Open Water

There wasn't a whole lot of open water at Lily Lake today for these Mallards to swim in; but they all crowded together making use of what there was, creating a colourful sight.

A Deer in the Winter Woods

Dark Morph Rough-legged Hawk

I recall the first time that we saw a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk; it was sometime in the early 2000's. We had been birding on the Tantramar Marshes, along the High Marsh Road, and we kept seeing Crows (or so we thought initially) that somewhat confused us a bit. These birds that we saw at a distance seemed to look like large Crows and they were black; but what mystified us was that whenever they were in flight we kept getting glimpses of white on their underwings! Luckily for us, later that day, along came a friendly birder and solved the mystery for us by introducing us to the species of the dark morph Rough-legged Hawk.
editing note: Other postings on Rough-legged Hawks can be found at:
http://naturetales.blogspot.com/2006/12/rough-legged-hawk.html
http://naturetales.blogspot.com/2008/01/rough-legged-hawk-at-maugerville.html

Purple Finch at Feeders

We haven't seen this finch species at our feeders often this winter so it was a very pleasant sighting today to see a male and female Purple Finch perched in our old Wild Rosebush. The reddish branches of the Wild Rose accent the striking rose-red colours of this handsome male seen in both pictures here.

Northern Shrike

I have only seen one Northern Shrike this winter and that was in mid-December. Usually we have several sightings in our feeder area each year; however, none so far this season.
For another posting on Northern Shrike go to:
http://naturetales.blogspot.com/2007/03/i-have-only-had-two-northern-shrike.html

Birds in the Late Afternoon Sun

The beauty of the Song Sparrow to the right and the White-breasted Nuthatch below is enhanced as the strong, yellow rays of the late afternoon sun highlight their presence in our feeder area.

Black-capped Chickadee

One of our most faithful and regular of winter visitors; this little Black- capped Chickadee finally found the bird food mixture I had placed in the middle of this evergreen wreath for it. Other daily regulars at our feeder area this winter are: Blue Jays, American Goldfinch, American Tree Sparrows, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Mourning Doves, one Song Sparrow, and one White-breasted Nuthatch.

Song Sparrow in the Snow

This little Song Sparrow should have been long gone but it seems it has chosen to spend its days at our feeder area. It has been several weeks now since I have noticed it almost daily and perhaps it will over-winter here although now that we have snow on the ground it might consider heading a bit further south.

Goldfinch Feeding

My first glance out onto our feeding area yesterday morning, to check the status of the approaching storm that had been predicted, rewarded me with the sight of a large group of American Goldfinch in the trees, feeding at the several feeders, and on the ground also. They were everywhere. The niger seed feeder was in constant use. They were also aware of the coming storm and were preparing themselves for it as well.