Archive for the ‘Birds’ Category
Bald Eagle preview
Having just returned from a week in Alaska, I thought I would share one image which caught my eye. I’ve never shot so many images and filled so many cards in such little time. Hope to process and post more soon!
Bald Eagle snatch
Peregrines of Niagara Falls
As residents of cliffs (alternatively, downtown office towers), it should come as no surprise that peregrine falcons breed at Niagara Falls. My first visit was in 2008, when they nested on the Canadian side and entertained photographers and birders at length. From my understanding they then bred on the American side for several years, which is not well-suited for photography. This year (2012) they once again nested on the Canadian side, in the old OPG building. This put them directly below the sidewalk along the edge of the gorge, just hundreds of yards from the falls’ edge.
I visited on several occasions, and while opportunities are never guaranteed, one day in particular was incredible, with the young peregrines testing their wings, chasing each other and learning how to take food from their parents – all in midair. It is one of a kind sight to see a peregrine rapidly coast upwards on thermals, just inches from the gorge’s fall, spiralling hundreds of feet up, only to tuck its wings back in a rapid stoop in pursuit of prey. These spectacular stoops are almost too difficult to photograph at close range, as these have been measured at nearly 200mph! Here’s to hoping they return next year to entertain onlookers. To be honest, I think the birds are almost more curious about us at times than we are of them.
Adult peregrine plucking Spotted Sandpiper prey
Juvenile peregrine with Spotted Sandpiper
Adult peregrine in flight with pigeon prey
Adult peregrine banking sharply in flight
Wilson’s Plover family
I can’t help but think how appropriate this photo is for today: a female Wilson’s Plover “brooding” her 3 chicks on a Florida beach. This process is used to regulate the chicks’ body temperatures, especially when they are very young. For comparison, the mother is about the size of a robin, and the chicks are literally little fuzz balls.
Wilson's Plover female brooding her chicks
One for Valentine’s Day
This is the best photo I could find for today…wish I had some avocet photos in my collection, as they would be even more appropriate!
Common Tern courtship flight - Canon 7D - 800/5.6IS
Signs of spring: Tundra Swans
With reports of early migration of tundra swans, I went back to process some of my photos of them. They are a species we typically only see in early spring, as they pass through. Present year round in Southern Ontario are Mute Swans, a non-native bird which is the most common swan. Less common, but still present in large numbers in winter are the trumpeter swans, the largest of the native swans. They can still be found throughout the summer, but mostly in marshes (such as Wye Marsh) in central Ontario where they breed.
I hope to add some more photos this year!
Tundra Swan Portrait - notice the distinctive yellow mark - Canon 1DIV - 800/5.6IS
Tundra Swan (foreground) and Trumpeter Swan (click to enlarge) - Canon 1DIV - 800/5.6IS
Tundra Swan on calm water (click to enlarge) - Canon 1DIV - 800/5.6IS
Snowy Owls in sweet light
I’ve added two more images of snowy owls from last winter, photographed here in Ontario, Canada. I have many more photos to go through. I really liked the light on both of these, and it was great to have this co-operative female snowy to photograph as she hunted.
Snowy owl hunting prey (click to enlarge) - Canon 1DIV - 300/2.8IS
Snowy owl landing in corn field at sunset (click to enlarge) - Canon 1DIV - 300/2.8IS + 1.4x
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
A very sharp looking woodpecker, the yellow-bellied sapsucker is quite common further north in Ontario, especially in the Algonquin Park area. Their distinctive “wells” that they drill in trees serve as a food source for hummingbirds, who arrive in the northern forests well before plants begin to flower, and are thus very dependent on the sapsuckers for the sap their wells produce. The sap attracts bugs and other prey items for the sapsucker. As a result of the damage to the tree, sapsuckers are important agents of change in the northern forests.
Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker with food (click to enlarge) - Canon 1DIII - 800/5.6IS
Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at wells (click to enlarge) - Canon 1DIII - 800/5.6IS
Greater Scaup
Greater Scaup is a duck species in decline in North America. They winter in significant numbers locally, and are seemingly more common then their Lesser Scaup cousins. Here are a few photos taken from a dock in Hamilton as they mingled with the other ducks.
Greater Scaup (drake) (click to enlarge) - Canon 50D 600 f4 IS
Greater Scaup hen (click to enlarge) - Canon 50D 600 f4 IS
Greater Scaup preening (click to enlarge) - Canon 50D 600 f4 IS
Eastern Screech Owl youngsters
Eastern Screech owls are among one of the most common owls in many areas, but their small size and retiring nature make them very difficult to find. Nesting in cavities, their whinnying and spooky calls can be heard most readily at night in the mating season. Many people are shocked when they find out that these owls often live close to their homes in ravines and other natural areas.
A few years ago I was fortunate enough to learn of an Eastern Screech owl family that had nested in a local park. While extremely hard to find (and often only found because of other birds mobbing them), I had a few successful photo sessions with them. The young “owlet” fledglings were especially cute with their comical, big eyes and downy feathers. To my surprise and disappointment, I have not been able to find them this year, and only saw them briefly early in the season last year.
I’ll post some adults next!
Eastern Screen Owl youngster (click to enlarge) - Canon 1DIII 600IS x1.4
Curious baby Screech Owl (click to enlarge) - Canon 1DIII 600IS x1.4
Northern Hawk Owls Part 2
Ottawa was host to at least one hawk owl last winter. They are more common at those latitudes, but still don’t occur that often; in fact I haven’t seen one this year, although there have been a few scattered reports. The light was better than on my previous trips to the local hawk owl the previous year.
Northern Hawk Owl perched (click to enlarge)
Northern Hawk Owl in flight (click to enlarge)
Northern Hawk Owl catching prey (click to enlarge)
Northern Hawk Owl on birch (click to enlarge)
