Monday, November 7, 2016

Ile Saint-Bernard, November 5, 2016

Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens (or is it toothpaste?)
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca
Northern Green Frog Rama clamitans
Northern Leopard Frog Lithobates pipiens
White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
Dan triple-checks the scoter
Lovely Grande Digue


  Saturday saw Dan and I make a triumphant return to lovely Île Sainte-Bernard, and its superb array of habitat. Under heavy clouds we walked the trails until our backs ached, which happens faster than it did a few years ago. The undisputed star attraction was a ridiculously gorgeous Carolina Wren. The bird appeared at our feet appeared as if by sorcery, while we stood preoccupied watching the antics of nearly tame Black-capped Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches. It posed and called from quite close, before bizarrely flying up into what looked like an old squirrel’s nest. High on the list of spectacular birding moments, that one. 
  The numerous American Tree Sparrows by the Grand Digue were a treat to watch as they vocalized and chased each other around. A distant scoter had us scratching our heads, but turned out to be a Surf Scoter. Probably. Two Mallard pairs were seen performing head-bobbing displays. Several White-tailed Deer, Muskrats, and lethargic frogs were also seen.


Reserve Faunique Marguerite-D’Youville, Île Sainte-Bernard, Châteauguay, November 5, 2016
Double-crested Cormorant – 1
Great Blue Heron – 1 flyby
Canada Goose – 27
Mallard – 46
American Black Duck – 3
Green-winged Teal – 17
Surf Scoter – 1 near Pointe Nord
Common Goldeneye – 5 flyby
Hooded Merganser – 8 flyby
Red-breasted Merganser – 7
Red-tailed Hawk – 1
Falcon sp – 1 chasing a Red-bellied Woodpecker
Ring-billed Gull – 5+
Rock Dove – 45+
Mourning Dove -1
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 1 male
Downy Woodpecker – 6+
Hairy Woodpecker – 1
Pileated Woodpecker – 1 heard
Blue Jay – 3
American Crow – 3
Black-capped Chickadee – 50+
Brown Creeper – 1
White-breasted Nuthatch – 12
Carolina Wren – 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 3
American Robin – 75+
Bohemian Waxwing – 2
European Starling – 2
Northern Cardinal – 4
American Tree Sparrow – 14 at Grande Digue
Song Sparrow – 4
Fox Sparrow – 1
White-throated Sparrow – 5
Dark-eyed Junco -2
Red-winged Blackbird – 3
American Goldfinch – 10

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Gray Treefrog

Gray Treefrog Hyla versicolor
  Almost forgot about this wee fella, discovered at the top of Mount McKay outside Thunder Bay, in mid-August.
  Haven't really gone birding since my return from the TCBO. This time last year I was having a solid month in Suncheon, with Eastern Water Rail, Grey-headed Lapwing, et al. The time, she flies when you're glued to the couch, writing stuff.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Mother Superior

Early autumn crew getting survival suited up in Silver Islet
Leaving Silver Islet (Blue building is the 1870's-vintage general store)
The skiff boys blast past
Passing T Harbour on the 'other side' of The Sleeping Giant
Approaching the tip of the Sibley Peninsula
A Korean-style boat totem I made at the boat launch
Low scud
'Who's checking ground traps?'
White squall
Sailboat race coming past Thunder Cape
The Berserker bros lose a sail
The Red-tailed Hawk and The Berserker jockey
An RCMP skiff patrols the border
My favourite of the lakers - The Cuyahoga (built in 1943)
Some young adventure dude
Lake Guardian - very Steve Zissou
Superior waves
  
  "But I told that kid a hundred times, don't take the lakes for graaaaanted, they go from calm to a hundred knots so fast they seem enchaaaaaanted!"
  The lyrics to White Squall by Stan Rogers rang true a few times during my TCBO tenure, and Nick and I surely pissed everyone off ( > a few times) by singing it at the top of our lungs. We kept accidentally referring to Lake Superior as 'the sea', because when the breakers are rolling in, it's hard to think of it as a mere lake.
  The occasional passing boats made us feel a bit less isolated, and it broke up the monotony of the slow days ('Try to get them to wave back!'). I hated being in the skiff, and was out in it one day in some pretty terrifying seas. Not seas. Terrifying lakes? Lake waters? Big fuckin' waves, in any case.
  The massive old Edmund Fitzgerald-ish lakers were always fun to watch. When they passed at night it looked like a city was drifting by.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Humzees of TCBO

Ruby-throated Hummingbird checking out a net tie
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
  There were a few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, or Humzees, as Nick dubbed them, kicking about the TCBO's two feeders on a daily basis. They had a habit of vizzing to Pie Island in the rain, when no other birds were out besides the Hergs, Pergs, and Mergs. Their spirited light-sabre duels were always well-watched and entertaining bouts.
  Currently working hard on finishing 'The Book', and also on regaining a belt loop I lost at TCBO. I'll find it.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

TCBO birdin'

American Pipit Anthus rubescens
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys (Gambel's)
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
Western Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
Common Raven Corvus corax
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
A roiling band of Blue Jays Cyanocitta cristata
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis
Banded Herring Gull Larus argentatus - Could this be the same bird banded at TCBO in 2006?!
  Here are a few of the birds that passed through the TCBO while I was there.