After a snowstorm and two days of unseasonably cold weather, I correctly guessed that the short-eared owls would be hungry, and actively hunting. Today was the best day I have had for photographing these owls!
Author: Richard Lee
Winter Hawks
Winter months are an excellent time to see hawks in both Southern Ontario and Kentucky, where I spend most of the winter. Most of the North American hawks, tend to be short distance migrators (broad-winged travel further), and many species such as the red-tailed can be found year round. The rough-legged, seldom seen in the summer is prevalent in the winter. Today (in Kentucky) was a good day for Cooper’s hawks, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers and red-shouldered hawks.
Cooper’s hawk taken from front door of house
Red-shouldered hawk
Snowy Owls
Yesterday, it was cold and windy (-13 degrees Celsius, but much colder with the wind chill). But the cold weather had given me “cabin fever” so I decided to go looking for birds. It proved to be a good day, with almost 30 species seen, and a snowy owl as well. I had hoped to catch the owl in flight, but it was content to sit on its post and watch the world go by. I was finally too cold to stay. and so, I did not manage to catch the owl in flight. Maybe next time!
Another day……another owl. Still did not manage an “in flight” picture. It remained in the tree for more than an hour and it was -20 Celsius.
In the photo above, the owl is coughing up an “owl pellet”.
Looking for Owls
Today I went to my favourite location in Wellington County for finding snowy owls. I have been very successful in this area in previous years, but this year I have struck out over three trips to the area. I did however see this short-eared owl, which is considered rare for the county.
Whooping cranes
This week, I was fortunate to see whooping cranes in three different counties in the Henderson area. The whooping crane is critically endangered and they survive in the wild today due to exceptional work by dedicated people committed to saving this magnificent species. Sadly, most years, some of the cranes are shot in their winter homes (this has happened in Indiana, Kentucky, Texas and Louisiana) while others are killed in collisions with power lines. It is estimated that there are about 100 in the wild in Eastern North America. For more information visit the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (https://bringbackthecranes.org).
Whooping crane with snake
Whooping cranes in flight
Short-eared owls
The short-eared owls put in a wonderful aerial performance yesterday, near the Somerville Mine in Southern Indiana!
Rhode Island Coastal Birds, late November
The highlight for me was seeing male harlequin ducks, which I had never before seen in the wild. But I also enjoyed seeing common eiders (North America’s largest duck), sanderlings, buffleheads, common and red-throated loons, mergansers, three types of scoter and a solo northern gannet in the distance.
Male harlequin ducks
Female harlequin duck eating what looks to be a small crab
Male common eider
Sanderling
Buffleheads
An Interesting December Day in Ontario
I never thought I would see a snake in December in Ontario, sunning itself………but I did today! I also saw a misplaced mountain bluebird, about 2000 miles out of its normal range. Additionally I saw my first snowy owl of the year. It was too far away for a good photo but I watched her (juvenile female) for about 15 minutes with a spotting scope. Add a thousand sandhill cranes, hundreds of tundra swans and a pileated woodpecker and a beautiful sunset to make for a great day!
Mountain bluebird (female)
Tundra swans
Sandhill cranes
Snowy owl (Female, juvenile, from a long distance!0
Algonquin Park
Early winter in Algonquin Park.
Blue jay
Red-breasted nuthatch
Gray jay (whisky jack)
Late autumn in Ontario.
Until today, it had been a beautiful sunny week in Southern Ontario. Today it is supposed to snow. I am glad we took time off to enjoy the late autumn! The following water bird pictures were taken on Lake Ontario yesterday.
Long-tailed duck (male)
Long-tailed duck (female)
White-winged scoter
Wood duck
Red-breasted mergansers
Trumpeter swan (juvenile)
Hawk Cliff
Golden eagle
It was a great day for birdwatching at Hawk Cliff (Elgin County) above Lake Erie. We saw eight golden eagles, a comparable number of bald eagles, numerous red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, coopers hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, harriers, merlins and kestrels. We also saw twenty-seven tundra swans, eastern bluebirds, cedar waxwings, golden-crowned kinglets and a single loon. Later in the day and further east, we encountered about 100 sandhill cranes and another sixty tundra swans.
Tundra swans
An Autumn Day in Ontario
Yesterday was a wonderful day for wandering, with sun and unseasonably warm temperatures. The leaves have been late in turning this year, the migration of birds is later than normal, but there are many signs of the changing seasons.
(Find the goldfinch amongst the spruce cones!)
