Gadwalls at Dusk in Wascana Park

Last night, I walked through Wascana Park and saw a pair of Gadwalls in the fenced waterfowl area.

At first glance, these big gray-brown ducks are less than spectacular, compared — just for example — to the common Mallard... But look closer at the male's velvety feathers and striking black tail, and at the female's crisp plumage.

Female Gadwall rising in the water, dusk in the Wascana Waterfowl Park   © SB

Gadwalls at dusk in the Wascana Waterfowl Park   © SB

Male Gadwall in clearer lighting, near Lumsden, SK  © SB

What are these? Gadwalls.
Location: (top), Wascana Park, Regina, and (bottom) near Lumsden, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: Top two: May 30, 2014; bottom, April 21, 2012. 

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Chipping Sparrows - Micro Migratory Birds

Chipping Sparrow with full red crown   © SB

The spring migratory birds in our Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard include Chipping Sparrows.

I call Chipping Sparrows micro birds. Not only are they tiny, but they look far less than half the size of the resident House Sparrows.

Most of our Chipping visitors have bright rust-red crowns, while a few have a more mottled ruffous appearance.

And their song? It's a sweet, high "chip-chippp!"

Chipping Sparrow with slightly more mottled head.    © SB

What are these? Chipping Sparrows.
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 27 and 22, 2014.

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Brown Thrasher at the Backyard Feeder

Brown Thrasher on the lilac tree   © SB

There are Brown Thrashers in our
Regina, SK, neighbourhood again this year — shy, beautiful singers that perch high on tree-tops and chatter, chant, whistle and generally carry on.

The Brown Thrashers are also attracted to the suet that was put out to draw in the woodpeckers that never arrived.

(The robins also like this suet, so it's not going to waste... Still, it would be great to see a woodpecker here...)

The Brown Thrashers are fairly regular visitors — we see them flit through the yard several times a week — so are likely nesting somewhere nearby. (I hope they bring their fledgling thrashers to visit, too.)

Brown Thrasher at the suet feeder.    © SB

What is this? A Brown Thrasher.
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 22, 2014.

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Rose-breasted Grosbeaks: New Regina Backyard Bird

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak  © SB

The recent rain brought many beautiful birds to our Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard — including our first-ever Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

Perhaps oddly, I find the females, with their crisp brown markings, almost as beautiful as the males...

But the male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are truly gorgeous in black and white with that rosy red bib!

And as for the beaks that give Grosbeaks their names, they really are huge. From other images, I'd thought perhaps they were finch-like, but no, they are so very much bigger than that.

The birds at the feeders, below, display this beakly magnificence.

These birds arrived one evening, then reappeared the next morning, with visits to the feeders in the front and back yards off and on throughout the day. 

And now, they seem to have flown on. To wherever Rose-breasted Grosbeaks go — to wherever they've been every other spring, when I haven't seen them.

For two more photos of these birds, see Male and Female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks on my photography blog. 

A Pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.     © SB

Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak  © SB

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak © SB

What are these? Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. 
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Photo Date: May 20, 2014.   

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Baltimore Orioles in Regina Backyard: Our First Ever

I was called downstairs for a surprise this morning:

Three Baltimore Orioles were on our bird feeders — the first we've ever had in our Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard.

Early Morning: Baltimore Oriole on one of our Regina bird feeders. © SB

(We even had a special feeder hung for them one year, a sign of our somewhat misguided, though eternal, optimism.)

What astonishingly, brilliantly orange birds Baltimore Orioles are!

What is this? Baltimore Orioles. 
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.   

Photo date: May 20, 2014.   

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White-throated Sparrows in my Regina Backyard

What a pretty fellow! White-throated Sparrow  © SB

Another migratory bird of spring has arrived in my Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard: The White-throated Sparrow.

Like White-crowned Sparrows, these little birds look similar to every other little brown bird...

Until you really look at them and realize that they are not at all like House Sparrows or the rest.

In addition to the white stripes on their heads, they also have bright yellow lores (spots above their eyes) and white bibs.

White-throated Sparrows are also known for their Sweet, sweet, Canada, Canada, Canada song, which Audubon calls an appropriate interpretation of their call, as most breed here in Canada.

Sometimes, I call them Grandfather Birds, because it looks to me like they sport white moustaches and beards... But that may be inappropriately aged and gendered, and just plain biologically innaccurate.

As for the condition of my backyard, still lots of patches with no spring grass, but now that the snow has finally melted and the dirt has begun to thaw, I have raked up that bird seed...

Snowbird heading north: White-throated Sparrow
stopping over in my backyard  © SB

Yes, this bird looks a little scowly and old to me... 
White-throated Sparrow. © SB

What is this? White-throated Sparrow, stopping during its migration north.
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.   

Photo dates: April 29, April 30 and May 1, 2014...  

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Hermit Thrush Drops by my Regina Backyard

A Hermit Thrush has decided to visit my backyard in Regina, Saskatchewan. What first caught my eye was its bright reddish tail, and then the dots all over its breast.

This shy bird is apparently not usually seen in backyards — they prefer northern forests — but this Thrush has stopped off to forage in the small pile of winter-clean-up brush by the fence. (I wish it would come closer to the house for a better picture!)

Hermit Thrush © SB

Hermit Thrush   © SB

I haven't heard it singing yet, but I found its song on All About Birds, so I'm listening for it now. 

If it stays a little longer...

What is this? Hermit Thrush.

Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo dates: May 4, 2014. 

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White-crowned Sparrows in my Regina Backyard: Spring!

White-crowned sparrow, with sunflower seed. © SB  

One of the first migratory sparrows we see in Regina, SK, has arrived in my backyard — the White-crowned Sparrow.

(We've also had a few White-throated Sparrows.)

White-crowned Sparrows are brilliant. If you're not paying attention, they look exactly like every other anonymous brown bird in all the world...

But once you take the time to focus, the streaks on their heads almost radiate light. So white!

The snow is barely gone, still no leaves on the trees, and the ground is bare in many places. But these birds make me happy: Spring! (Time to rake away the detritus of winter...)

White-crowned Sparrow on in-progress construction project © SB  

White-crowned Sparrow back at the sunflower seeds  © SB  

What are these? White-crowned Sparrows.

Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo dates: Top image, May 1, 2014; Bottom two images: April 30, 2014. 

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Ferruginous Hawks on Saskatchewan's Prairie

Grasslands bird, a Ferruginous Hawk   © SB

On a recent drive through south western Saskatchewan, we passed a massive knotty nest with a huge sitting Ferruginous Hawk, right beside the highway.

And then we passed another.

We marked the spot and vowed that on the way back, we'd slow and take a closer look at the birds.

We didn't know then what they were. I'd only seen the first hawk because I looked back as the road rose over the railway, and from the height of land, I could look straight into the nest.

And so I knew it was big — but I don't claim to be an expert birder. I rely on my books, and all of those were back at home. But, after checking, I'm willing to hazard a guess...

Ferruginous Hawks are our largest hawks in Saskatchewan (and North America), lovely regal birds with white undersides, flight feathers and tails. Their backs and legs, along with patches under their wings, are rusty red. And, they nest in our grasslands in the south of the province.

Ferruginous Hawk in flight over the prairie   © SB

A second Ferruginous Hawk © SB

Ferruginous Hawk 2, in flight © SB

Awesome birds!

Ferruginous Hawks are listed as Threatened on the Canadian Federal Government registry, and as of Special Concern/Threatened by Nature Saskatchewan.


What are these? Nesting Ferruginous Hawks (Buteo regalis) 
Location: South Western Saskatchewan, Canada.   

Photo dates: April 21, 2014.  

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