Baltimore Oriole

These pictures were taken during May 2007 in our back yard. We had two pair nesting on our property last summer and it seems they plus all their siblings have returned. If you're trying to attract Orioles, an orange cut in half and stuck on the stub of a branch works well. You can also get Oriole feeders which are similar to Hummingbird feeders, but have a larger opening. My wife tells me that my choice of a Flowering Almond branch as a perch was a bad choice because the pink clashes with the orange on the Oriole. Myself, I like it but what do I know. What do you think?

Green Heron

This photo was taken 20th May, 2007 in our back yard. We have been lucky in that this is the second year that we have had a pair of Green Heron's nesting fairly close to our pond. They are frequent visitors to the pond where they find an abundance of frogs, minnows, tadpoles and other tasty treats which they prefer. They actually have a fairly long neck which extends when they're in the attack mode.

American Woodcock

This picture was taken on 27th May 2007 in our back yard. This bird is seldom seen as it is almost invisible when in a background of dried leaves. They are generally nocturnal, but this guy slammed into a friends RV that was parked in our back yard. He stunned himself for awhile but finally woke up and walked off into the bush. One peculiar thing about them is that they will hold their head and legs still and rock their body back and forth, front to rear. It's quite amazing that while doing this, their head doesn't move. Their main food is earthworms and insects. They lay their eggs in a depression on the open ground.

Red Headed Woodpecker

This picture was taken on May 8th, 2007 in our back yard. Once abundant, they are now listed as a vulnerable species in Canada and threatened in some States. Their decline in population is mainly due to competition for nesting sites by Starlings and loss of habitat. They prefer to nest in cavities in dead trees.

Great Horned Owl

These pictures were taken April 29th, 2007 behind one of our neighbours' house. Great Horned Owls inhabit most of North and South America. Their average body length is 22" with a wing span of 40 - 60". They mate in January or February and usually lay 2 - 4 eggs. This nest only had one young one. They don't build their own nest but instead utilize other bird nests made by large birds such as Crows or Ravens. Last year, this was a Raven's nest. When the young get larger but are unable to fly, they'll venture out onto branches, therefore, I may have a further photo opportunity.

Bufflehead Ducks

These pictures were taken on April 14th, 2007 in a bay on Lake Huron not far from our home. The first picture is the male and the second, the female. It's mating season and you can see there is a second male present and he was trying to attract the female by taking short flights of 20 or 30 feet and then landing, but not going far away. It didn't work. Mrs Bufflehead had eyes for only one male and she was about to let him have his way with her. It was quite a wrestling match and note how the male grabs a tuft of feathers on the back of the head to hold on. When it was all over, the female was rather elated and just had to flap her wings for joy. Isn't nature interesting?

Ruffed Grouse

This picture was taken on 21 March 2007 in our back yard. There is little difference between the sexes. Ruffed Grouse are masters at camouflage and many times will not fly until it's threat is within a few feet. Twenty years ago when we were first clearing this property, we didn't have any bathroom facilities. A friend that was helping me had nature call, so took a stroll down one of the paths that ran through the property to find a suitable log for support. He found one and just as he was getting comfortable on his log, a Ruffed Grouse flew up from between his legs with a thunderous flapping of it's wings. Needless to say, he had little problem having a BM.

Wood Ducks

These pictures were taken on 9th March 2007 at Wakulla Springs Florida. The upper picture shows two males (very colorful) and the lower picture shows a male and female.

Great Egrets in breeding plummage

This picture was taken on 10 March 2007 at Wakulla Springs, Florida. Note the breeding plummage.

Yellow Rumped Warbler

This picture was taken on 9th February, 2007 at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Texas.

White-eyed Vireo

This picture was taken on 8th February 2007 at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park.

Meadowlark

These pictures were taken on 18th February, 2007 at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Texas. Don't forget that you can view a full screen image by clicking on the picture.

Mockingbird

This picture was taken on 18th February, 2007 at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Texas.

Loggerhead Shrike

This photo was taken on 18th February, 2007 at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park Texas. These birds are often mistaken for a Mockingbird.

Lincoln's Sparrow

These photos were taken on 9th February 2007 at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park Texas.

Indigo Bunting

These pictures were taken on 17th February 2007 at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park Texas. Note the splotchy blue on the male which turn all blue during the spring breeding plummage.

Green Jay

These pictures were taken on 11th February 2007 at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park Texas.

Great Kiskadee

These pictures were taken on 9th & 11th February 2007 at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Texas.

Male Golden-Fronted Woodpecker

These pictures were taken on 9th February 2007 at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Texas.

Female Painted Bunting

These pictures were taken on 5th February 2007 at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Texas. These pictures are the first recorded history of this bird being in the State Park during the Winter. They are also uncommon during the summer.

Male & Female Cardinals

These pictures were taken on 5th and 2nd February, 2007 at the Bentsend Rio Grande Valley State Park, Texas.

Clay Colored Robin

This picture was taken on 2nd February 2007 at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Texas.

Black Crested Titmouse

These pictures were taken on 6th February 2007 at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Texas.