Birding With Cousin Ruth & Timothy

Adult Male Eastern Northern Cardinal

Adult Male American Robin
Adult Male American Robin
Pileated Woodpecker hole

Adult Cedar Waxwing

Today at 8:30am cousin Ruth picked me up to go birding. Her husband, Timothy had also come to go birding. First we went to a place where people recently saw a Bald Eagle. When we went there we saw Common Mergansers, and Northern Cardinals. Then we went to another birding trail. As we drove in, I noticed a woodpecker hole. Then we started walking into the trail. We heard many different bird songs. Including a Bird of Prey. Then we went to a feeding station and there were Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers feeding. Then we heard the call of a Pileated Woodpecker. Later, we went to another feeding station. We saw a hawk soaring, then cousin Ruth spotted a glimpse of a Pileated Woodpecker. Soon, Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, White-breasted Nuthatches and Red-bellied Woodpeckers came. So we turned back and found another feeding station where a weird sparrow was perched. And Blue Jays came looking for peanuts. After all that excitement we left and went to where cousin Ruth works at a hospital. There we spotted a bright red cardinal defending its territory. So we where on our way to the van and a flock of Cedar Waxwings came! Along with a few American Robins. Cousin Ruth showed me where her feeders where and I spotted a Cedar Waxwing away from the flock. I got closer and closer until the camera lens touched it! It then flew saying seeeww! It had probably got drunked from eating the raw berries. It was probably very sick. I hope it recovers. So after that amazing experience we went in the van and on the way out there was a Cooper's Hawk near its nest. Anyway, after that we went to another trail where there was a mature tall forest. Hopefully I too could see the Pileated Woodpecker. But we searched for nearly and hour and no Pileated Woodpecker. But I still had a great time, thanks to Ruth!
That was my exciting Saturday!
Birdman

Spring 2006

Oriole Feeder
My Pond
Window Feeder

Creek

Icycles near creek
Mixed Forest
Creek

Yesterday after school my dad took me hiking at a creek. It was a very steep way down to the creek. I almost slipped on the muddy hill. After we finally got down their way a creek surrounded in forest. It soon changed to a marsh surrounding the creek then a field. We didn't see many birds there. But we weren't birding so I didn't expect to see any. We had a challenging hike through the changing habitats. Hopefully, my dad enjoyed the challenging hike too.

Birdman

Northern Cardinal

Adult Male Eastern Northern Cardinal perched
Adult Male Eastern Northern Cardinal singing

Whether there rare or common in your area, the sighting of a cardinal is always joyful. The males very bright red and the females red and brown plumage are both beautiful birds. They live nearly everywhere in eastern and southwestern north america a similar species to the Northern Cardinal is the Pyrrhuloxia otherwise known as the "Arizona cardinal". It also lives in southwestern north america and the male and female look similar to the female Northern Cardinal. Except with less red and more gray. Although they look similar, nobody could mistake a Northern Cardinal with its black mask and its beautiful song "whit whit whit cheer cheer cheer" or "what-a-cheer-cheer-cheer". The Pyrrhuloxia's sounds like "whoooit" or " tikitikitikitik". But both of them have the same call "tick" or chip". Both of birds are beautiful and I hope everyone gets a chance to see both of these beautiful

birds!

Birdman

Common Goldeneye

Adult female breeding Common Goldeneye
Adult male breeding Common Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

L 18.5" ws 26" wt 1.9 lb (850 g) Male is larger than female

Stocky; rather large-headed like Barrow's. Files in small bunches with deep wingbeats.

Voice: Female gives low, grating arr arr . . . like Aythya ducks, often in flight. Male in display gives rasping, buzzy whistle jip JEEEV and low, hollow rattle. Wings produce low, metallic whistle in flight; loudest in adult male, female nearly silent.

Darlington Park

Adult Breeding Male Common Goldeneye
Worn adult Eastern Black-capped Chickadee
Coyote
Adult male American Robin

Eastern Dark adult Red-tailed Hawk
1st year Juvenile Cooper's Hawk
Spring Thaw 2008

Adult male Eastern Downy Woodpecker

Today my dad and I went birding at Darlington Park. I awoke to a beautiful sunrise and then woke my dad and we got ready for the drive. We packed all our needed supplies and drove off. On our way there my dad spotted a Coyote and I got a shot of it. And as we arrived there I noticed a bird sightings board. I walked over to it and no bird sightings were submitted. So we went over to a trail and we spotted some chickadees. They we foraging for seeds on coniferous trees. Later there was a flock of Blue Jays. They were the loudest birds I've ever heard! All you could hear was JAAAYYY!!!!! JAAAYYY!!!!! BOURUNK!!!!! Until they finally left. Then a singing cardinal came flying around. It was very bright red. As some people refer to it as the red cardinal but the proper name is the Northern Cardinal. Anyway, we kept walking and found some more chickadees. Which my dad had mistaken for more cardinals. There was many waterfowl by the lake. Including goldeneyes, swans and geese. Again the geese were very loud, but two of them were courting. It was very interesting to watch. After that we turned our attention to the goldeneyes. They were so far away that I couldn't identify them until I looked at them on the computer. Then we went to the the ravine where we saw the Great Gray Owl last year. My dad thought we would see it again but they're so rare in Oshawa that I disagreed. So we walked there and all that was there were chickadees and a Sharp-shined Hawk. We left the ravine and walked back to the truck. On the way there, we saw a pair of cardinals singing. We had a great time. And as we arrived back home my friends had come over to play the Wii . Now they have left and I am typing this blog.

Hope you had a great Easter Weekend!!

Birdman

Easter Sunday

Jesse found his chocolate
Jesse found his pencils
Max's bowl is overflowing

Today my brother did the traditional Easter Egg Hunt. He found all the eggs. Max had more food than normal and I MEAN A LOT OF FOOD! We are having a great time! In a hour we have to go to church. So we have to get ready. What was your Easter morning like?

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Birdman

Purple Woods Conservation Area: Maple Syrup Festival

Bird feeder
Guide explaining maple syrup
Tap
Mallards
Northern Cardinal
Pileated Woodpeckers

Today we went to the Maple Syrup Festival at Purple Woods Conservation Area. As we drove in a employee showed us where to park. So we did, and then got out. First we walked over to the entrance and paid to visit. Then we walked over to many areas which talked about the history of maple syrup. I learned many interesting facts. Then we went to a Pancake & Beverage Shop at the festival. There was also a learning place and again I learned many interesting facts. Around that area was a horse and wagon ride. So we decided to go and I took a video of it. After that we followed the trail to a place that I DID NOT LIKE!!! It was a cabin full of animal skins and furs. DEAD ANIMALS, Oh well, I got over it and after that we started to head back . It was a short trip, we were only gone 2 and 1/2 hours, but we have to get prepared for a party today ( 14 people are coming here). And it should be starting any minute now. So, goodbye!

Birdman

Lynde Shores/Second Marsh

Black-capped Chickadee
Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Trumpeter Swan
Other birders
Mallards
Northern Cardinal
Today I woke up at 7:00am and then woke my dad up. We got ready to go birding and by 8:30am we were on the road. We drove over to Lynde Shores Conservation Area and by then it was 8:55am. We paid one dollar to stay to 9:55am. At first we saw Red-winged Blackbirds and Waterfowl sitting. We walked over to the birdfeeder trail and surprisingly there was no birds. A little further down the trail there were lots of Black-capped Chickadees. We followed the trail until it lead us to the entrance again. By then it was 9:30am and the waterfowl were feeding on bread and many other birds were there too. We stayed there for a while and we left at 9:55am. So, we got on the road again and we drove off to Second Marsh Wildlife Area. There were many Black-capped Chickadees at the entrance. We followed the Marshland Trail and it lead us into Maclaggan Bay. So we turned back and went to the Beaver Pond Trail which was also a marsh. There were many Downy Woodpeckers and Chipping Sparrows. We got many pictures of them and left. On the way home we talked about how much fun we had. By the time we were home it was 12:52pm.
We managed to see 13 species of birds.
Birdman

Lynde Shores Conservation Area

Yesterday my dad picked me up from school to go birding. At Lynde Shores, we saw many birds and I got chased by a hissing Canada Goose. But I'll talk about that later. As we pulled into the parking lot, I noticed a donation box. So we paid 2 dollars and we began our walk. First we went to the bird feeder trail and put seed on our hand. Soon Black-capped Chickadees came to our hand, I got ready to take a picture and we forgot our memory card! So we keep on walking and soon Downy Woodpeckers, Red-winged Blackbirds, White-breasted Nuthatches, Mourning Doves and Northern Cardinals came. And once again for the fourth time a woodpecker came flying directly at my hand and I pulled it back. Because its sharp claws looked like it would hurt. I have to get over that fear! So once again the woodpecker nearly landed on my hand for the fourth time! Awell, after that we keep on walking 'till we saw Mallards eating thistle seed. We feed them sunflower seeds and a goose came running in hissing. I noticed it had a tag on its foot and it said 427. And then I did a really dumb thing! I crouched down running at it hissing. Which was the dumbest thing I've probably ever done birding. I was soon chased by a goose sticking its touge out at me so I had to run and finally it stopped chasing me. After that I wanted to leave immediately! And this is not the first time its ever happened to me. Although the time when I got chased by a turkey and the time I got chased by a peacock. But that time I didn't chase them. Anyway after that we drove home talking about our next planed birding trip.

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing

This May I hope to see a Semipalmated Sandpiper, a Wood Thrush, a Cedar Waxwing and a Pileated Woodpecker. So if you have any ideas where to find these birds, feel free to leave any ideas in the comment box. Although these birds are hard to find, I think I will find them during spring migration. Also I will be answering any questions you leave.

Goodbye,

Birdman

Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker

I got these pictures from Body, soul and spirit's blog. I thought these birds were very fascinating. And in a few weekends I will be going birding with Ruth to find them and I'll probably have some pictures of them myself. But until then these are they only shots I have of them.

Birdman

Rare Parrot Flower

Parrot Flower
Parrot Flower
Parrot Flower

Those photos were forwarded

to me by Lois Tolman Chamberlain

(my grandma.)

They absouletely amazed me when I first saw it.

Infact I thought they were artificial at first glance.

These rare flowers are hard to get pictures of

because they are so protected.

I agree, these precious, delicut, endargered flowers

should be protected and handled with care.

Birdman

Cambridge Birding

Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-winged Blackbird

Red-breasted Nuthatch
Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker

Horned Lark
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch

Yesterday I went birding with my cousin Ruth again to Cambridge. We saw many birds including, Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. But lets start from the beginning.

It was a sunny afternoon and Ruth was on her way to the library, but on the way there she thought what a sunny afternoon maybe I should go birding with Sam. So she called over and we talked about meeting up. So about ten minutes later cousin Ruth arrived. I got my camera, coat and boats and we were off. First as we pulled out of the driveway we saw a field nearby and saw some Horned Larks and Snow Buntings there. We took some pictures and drove off to Cambridge. On the way there we stopped by another birding trail so we decided to walk on it. There we walked over to a viewing spot but didn't see any birds. So we left and went to Cambridge. As we followed the trail I saw Black-capped Chickadees so I put my hand out to see if they would come and they did. So I scattered seed on my hand and soon there was a feeding frenzy. Ruth decided to put her hand out with seed too and then a Red-breasted Nuthatch came swooping by to see what all the excitement was about. And soon enough he came to our hands. We kept on walking and the chickadees followed us to a feeding station. We put some seed in all the feeders. And walked some more but it eventually lead to a steep hill so we turned back and when we passed by the feeding station again. There were Hairy, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers checking out the seed. And a Red-winged Blackbird had come since its by a marsh. So we stayed there for a while and went over to where the chickadees came to over hands. And it was about 3:30pm so we had to leave. And all the way back we talked about how much fun we had birding together. And as we pulled up by the driveway the Horned Larks were still there so we took some more pictures. And I thanked her for the trip and she thanked me for the book I got her. And that was my fantastic Saturday!!!!!

Bye,

Birdman

Victoria Park

Today our adventure began on our way to Victoria Park. We got a hot chocolate and headed down the road. When we arrived there were many dogs including a shcaunzher mix. We spotted a few cardinals and mallards. Some had inter breded a Mallard x Northern Shoveler. I forgot to bring my camera though so you cant see if I'm correct or not. But the most fun was wishing our dog Max a very Happy Birthday. He is one year in our years and three years in dog years. I think max had a great time meeting other dogs and chasing Canada Geese. We all had a blast including Max. See you next time on Nature. Birdman

eBird

I invite you to go on the ebird website and report all your bird sightings. It will help scientists (orthinoligists) to find out more about common and endargered species. Also when you report your sightings, you will get an organized with all your bird sightings in it. Trust me birders will love it, I love it myself.

What do you prefer blog posts to be about?

What do you prefer blog posts to be about?

- Wildlife

- Birds

- Dogs

- Other
*Please leave your votes in the comment box.*