Friday, November 30, 2012

Bird of Prey


Perched in the topmost branches of a spruce tree, the Bald Eagle surveys his surroundings.  It's a matter of survival for these central interior birds.  During the winter months, they must also look to the land for sustenance (rabbits, squirrels, grouse).

A few snowflakes were swirling down, and it was overcast when I took this photo at about ten thirty yesterday morning. I first saw the eagle from a distance and then I had to get closer.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

A Snowy Morning

More snow fell last night.  At the moment, it is overcast and -9°C.  The birds are happily flying back and forth to the feeders in a flurry of activity.





Sunday, November 25, 2012

Pine Grosbeak

foraging for berries in the Saskatoon Berry bushes

I'm not sure how much nutrition the grosbeaks would derive from the desiccated berries, but the seeds would give them some energy.  I saw the grouse in these very bushes a few days ago, also searching for berries.



Saturday, November 24, 2012

Following Tracks

we take the same path
as the deer and snowshoe hare 

snowshoe hare tracks
(bottom of the photo to the right of the twelve, above)

unusual
trace the growth pattern of the tree in the foreground

a pretty sight, all the snow-covered trees

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auralus


This handsome fellow appears to be a Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker.  I can't tell from his flight feathers, but the other distinguishing marks would confirm this.  He has a tan face, gray crown, black moustachial stripe and a red nape crescent.

Red-shafted Northern Flickers have a gray face, brown crown and no nape crescent.  The males also have a red moustachial stripe. 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Snowflakes


It snowed during the evening hours last night.  It was hardly anything to speak of, really just a thin layer, and it stopped before we went to bed. The temperature however dipped below zero; currently it is -10°C. 

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus




I am always in awe whenever I see a Bald Eagle soaring.  It is a truly reverential sight.  This morning as I was walking on the path that leads into the woods, I looked up to see one of the Sinkut Lake eagles circling high above me.  He did this over and over, and I, of course, was focused entirely on this marvelous scene.  He finally came down and landed in a spruce tree where, to my utter surprise, another eagle was already perched.  I hadn't seen this eagle at all!  The result of this commotion was that the second eagle essentially took over the perch, and the other one immediately flew away with a loud squawk.            

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Black-Capped Chickadee

perched in the Saskatoon bushes shelling a sunflower seed.





Tuesday, November 13, 2012

White-breasted Nuthatch

Solitary nuthatch perched near the feeders

A beautiful, mild day - about 6°C

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Bird Behaviour

 Preening

One gusty, cool day, I observed a woodpecker perched on a spruce tree branch.  The woodpecker was fully absorbed in the routine task of preening and didn't seem at all affected by the relentless wind that played havoc with its feathers. 






Saturday, November 3, 2012

Varied Thrush

Ixoreus naevius


One lone bird all fluffed up against the cold on Hallowe'en day.  

The Varied Thrush doesn't usually overwinter here.  I've never seen one during the winter months, and I'm not sure what occurred to make this particular bird stay behind.