Uploads from flipkeat, tagged birdwatcher, with geodata

King Of Pain

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 05:01:16 -0800

flipkeat posted a photo:

Opportunity presents itself when we least expect it..I was just getting ready to pack it in on my walk yesterday and all of a sudden I heard the birds squawking and taking off. I knew it must have been a hawk..I then spotted this Coopers Hawk through the branches. I pointed my camera and took a few shots but was in the thick of the branches to really get him in focus. I moved slightly to my right took this and he took off high into the trees. I was happy with this one..looks kind of dreamy.

"Among the bird world’s most skilful flyers, Cooper’s Hawks are common woodland hawks that tear through cluttered tree canopies in high speed pursuit of other birds. You’re most likely to see one prowling above a forest edge or field using just a few stiff wingbeats followed by a glide. With their smaller lookalike, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawks make for famously tricky identifications. Both species are sometimes unwanted guests at bird feeders, looking for an easy meal (but not one of sunflower)."
This photo is basically SOOC except for a slight cropping.

Best viewed LARGE. ENJOY! HBW (I couldn't resist this title hehehe)
Member of the Flickr Bird Brigade
Activists for birds and wildlife

Put Your Head On My Shoulder

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:42:21 -0800

flipkeat posted a photo:

View On Black

Today I froze my buns off on my walk but coudn't resist the sunshine and blue sky. I hope you enjoy this beautiful fluffy White-breasted Nuthatch ;) Of course now I see these guys all the time in the woods lol ;) It looked like he was trying to keep warm getting all cozied up and puffed out.

"In winter, White-breasted Nuthatches join foraging flocks led by chickadees or titmice, perhaps partly because it makes food easier to find and partly because more birds can keep an eye out for predators. One study found that when titmice were removed from a flock, nuthatches were more wary and less willing to visit exposed bird feeders."

Enjoy!!
HAPPY SUPERBOWL SUNDAY!!
OH WHEN THE SAINTS...GO MARCHING IN..OH WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN..LALALALA ;)

I Saw Her Standing There

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:55:51 -0800

flipkeat posted a photo:

EXPLORE #17, Nov 3/09 FP Explore

View On Black

Do you ever take so many photos you can't decide which you like best? Basically that's what happened to me yesterday. I watched my backyard visitors for ages and took so many photos I just couldn't decide which one I liked best. I chose this one because it's plain and simple and I liked it...I hope you do too........Sometimes less IS better ;) This photo is NOT CROPPED or the colour changed in any way..........

I am so happy to have these beautiful Blue Jays as backyard visitors once again. We went two years without seeing even one in our backyard. They are so much fun to watch and see..They really are a beautiful bird I think........I hope you aren't bored from seeing them so much lately on my stream.

"Large crested songbird with broad, rounded tail. Blue Jays are smaller than crows, larger than robins."

Best viewed LARGE.

You Can't Always Get What You Want

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:26:56 -0700

flipkeat posted a photo:

EXPLORE #208, Oct 28/09

LARGEView On Black

LOL You know one of these Jay's didn't get that peanut right? hehehe OK OK Wanna know which one won the Nut-O-War? hahaha The feisty one on the right got the prize!!

Blue Jay's in flight
Flight Pattern: Direct flight with buoyant steady wing beats.
Wingspan Range: 41 cm (16 in)
Wing Shape: Rounded-Wings
Tail Shape: Fan-shaped Tail
Tail Pattern: Barred
Upper Tail: Blue with fine black bars.
Under Tail: White washed with gray.
Leg Color: Black

I'm happy to announce that this photo was chosen as one of 12 winners in the "David Suzuki Nature In The CIty" Photo Contest. My photo will fill the "March" spot in the 20th Anniversary Calendar for the David Suzuki Foundation. I'm thrilled to have been chosen and to have this photo associated with the DSF.

Congratulations to all the other winning photos!! All the winning photos can be viewed here:
www.flickr.com/photos/52119865@N08/galleries/721576246228...
Don't forget to visit The David Suzuki Foundation website shortly to order your Calendar:
www.davidsuzuki.org/

Best viewed LARGE ;)

Grand Theft Autumn

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:58:23 -0700

flipkeat posted a photo:

View On Black

Our weather sucks lately and I'm not motivated for my walk........rain and clouds boohoo..Yesterday I watched our backyard visitors from our Hot Tub lol sue me lol.. I lured the Blue Jays with peanuts and they didn't mind me being so close............;) Actually at one point there were 10 Jays on the deck rail...too quick for me though.

"Blue Jays make a large variety of calls that carry long distances. Most calls produced while the jay is perched within a tree. Usually flies across open areas silently, especially during migration. Stuffs food items in throat pouch to cache elsewhere; when eating, holds a seed or nut in feet and pecks it open."

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Best viewed LARGE.

Loves Me Like A Rock

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:25:35 -0700

flipkeat posted a photo:

EXPLORE #298, Sept 15/09

A little gem from my archives while I get caught up from our trip to Gatineau. Gotta fly..I'm busy busy busy today!! ;) I will be commenting a little later on.........Have a great day everyone!!

"The black knob at the base of the male Mute Swan's bill swells during the breeding season and becomes noticeably larger than the female's. The rest of the year the difference between the sexes is not obvious."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eDGUfvh6PQ
Enjoy! Best viewed LARGE!!

Total Eclipse Of The Heart

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:29:10 -0700

flipkeat posted a photo:

View On Black

These two beautiful Mute Swans sharing a tender moment together is a nice way of ending August don't you think? See you all in September!! ;)

•Large, all-white waterfowl.
•Long, curved neck.
•Orange bill and black face.

"The Mute Swan is reported to mate for life. However, changing of mates does occur infrequently, and swans will remate if their partner dies. If a male loses his mate and pairs with a young female, she joins him on his territory. If he mates with an older female, they go to hers. If a female loses her mate, she remates quickly and usually chooses a younger male."

Best viewed LARGE

Sunny Delight

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:05:41 -0700

flipkeat posted a photo:

EXPLORE #260, Aug 15/09

View On Black

These guys move so fast I was happy to finally catch a good shot of this quick White-breasted Nuthatch yesterday!!

"A common feeder bird with clean black, gray, and white markings, White-breasted Nuthatches are active, agile little birds with an appetite for insects and large, meaty seeds. They get their common name from their habit of jamming large nuts and acorns into tree bark, then whacking them with their sharp bill to “hatch” out the seed from the inside. White-breasted Nuthatches may be small but their voices are loud, and often their insistent nasal yammering will lead you right to them."

Best viewed LARGE!!

Lookin Out My Back Door

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 04:49:23 -0700

flipkeat posted a photo:

Yesterday morning we had about 8 Blue Jay's come to visit. I grabbed my camera and quietly opened my back door and this one was waiting just for me........As soon as I clicked the shutter he flew away..........(wish the light had been better..) I think the house was creating shade at this time of the morning..Oh well...........

•The pigment in Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is brown. The blue color is caused by scattering light through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs.
•The black bridle across the face, nape, and throat varies extensively and may help Blue Jays recognize one another.
•The oldest known wild, banded Blue Jay lived to be at least 17 years 6 months old.

Enjoy!! Have a great day everyone!

A Little Bit You A Little Bit Me

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:17:12 -0700

flipkeat posted a photo:

Yesterday I was delighted to see a family of Trumpeter Swans...These two were the young cygnets who were enjoying our mild temperatures of 17C in these shallow waters..I haven't seen the Trumpeter Swans all winter.......These two were tagged H47 & E65.

"Young trumpeter swans, or cygnets, are typically grey with grey-pink legs, feet and bills. The brassy trumpet-like call for which the species is named helps distinguish trumpeters from the tundra swan, whose voice is softer and more melodious. The wedge-shaped bill of the trumpeter swan also helps to differentiate it from the smaller tundra swan, which has a sloped bill."

"Trumpeter Swans are the largest waterfowl in all of North America. Their wingspan can reach three meters, or ten feet. The male, known as a cob, averages 12kg fully grown, while the female, known as a pen, averages 10kg. In flight, an adult Trumpeter Swan can reach up to 80km/h (50mph), and during migration, their normal cruising speed is 50km/h (30mph)."

Enjoy!! Best viewed LARGE.

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling ;)

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:32:20 -0700

flipkeat posted a photo:

View On Black

Ok I'm 1/2 Irish ;) and my Irish eyes were smiling watching this beautiful Mute Swan recently.

"The black knob at the base of the male Mute Swan's bill swells during the breeding season and becomes noticeably larger than the female's. The rest of the year the difference between the sexes is not obvious."

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!! :)
Best viewed LARGE. (sorries everyone I've been busy lately..am gonna try to catch up today!!)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xn7rjlOxfc&feature=player_em...

Close To You

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:34:19 -0800

flipkeat posted a photo:

View On Black

I went back to the spot where I saw the Cardinals in this Rose Hip bush last week. Guess who was hiding in the branches? Yup, they were all there taking in in the sun. This bush is on the edge of the creek and I was able to get close without them seeing me. I took this shot through the branches with 10 Cardinals there.........lol No kidding it was quite something.

"Only a few female North American songbirds sing, but the female Northern Cardinal does, and often while sitting on the nest. This may give the male information about when to bring food to the nest. A mated pair shares song phrases, but the female may sing a longer and slightly more complex song than the male."

Happy Tuesday everyone.

Ruby Tuesday

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:06:03 -0800

flipkeat posted a photo:

View On Black

Yesterday's lack of sunshine didn't motivate me to go on my walk...However, sometimes I find great opportunities right in my own backyard..This beautiful male Northern Cardinal sat for the longest time in our Douglas Fir tree. I only wish there had been some sunlight to shine on his beautiful plumage. That would have been asking too much right? lol Enjoy!

"This species, named after the red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals."

"Description: Northern Cardinals are a medium-sized songbird (approximately 8.75 inches in length) with short, rounded wings, a long tail, a heavy conical bill, and a crest. Males are nearly all brilliant red; brownish-gray-tinged scapular and back feathers give the upper parts a less colorful appearance. The coral red bill is surrounded by a mask of black that extends to a dark eye and includes the chin and throat. Legs and feet are dark red."

"Cardinals are nomadic, and the Cardinals that visit your backyard feeder may not be the same individuals from week to week."

I dedicate Ruby Tuesday to my flickr friend Claudio Marcio Lopes. This one is for you Claudio ;) ♥

www.flickr.com/photos/81124164@N00/

THIS PHOTO IS NOT CROPPED! Enjoy!

My Favourite Mistake

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:12:16 -0800

flipkeat posted a photo:

EXPLORE #286. Nov 22/09

View On Black

Ok I admit I've had this one on my screensaver now for awhile and have to admit I like it lol ;) This quick bluejay was just too quick for me lol ;) Still I like the image and decided to share this one with you. This photo is NOT cropped!! :)

Happy Sunday everyone!!

I Will Not Go Quietly

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:44:48 -0800

flipkeat posted a photo:

View On Black

Yesterday on my walk I saw and counted 9 woodpeckers all together clustered in amongst this grouping of trees..The weather was cloudy and the light was dim I was lucky to even get a good chance at a photo......I tried to get some of them together but they work fast and fly around so much I had many missed opportunities...boohoo..I enjoyed listening and watching this particular noisy Hairy Woodie for some time before he flew away. Man are they LOUD!!!

"The Hairy Woodpecker is virtually identical in plumage to the much smaller Downy Woodpecker, which also has a shorter bill relative to the size of its head."

"The Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) is a medium-sized woodpecker, averaging approximately 250 mm (9.75 inches) in length with a 380 mm (15 inch) wingspan"

"The best way to tell the two species apart other than the size is the lack of spots on its white tail feathers (which the Downy has)."

Have a great weekend everyone.

Icterus galbula

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:31:34 -0700

flipkeat posted a photo:

View On Black

I hear these beauties but I hardly ever see them. This handsome male Baltimore Oriole sure caught my eye! I was happy to have had my tele-conversion lens on my little sony. Watching this guy was killing my neck he was up so high ;) It was worth it to finally get some clear shots of this beauty.

"The Baltimore Oriole received its name from the fact that the male's colors resembled those on the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore."

"A group of orioles are collectively known as a "pitch" and a "split" of orioles."

"Male Description
Head, throat, mantle, wings, and tail black. Underparts, shoulders, tip and edges of tail, and rump orange to yellow orange. May be deeper orange on chest. Single white wingbar; orange shoulder makes a second wingbar. Bill pointed and silvery."

Enjoy!!

Do You Know the Way to San José

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:36:03 -0700

flipkeat posted a photo:

View On Black

I put out a basin of water for my backyard visitors as our birdbath had been leaking and was in need of repair. With our high temps we've been having here in Southern Ontario my backyard friends quickly came to cool off......This young Jay took no time to get used to the idea and enjoyed the cool water.......

"Blue jays are natural forest dwellers, but they are also highly adaptable and intelligent birds. They are a familiar and noisy presence around many North American bird feeders. The blue jay's "Jay! Jay!" call is only one of a wide variety of sounds the bird employs—including excellent imitations of several hawk calls."

"The pigment in Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is brown. The blue color is caused by scattering light through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs."

"The black bridle across the face, nape, and throat varies extensively and may help Blue Jays recognize one another."

Enjoy! Best viewed LARGE.

You Light Up My Life

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:55:41 -0700

flipkeat posted a photo:

EXPLORE #137, July 27/09

View On Black

Whenever I see the Trumpeter Swans spread their wings I can almost start singing "you light up my life" lol ;) There is no way you can't smile when you see them do this......Epecially in the shadows of the sunshine.........They just look so beautiful don't they?

"Ontario’s Trumpeters are marked with yellow wing tags. In a typical year, observers report 300-360 individuals. Once a number is read and reported, the data can be entered to help track that bird’s movements, habitat use and reproductive success. Data from tagged bird sightings allows biologists to produce a genetic family tree and to record population growth and range extension. This past year 116 birds were marked in Ontario."

Save the Trumpeter Swan VIdeo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQPNbMMs7Zg

Have a great day.

Best viewed LARGE.

Redneck

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:14:45 -0700

flipkeat posted a photo:

EXPLORE #226, June 16/09

View On Black

Yesterday I finally got a chance to go for my walk. I spotted this Red-necked Grebe basking in the sunshine. I have never seen one of these birds on my walks by Lake Ontario.......(It was a first for me)....Also, this one was very comfortable with me getting so close..It was my lucky day!! ;)

"Adult Description
Medium-sized waterbird; large grebe.
Bill is large, straight, and sharp.
Breeding adult has a rufous neck, pale gray or white cheeks, and a black cap.
Nonbreeding adult has gray neck and cheeks."

"Length
16.9–22 in
43–56 cm
Wingspan
24–34.6 in
61–88 cm
Weight
28.2–56.4 oz
800–1600 g"

Enjoy!! Best viewed LARGE.

Get Back

nobody@flickr.com (flipkeat) — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:06:17 -0700

flipkeat posted a photo:

EXPLORE #485, May 16/09

View On Black

I saw this cutie yesterday sitting underneath a park bench........I sat across from her with my camera and she never moved even though I was only a few feet away...Looks like she rather enjoyed the company lol ;) I should mention also that this photo IS NOT CROPPED. Funny but I wasn't going to walk around the area where I found this sitting duck..I'm glad I did though ;)

"Brownish all over with mottled streaking of buff, white, and dark brown. Face paler than body. Dark line through eye. Dark streak on crown. Belly pale. Tail whitish. Undertail pale. Bill orange or yellow marked with variable splotches of black. Legs red-orange."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlWFpdPX45g
Enjoy ...Best viewed LARGE.