the party / December 17

The red-tailed hawk was watching from his tree today.  My artist also group had a little holiday get together. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), red-tailed hawk, chickadee

Fall visitors: junco

December 16 / the chill

Extreme cold warning issued in Toronto - when temperature will be minus 15 without the windchill. 

Common birds: house sparrow, downy woodpecker (pair), cardinal (pair), mourning dove, red-breasted nuthatch

Fall visitors: junco

Overhead: gull

the goldfinch / December 15

Among the birds today was a goldfinch.  It's harder to spot them in winter because their colour becomes duller olive, and not so yellow. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), downy woodpecker (male), chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, goldfinch, house sparrow

Fall visitors: junco

December 14 / the kittens

Had to shovel the driveway this morning - thankfully not single handed.  Got some groceries, stopped for bacon and egg lunch, then popped into the pet store for fun.  Two adorable 5 month old ginger kittens, waiting to be adopted.  It would not take much to convince me, if I didn't already have a cat!

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), chickadee, mourning dove

Fall visitors: junco

the 13th / December 13

Friday the 13th.  Lots of birds again.  I saw something fly by the front yard, I think it was a hawk, but it was too quick for me. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), downy woodpecker (female), chickadee

Fall visitors: junco, carolina wren

Overhead: gull, hawk??

December 12 / the sun

Still cold, but a sunny day, which both the birds and I are enjoying.  A trio of house finches in the garden today, two females and a male I believe. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), red-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker (female), house finch (pair), chickadee

Fall visitors: junco

the cold (again) / December 11

The birds seem to be staying warm somewhere today.

Common birds: house sparrow

December 10 / Human Rights Day

Cold again, though happily not experiencing the freezing rain we saw some of yesterday. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house sparrow

Fall visitors: junco

the cold / December 9

It's cold!  Maybe the birds don't like it either?

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (female)

Fall visitors: junco

December 8 / the sushi

So, I had a quiet day in, having been busy going downtown and out locally several times this week - which was not a bad thing by any means, but nice to take a break.  I even decided not to cook dinner, and ordered sushi instead.

Common birds: house sparrow

the win / December 7

Liverpool won again today!

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), starling, chickadee, goldfinch, mourning dove

Fall visitors: junco

December 4-6 / the town

Downtown a couple of times.

Common birds: house sparrow

Fall visitors: junco

Overhead: gull

the train / December 3

Made it to the One of a Kind Show this afternoon, didn't see it all, but stopped to chat with some friends.  Also went to our artists' meeting in Port Credit. 

Common birds: cardinal (male), house sparrow

December 2 / the pause

A quiet day.

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair)

Fall visitors: junco

the OOAK / December 1

Definitely have a cold, staying at home again.  I was going to go the the One of a Kind Show, but will have to go on a different day. 

Common birds: house sparrow, downy woodpecker (male)

Fall visitors: junco

November 30 / St. Andrew's Day

I think I have my friend's cold, but luckily I don't have to do much today. 

Common birds: house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker, cardinal (pair)

Fall visitors: junco

the set-up / November 29

More arts work today - hung some work in a local coffee shop this morning. 

Common birds: cardinal (male), house sparrow, chickadee

Fall visitors: junco

November 28 / the trumpet

I spent much of the day downtown, dropped off some work for a holiday pop-up shop, and went to a matinee at the TSO, including some Mahler and Alison Balsom playing trumpet. 

Common birds: house sparrow

Fall visitors: junco

the teeth / November 27

Dental checkup!  A little bird visited the feeder this morning, which I think was a carolina wren - reddish brown, buff chest, light eye bar, long 'perked' tail, some dark flecks around the base of the tail.  Also dropped off some silk clutches to a local shop. 

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, cardinal (pair), downy woodpecker

Fall visitors: junco, carolina wren

November 26 / the treacle

Had a lunch and baking day with a friend - showed her how to make a treacle tart.

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, cardinal (pair)

Fall visitors: junco

the mondays / November 25

I have some catching up to do again!

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, mourning dove

Fall visitors: junco

Overhead: gull

November 24 / the goals

Watched an EPL soccer match this morning, 6-0 score!

Common birds: chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, house sparrow

Fall visitors: junco

the doctor / November 23

Day of the Doctor!

Common birds: house sparrow, downy woodpecker (female), cardinal (pair)

Fall visitors: junco

November 22 / the groceries

Errand running today.


Common birds: starling, downy woodpecker

the buddies / November 21

Visited my sister, niece and their dog this afternoon.

Common birds: cardinal (male), house sparrow

Fall visitors: junco

November 20 / wrap-up pt. 2

Mum continued sorting out the garden, I got quite a bit of sewing done. 

Common birds: blue jay, house sparrow, downy woodpecker, chickadee

Fall visitors: junco

the sortout / November 19

Have been sorting through my stores of paper scraps - scrapbooking, card making, collage, etc.  Tossed some of it, organized other parts, and going to make some cards from other bits. 

Common birds: house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, cardinal (pair), downy woodpecker, starling

Fall visitors: junco

November 18 / the wrap-up

Spent much of the day outside with my mum, getting the garden ready for winter. 

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee

Fall visitors: junco

the observer / November 17

Saw the hawk today!  He, she or it likes that tree - it can see well from up there. 

Common birds: house sparrow, red-tailed hawk

Fall visitors: junco

November 16 / the Santa

Went shopping for some sewing supplies today.  Also watched the Oakville Santa Claus parade.  Was out most of the day, so not watching my own yard, but did see a number of Canada geese.

Common birds: Canada geese

the half / November 15

Halfway through November already. 

Common birds: house sparrow, blue jay, chickadee

Fall visitors: junco

November 14 / the ID

A few of the usual birds, lots of sparrows at the feeder.  Also, a great view of a small bird of prey in the tall tree, where they seem to like to perch - great view for hunting I imagine!  I have mentioned seeing a small bird of prey a couple of times in the past few weeks, and have called it the American kestrel.  Whatever I have seen before, which may well have been a kestrel, I am quite sure that today's was not a kestrel.  Rather, I think it was a merlin.  It was dark brown, light under the chin, yellow legs, heavily streaked breast, and distinctly barred tail (underside), smooth and pointed wings, and a quick flyer. 

It could, maybe, have been a young peregrine falcon, but I doubt that, they are a few inches bigger than the merlin (though sizes do overlap), and rare, and the streaking pattern is different, based on pictures I've compared.  

I dismissed the merlin as a likely ID for what I saw previously because it is an 'occasional' in this region, the kestrel's range fits well.

Common birds: house sparrow, mourning dove, cardinal (pair)

Fall visitors: junco, merlin (??)

the raking / November 13

I raked a lot of leaves from the backyard today.  There were quite a few birds, including a lot of starlings. 

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, mourning dove, robin, house finch (male), cardinal (pair), downy woodpecker (male), starling

Fall visitors: junco

November 12 / the approach

It's clear that winter is coming, like it or not.  On an unrelated note, there was a cat in the garden today, sitting right underneath the bird feeder, in plain sight.  It seemed to be hoping one of the birds would fly into its mouth. 

Common birds: cardinal (male), house sparrow, blue jay, mourning dove

Fall visitors: junco

the 11th day / November 11

Lest we forget.

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (male), blue jay, mourning dove

Fall visitors: junco

Overhead: gull

November 10 / the Sunday

A quiet day in. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (male)

Fall visitors: junco

the movie / November 9

Saw a film of the opera Aida this afternoon.

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee

Fall visitors: junco

November 8 / the shop

Went to the bookstore yesterday, holiday shopping has begun.

Common birds: house sparrow, robin

Fall visitors: junco

the workshop / November 7

Went downtown this evening to a workshop (arts related).  Saw a bird, I think a hawk or falcon, but it was getting dark and hard to know what it was exactly. It was in a small treetop, seen from the car.  It wasn't a red-tailed hawk, too small. 

Common birds: house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, cardinal (female)

Fall visitors: junco

Unidentified: bird of prey (small hawk/falcon??)

the chop / November 6

Got my haircut!  Much overdue.

Common birds: chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, house sparrow, starling, blue jay, mourning dove, cardinal (female)

Fall visitors: junco

November 5 / the fifth

Guy Fawkes night (UK)!

Common birds: chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, house sparrow, cardinal (male)

Fall visitors: junco

the habit / November 4

I was looking out the window at the right moment today as the hawk landed on top of the tall tree.  It's nice to see it there often, there was quite a while were we didn't see it up there. 

Common birds: starling, house sparrow, blue jay, cardinal (pair), robin, red-tailed hawk

Fall visitors: junco

November 3 / the time

The clocks went back an hour overnight, and the extra hour sleep is nice, though it also now feels later at night than it is.

Common birds: chickadee, house sparrow, robin, cardinal (pair), mourning dove, downy woodpecker (male), starling, red-breasted nuthatch

Fall visitors: junco

the symphony / November 2

Great evening out!

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), robin, chickadee

Fall visitors: junco

November 1 / the tea

It's November?!

Common birds: chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, house sparrow

Fall visitors: junco

the treats / October 31

Happy Halloween!  Watched the red-tailed hawk sitting in the tree just after lunchtime today. 

Common birds: house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, red-tailed hawk

Fall visitors: junco

October 30 / the housefinch

I haven't been seeing the housefinches lately, but I did see one today. 

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, cardinal (pair), robin, starling, housefinch, downy woodpecker (female), blue jay

Fall visitors: junco

Overhead: gull

the hairy / October 29

The hawk perched on the tree again today.  I saw the downy woodpecker male, and either saw it again, or saw a hairy woodpecker.  The two are very similar, the hairy a little bigger, and this seemed a bit bigger than what I often see, but I might be wrong on that. 

Common birds: house sparrow, downy woodpecker (male), starling, blue jay, red-tailed hawk

Fall visitors: junco

Unidentified/maybe: hairy woodpecker??

October 28 / the post-season

Some garden tidying and leaf raking got done (not by me!) today.  I brought in some more beets and carrots from the garden. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, downy woodpecker, cardinal (female)

Fall visitors: junco

the second / October 27

Day two - better weather for it!

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal, chickadee

Fall visitors: junco

October 26 / the tour

Day one of a two day show, so not much birding! 

Common birds: house sparrow

Fall visitors: junco

the thrush / October 25

I've got an art/craft show this weekend, so I was setting up this afternoon, with help!  At the late end of the afternoon when we came home, there was a thrush on the fence, which we watched for a minute before it hopped away.  Unsurprisingly, we can't be certain what it was, but based on the look of it, and the maps in the guide book, it was probably a veery. 

Common birds: house sparrow, junco, cardinal (male), starling

Fall visitors: veery??

October 24 / the junco

I've thought I might have seen them, maybe, a few times since the weather started cooling down, but decided it was probably not, more likely the chickadees, and may well have been.  Today, I saw one - a junco.  They return when the weather cools, leaving for more northern areas in the spring.  They're pretty birds, but it means the colder weather really is here. 

Common birds: downy woodpecker, cardinal (male), chickadee, house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, robin

Fall visitors: golden-crowned kinglet, junco

the errands / October 22 & 23

I've been doing useful things, like running errands.  Tuesday I noticed a few birds, Wednesday I was out most of the day. 

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch

October 21 / the hide and seek

I have a 'maybe' bird today - it may have been a brown creeper.  It was in one of the spruce trees, up and down the trunk, but it was hidden enough that I can't confirm this, it could easily have been the woodpecker, which I know I also saw. 

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker (male), cardinal (pair), goldfinch

Fall visitors: golden-crowned kinglet

Overhead: gull

the treetop / October 20

A hawk was sitting on top of the big evergreen today.  I wanted to try to take a picture, but as I went outside, it flew off. 

Common birds: robin, starling, red-tailed hawk

October 19 / the preserving

I decided to make something from the green tomatoes, before they spoiled entirely.  I picked them over, and even then had 4 pounds of usable fruit.  I made chutney with them, which I will be sharing with some friends or family, there's quite a bit of it.  I also wrapped a few whole green tomatoes in newspaper again, hoping to ripen them faster than they spoil. 

Not very many birds around, perhaps sheltering from the rainy weather.  

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (male)

Fall visitors: golden-crowned kinglet

the rot / October 18

To my annoyance, many of the green tomatoes I brought in, worrying about the cold, are turning brown, and going moldy.  I don't know if leaving them on the vine would have been smarter, or bringing them in earlier.  I've had them wrapped in newspaper, which is supposed to help green tomatoes ripen, and I have successfully ripened some a little earlier in the season. 

I saw at least 8 hawks overhead today.  I'm assuming they were red-tailed, although they looked dark, that could have been the light conditions.  

Common birds: blue jay, house sparrow, chickadee

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

October 17 / the buns

I made some potato bread buns today.  I haven't tasted them, but they smelled great. 

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, starling, red-breasted nuthatch, blue jay, goldfinch, cardinal (pair)

Overhead: gull

the tapper / October 16

In addition to a significant number of sparrows, I saw a couple of other birds today, one of which came as quite a surprise - not because of what it was, but where it was.  I heard a tapping noise, and thought it was probably coming from the other person in the house, but when I followed the sound, I discovered that it was the downy woodpecker, hanging off the eaves.  It was pecking at the wood near one of the holes the bees made earlier in the summer, so perhaps there are insects in there. 

I heard some bird calls, but am not able to say for sure what they were, it sounded like chickadees, maybe a red-wing blackbird as well. 

Common birds: house sparrow, downy woodpecker, cardinal (female), starling

Fall visitors: ruby-crowned kinglet

October 15 / the holiday

Saw some geese flying over again today. 

Common birds: starling, house sparrow, blue jay, house finch (pair), chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker (male)

Overhead: gull, Canada goose

the harvest / October 14

It's getting cooler, particularly at night, and I don't think the tomatoes are liking it.  They don't withstand frost well, and although we haven't had any frost warnings I've heard about, the leaves are withering, and some of the fruit has blemishes.  Today I picked the largest of the remaining fruits, I've left the smaller ones, hoping to give them a little more time on the vine, but might have to give in because the forecast later in the week is cooler again.  They can be ripened off the vine, so I hope I manage to save most of them. 

Also, there were a number of hawks high above today, I counted 9.  

Common birds: house sparrow, blue jay, red-breasted nuthatch, chickadee, starling, downy woodpecker (male), house finch (female)

Fall visitors: golden-crowned kinglet, ruby crowned kinglet

Overhead: red-tailed hawk, gull

October 13 / the thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!  Having dinner with friends, making cranberry sauce, and a couple of other dishes to bring with me. 

Common birds: house sparrow, blue jay

the heron / October 12

Looked out my window as a great blue heron flew over today. 

Common birds: house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, chickadee, starling, house finch (male), blue jay, robin, cardinal (pair)

Fall visitors: golden-crowned kinglet, red-wing blackbird

Overhead: great blue heron, gull

October 11 / the games

Watched a some soccer on TV, got some sewing done, and watched a few birds. 

Common birds: starling, cardinal (male), downy woodpecker, chickadee, blue jay, house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, robin

Fall visitors: golden-crowned kinglet, ruby-crowned kinglet

Overhead: gull

the potato / October 10

My potato plant is getting so big it's funny.  I brought in one potato from it today, it was sitting on the surface of the soil.  I hope there will be a few more, though harvest is supposed to be after the plant stops blooming, and before/during die-back of the leaves, so I'm leaving it alone for now.

Common birds: house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, starling, blue jay, downy woodpecker (male), chickadee

October 9 / the predators

I saw two birds of prey today.  At the very top of the tall evergreen out back, first I saw the small bird of prey I mentioned recently, which I am guessing to be the American kestrel, which flew off, and was soon replaced on the same perch by the red-tailed hawk, which is about twice as big.

I also saw a sparrow, which was either the white-throated sparrow, as seen a few days ago, or the white crowned sparrow, which I think it was, but couldn't see its throat clearly enough to be certain.

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, downy woodpecker, red-tailed hawk, grackle, mourning dove

Fall visitors: American kestrel, white crowned (or white throated?) sparrow

the vireo / October 8

A few birds today, including one I haven't identified yet, though I think it was a vireo of some sort.  It was small, with a cream belly, grey head, olive back/yellow-olive sides, thin black eye bars with a white bar between, lower beak lighter (grey) than upper (black).

Common birds: downy woodpecker, chickadee, house sparrow

Fall visitors: ruby-crowned kinglet, golden-crowned kinglet

Uncertain: vireo?

October 6 & 7 / the opera

On the 6th, I was rather busy with other things, including a matinee opera treat for my birthday.  I saw some birds on the 7th, but I either didn't write them down, or can't find the notes I made.  Likely mostly the usual birds, though on one day recently, I saw the white-throated sparrow. 

Fall visitors: white-throated sparrow

the soccer / October 5

Saturdays are often soccer watching for me, as today was. 

Common birds: house sparrow, starling, red-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker

October 4 / the evening

Spent much of the day getting some sewing work done. 

Common birds: house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, chickadee, downy woodpecker

 Fall visitors: nashville warbler

the geese / October 2 & 3

I wasn't spending much time birdwatching.  Instead, I picked up a lot of my work from the shop in Craighurst where it had been since June, and visited with my sister.  Although there were a number of birds visible from the car, it was too hard to tell what they were mostly, but there were a large number of Canada geese together. 

Common birds: chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, Canada goose

October 1 / the kinglets

The nuthatches, and there were at least two, were happy that I put more seed in the feeder today.  There were also at least two golden-crowned kinglets in the spruce trees this afternoon. 

Common birds: house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker (female), chickadee, starling

Fall visitors: yellow-bellied sapsucker, golden-crowned kinglet

the damp / September 30

It rained.  After days of lovely weather, though, a day of rain wasn't so awful.  It wasn't cold.

Common birds: house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch

Sept 28 & 29 / the arts

On the 28th I didn't spend time birdwatching, I was out much of the day at Doors Open & Culture Days, seeing various arts and culture venues in the city. 

The 29th was a lovely sunny day, but I seem to be fighting a cold and chose to rest.

Common birds (29th): house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker

the brown creeper / September 27

Sat outside enjoying the weather for a while.  It's fall, and feels like it, but still warm and sunny. 

Common birds: house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, chickadee, downy woodpecker, starling, blue jay, goldfinch

Fall visitors: yellow-bellied sapsucker, brown creeper

Overhead: gull

September 26 / the food

Saw fewer things today, though I also spent less time outdoors looking.  I was busy with family and friends.  This did include bringing in some more beets, some carrots, and even  a few brussels sprouts from the garden, which became part of dinner.  My potato plant has grown a lot, and I checked the base for signs of potato the other day, and found one!  I decided they could use some more time so I left it alone.  The kitchen is well stocked with tomatoes, too. 

Common birds: house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, blue jay, chickadee, robin, cardinal (pair), starling

Fall visitors: yellow-bellied sapsucker

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

the sapsucker Pt. 2 / September 25

I can't tag/label all of the birds in one post due to character restrictions! 

the sapsucker / September 25

Well the birds kept me busy today.  I've found that over the past few days, the late morning/lunchtime is the time I see the most activity in the garden.  It also seems the fall migration is underway, based on the variety of bird life. 

The flycatcher is still confusing.  I think it's the eastern phoebe, but it's hard to get a great look.  I did see whatever it is today.

I also had other surprises - one being the presence of one or more yellow bellied sapsuckers, actually in my neighbour's big trees, but visible from my garden.  The other was the little red-breasted nuthatch, which is not uncommon, but I was standing under 3 feet away from the suet feeder, when the nuthatch came to eat.  Although the nuthatch never sits still for long, it was there longer than I expected, I just stood still and watched.

There were a couple of hawks, they seemed small, but they may just have been high up.  It wasn't the kestrel, as that had sharp wings, so probably the red-tailed we often see here. 

Common birds:  house sparrow, cardinal (male), blue jay, grackle, starling, chickadee, robin, goldfinch (pair), downy woodpecker, mourning dove

Fall visitors: brown creeper, nashville warbler, yellow bellied sapsucker, flicker, black throated green warbler, ruby-crowned kinglet, golden-crowned kinglet, white throated sparrow, eastern phoebe (?)

Overhead: gull, Canada goose, hawk(?)

September 24 / the whatsits

No shortage of activity in the garden today.  A somewhat chilly morning turned into a sunny afternoon, with some birds that are proving a challenge.  A hawk, which may have been the usual red-tailed hawk, flew over.  A flycatcher of some sort was sitting in our viburnum, and a little warbler like bird was in the trees.  The flycatcher, I refer back to May's post, "the flycatcher debate".  Today it had its back to me.  It had a thin tail, ashy grey, light underside, slight eye ring, and I didn't see wing bars, but didn't get a great look.  The small least flycatcher has a strong white eye ring, and may be too small.  The eastern phoebe lacks wing bars, and has an all black bill.  I think this may be what I saw today.  The third possibility is the eastern pewee, which is similar, but has wing bars, and a yellowish lower bill.  The warbler was smooth taupey grey, with a light buff underside, white and black wing bars, and white and black stripes on its head.  I can't find anything that matches.  It could be a first-year, or non-breeding bird, which sometimes have different plumage.  At first, I thought it was a golden crowned kinglet, but that doesn't fit, nor does a worm-eating warbler, which lacks wing bars. 

Common birds: house sparrow, blue jay, grackle, starling, chickadee, downy woodpecker (male), cardinal (male), mourning dove, red-breasted nuthatch

Fall visitors: eastern phoebe (?), warbler (?)

Overhead: gull, hawk(?)

the flicker / September 23

Yesterday I was out all day and didn't really see much bird activity.  Today, the first day of autumn, a different story.  I was home, and around lunchtime saw quite a few birds, including a robin, which I haven't seen for a while.  I was starting to wonder if they'd already left.  There were several (3-4) hawks flying overhead, and a small bird of prey with a thin tail and sharp wings, which I think was an American kestrel.  It was flying overhead as well, and very fast. 

I saw a nashville warbler, and a warbler I'm not entirely sure about - it was either a magnolia, or a Canada warbler, and I think magnolia is more likely, but although I saw it twice, it was moving around too much for a good look.  There was also another little bird, which may have been the nashville again, or may have been something else.  I only saw the head (olive) and chest (yellow), no distinct eye markings. 

Common birds: house sparrow, blue jay, cardinal (male), chickadee, robin, downy woodpecker (female)

Fall visitors: nashville warbler, common flicker, magnolia warbler (?)

Overhead: gull, red-tailed hawk, american kestrel (?)

September 21 / the summer

It rained most of the day, but is likely to be nicer tomorrow, the last day of the summer. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair)

the kitchen / September 20

I haven't seen many birds in the past 2-3 days, but I have been keeping an eye on my tomatoes, which are ripening steadily now.  I have been picking both the Brandywine and Mountain Glory for a while, most of the cherry tomatoes (Sweet 100 and Tiny Tim) are done.  There are a good number of tomatoes on the kitchen counter. 

Sept. 20 Common birds: house sparrow, blue jay

Sept. 18-19 Common birds: house sparrow, blue jay, chickadee, cardinal (pair)

September 1-17 / the rest

I haven't been updating.  I hope to get back into the swing of it, starting with this summary of what has been around recently.  Daily updates for the first half of September aren't happening, I haven't kept track closely, and I may forget about some, but I have seen a few interesting things recently, so here goes -

Note: some have been seen several times, some not as much, and I am not attempting to count how many times for each.

I saw a nashville warbler a few days ago, and have seen two I haven't got a solid ID for.  First, a few days ago, a little bird I am assuming is a warbler of some kind, with a grey head, olive back, no eye bar, cream underside, with sunny yellow flanks (sides), and a light coloured noticeable wing bar.  Today, a small bird, yellow chest, olive face & back, two light wing bars with dark in between. 

Common birds (Sept. 1-17): house sparrow, goldfinch, cardinal (pair), blue jay, chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker, ruby-throated hummingbird, mourning dove

Overhead: gull, red-tailed hawk

Summer visitors: nashville warbler

Uncertain: yellow throated vireo?, warbler?

the pickings / August 31

I brought in the first dozen or so (actually, 11 I think) of my beets from the garden.  There are more, but as some were planted later, they need to grow some more. 

Common birds: house sparrow, grackle, mourning dove, chickadee

Heard: blue jay

August 30 / the snowbirds

I saw the Snowbirds!  The Snowbirds are not birds, though, they are Canada's air show demonstration team.  There's an air show in Toronto on Labour Day weekend (which is this weekend) every year. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), goldfinch (female), mourning dove, chickadee, robin

Overhead: gull

the buzz / August 29

I saw a cicada today - it landed on my tomato plants while I was picking some.  I hear them regularly in the summer, but don't often see them.  Also, something laid some little white, round eggs on one of the tomato leaves.  I've removed it from the plant, but I'd like to find out what they might be if I can.  I saw a butterfly down the street from here, I think it was a monarch.

Common birds: cardinal (female), house sparrow, chickadee

August 28 / the tape

My tomato plants are getting heavy, between being rained on, and the fruit growing nearer the tops.  A couple of stems are bent, one is broken.  For now, I've taped it in place, though I think cutting it and putting the end in the soil might be better. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, cardinal (female), starling (?), downy woodpecker (female)

the afternoon / August 27

Friends took me over to their place for the afternoon, we did a little pruning and so on in their yard.  Although not in my yard, I did see a couple of red-tailed hawks on our way over. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair)

Heard: blue jay

August 26 / the water

It rained - heavily.  August has been dry, so it's a good thing overall.  It was stormy at times, with clear patches.  I did get a few minutes in the garden, though. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (male)

the big and small / August 25

Enjoyed a sit outside in sunny weather.  A couple of red-tailed hawks circled high overhead, a great blue heron flew by, and a tiny hummingbird visited the rose of sharon.  The nuthatch stopped at both the seed and the fat feeders.  I also saw a monarch butterfly. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house sparrow, robin, starling, red-breasted nuthatch, goldfinch (male)

Summer visitors: ruby-throated hummingbird

Overhead: red-tailed hawk, great blue heron

Heard: blue jay

August 24 / the helicopter

An orange helicopter flew over the yard this afternoon. 

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, goldfinch (male), robin, grackle, cardinal (pair), red-breasted nuthatch

the fruit / August 23

Brought in the first of the Mountain Glory tomatoes - that's one of the two large types I put in this season.  Two of them, and more are beginning to ripen.

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, starling, cardinal (pair), chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, mourning dove

August 22 / the taste test

I ate the carrot - it was sweet, so I hope the rest will be as nice.  I am also enjoying the cherry tomatoes, and it won't be long before the first of the large tomatoes are ready to pick.

I also think that I have figured out the warbler from Saturday's post - a chestnut-sided warbler in *non-breeding* colours, which are quite different from the breeding colours, and would explain why I didn't recognize it as one. 

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee

the carrots / August 21

Picked one of my carrots to see how close they are to being ready.  They're coming along, but I'll leave them a week or two at least. 

Common birds: mourning dove, cardinal (pair), house sparrow, chickadee, grackle

Heard: blue jay

August 20 / the beak

After the cooler weather, it now feels more like summer again.  I saw the oriole, and a little bird with a long, curved beak.  It looked like a sparrow until I saw the beak, and although I can't figure out what type, I think it was a wren. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, cardinal (pair), grackle, starling, red-breasted nuthatch, housefinch (pair), goldfinch (female), mourning dove, chickadee, downy woodpecker (male)

Summer visitors: baltimore oriole

Uncertain: wren?

Overhead: gull

the group / August 19

There were lots of grackles around this evening.  I thought they would be starlings because of the numbers, but binoculars proved them to be mostly grackles.  Several of them ended up on our lawn, and fat feeder, along with starlings and a few red-wing blackbirds. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), goldfinch (pair), robin, mourning dove, grackle, starling, chickadee

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

Overhead: gull

Heard: blue jay

August 18 / the sprinkler

This evening I saw what I think was a group of cedar waxwings.  It was hard to tell, between the light conditions and their constant moving around.  I did see the crested head, so they were either waxwings or cardinals, and in a group waxwings is more probable.  Earlier in the afternoon, I ran the sprinkler to water the garden, and managed to get in the way of the water almost every time I moved it to a different spot. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house sparrow, goldfinch (male), starling, robin, chickadee, mourning dove

Overhead: gull

Uncertain: cedar waxwing??

the puzzle / August 17

Two birds I can't identify today.  One brown, on a tree trunk.  I am guessing it was a brown creeper, which we have seen around before, but I just didn't get a good look at this one.
The other, a warbler, or something similar.  Small and warbler like in size, shape, and movement, with a straight, sharp beak, white eye ring, 2 white wing bars with a black bar between them, distinct olive on its cap and back, strong grey on its tail, wings, back and face (above the beak), whitish chin, chest, belly to the start of the tail.  No streaking, no eye bar, and no yellow.

My first reaction was a ruby-crowned kinglet, second was a northern parula warbler, but neither is right. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), mourning dove, red-breasted nuthatch, chickadee, starling, robin, goldfinch (male)

Overhead: gull

Heard: blue jay

Uncertain: brown creeper?, warbler?

August 16 / the ferns

The garden is dry.  I have been trying to water as needed, but the ferns were looking pretty tired today.  Hopefully they will look better tomorrow!

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), house finch (male), mourning dove, robin, starling, chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, goldfinch (pair), downy woodpecker

the return / August 15

The nuthatch was around several times today, at first I thought it was the chickadee.  The chickadees were out as well. 

Common birds: house sparrow, house finch (pair), cardinal (pair), starling, robin, red-breasted nuthatch, chickadee

Overhead: gull

August 14 / the hopper

Saw a hummingbird briefly visit our red climbing rose today, and also found a little green and brown grasshopper on the rhubarb.

Common birds: house sparrow, mourning dove, starling, robin, cardinal (male)

Summer visitors: ruby-throated hummingbird

Overhead: gull

the bugs / August 13

Noticed a mix of bugs in the garden today, including crickets, cabbage whites, moths, wasps, bumble bees.

Common birds: cardinal (male), house sparrow, crow, chickadee, robin, mourning dove, goldfinch (?)

August 12 / the paper bag

The bottom of the brown paper yard bag broke when I was taking it out of the yard today.  I picked up the mess into an intact one. 

Common birds: robin, mourning dove, chickadee, house sparrow, goldfinch (male), starling

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (female)

the lovage / August 11

Cut back the flower stalks from the lovage.  It didn't take me long, but it's good that it is done.

Common birds: robin, goldfinch (male), house sparrow, house finch (male), grackle, starling, cardinal (female), mourning dove, chickadee

August 10 / the leak

Had the hose out to water the garden, and the nozzle came off the hose, so I got slightly wet.

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, house finch (male), mourning dove, goldfinch (male), cardinal (pair), downy woodpecker, chickadee

the perseids / August 9

Keep an eye out for the perseids this weekend. 

Common birds: robin, house sparrow, mourning dove, cardinal (male), goldfinch (male), starling, chickadee

Overhead: gull

August 8 / the pollinators

The vine on the wall is full of bees attracted to its flowers. 

Common birds: house finch (male), goldfinch (male), house sparrow, cardinal (female), mourning dove, robin

Heard: blue jay

the BBQ / August 7

It was a quiet day here, though I did see a hawk earlier, I'm assuming it was a red-tailed hawk as that's the most common one I see here.  Cooked on the BBQ for dinner.

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, grackle

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

August 6 / tuesday

Only a little yard work today, though there is more to do later in the week. 

Common birds: house sparrow, house finch (male), downy woodpecker, chickadee, mourning dove, cardinal (pair)

the cottage / August 5

Back home by evening, saw the turkey vultures again before leaving my friends' cottage. 

August 4 / the lake

Different birds today, at a friend's cottage, somewhat north of Peterborough.  There was a what I am thinking was likely a great blue heron, turkey vultures, and a common loon. 

the sunflower / August 3

One of my sunflowers is blooming! 

Also arrived at my friends' cottage around dinner today, and saw turkey vultures. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), mourning dove, grackle, chickadee, robin

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

August 2 / Friday

A day of mixed weather, and the start of a long weekend.

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), starling

the first / August 1

It's August.  Our remaining small buddleia (butterfly bush) has a little bit of bud on it, which should be nice.  The weather today was a mix of sun and rain. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), mourning dove, starling

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

July 31 / the garden hose

I hosed down the curbside compost bin today.  Checked on the garden, but focused my efforts on tidying indoors.

Common birds: house sparrow, mourning dove, cardinal (pair), house finch (male)

the ground ivy / July 30

A little yard work - weeding, and feeding the roses, hydrangeas, etc. Some of this was pulling ground ivy from the lawn. 

Common birds: house sparrow, house finch (male), cardinal (pair), starling, mourning dove, robin

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

July 29 / the caterpillars

I found the first one a day or two ago, and two more this morning.  They are tobacco hornworms, on my tomato plants.  I had one last summer, and it got quite big and ate a lot of leaves and bits of fruit from the tomato I was growing.  So, I took the ones I found recently off the plant, and put them in a bucket with some pruned tomato leaves. I also fed the tomatoes and other veggies again today.

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), starling, house finch (male), mourning dove

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

Heard: blue jay, chickadee

the party / July 28

I had a party to go to, so I was out for the afternoon.  I wasn't really taking notes, but I did see/hear a robin, blue jay, and something large, which I thought may have been a turkey vulture, during the party.  There was also a dark swallowtail butterfly. 

Common birds: house sparrow

July 27 / the rain barrel

We have had rain this afternoon, heavy for a while, and will probably get rain overnight.  This is good for the garden of course, and the rain barrel, which I have used a few times this month. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), chickadee, starling

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

the fruit / July 26

Some of the tomatoes are ripening, I have picked the first few (and eaten some of them) - it's the cherry tomatoes, the large ones take longer.  I heard, and am reasonably sure I saw, a chickadee this morning, and walking back up my street this afternoon, I saw a goldfinch singing in a tree. From the bus, I saw a bunch of Canada geese on a bit of closed road. 

Common birds: house sparrow, house finch (male), robin, starling, goldfinch (male), chickadee

July 25 / the red squirrel

Today I did a little weeding, removing beetles from the roses, and cutting some lavender to dry.  A little red squirrel watched me for a moment. 

Common birds: house sparrow, goldfinch (male), house finch (male), grackle, starling, cardinal (pair)

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

the crickets / July 24

I finished weeding the path today, and saw several little black/dark crickets while I was doing it.

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, starling, cardinal (pair)

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

Overhead: gull

July 23 / the moth

More garden work today, including pulling weeds from between stones of the path.  There was a little brown moth hiding in the weeds. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair)

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

the dirt / July 22

I started doing some of the gardening that needs attending to, I was outside most of the day.  I put a support around the lemon balm, which had been on top of various other things.  Then, I added more ties and sticks to support the tomatoes, cut back a couple of things, moved a couple of things.

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair)

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (female)

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

July 21 / sunday

I didn't do much yard work, but did spend some time outside. The bunny was around while I was preparing my dinner. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, cardinal (pair), grackle, mourning dove, blue jay, starling

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

Overhead: gull

the chickadee / July 20

The storms reduced the heat and humidity we had seen this week.  I was walking down the street and saw a chickadee in a neighbour's tree.  There were gulls at the bus station. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, cardinal (female), chickadee

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male), brown headed cowbird (male)

July 19 / the lightning

Another day of significant weather.  Heat and humidity were replaced by thunderstorms in the evening.  My power was out an hour +, but other areas had longer outages.

Common birds: house sparrow

the cicadas / July 18

Heard cicadas today, not for the first time this summer.  Stayed inside mostly, but saw a few birds.

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, grackle, cardinal (male), downy woodpecker

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

July 17 / wednesday

Watered the vegetables, otherwise kept in the cool. 

Common birds: house sparrow

the daylilies / July 16

The daylilies continue being pretty. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, starling, downy woodpecker

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (female)

July 15 / the lunch

Did not spend much time in the garden today, very hot again.  Went out to lunch with my mum.

Common birds: house sparrow, robin

the veggies / July 14

The beets have been growing, the leaves have a few insects.  I brought in a handful of peas, and a couple of small tomatoes.  Heard some birds I am not really sure about, maybe hawk, maybe red-wing blackbird, and maybe mourning dove - also heard the blue jay.  Saw birds in the big evergreen, cedar waxwings, and what was probably a house finch. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, cardinal (pair), starling, goldfinch (male)

Summer visitors: cedar waxwing

July 13 / saturday

I didn't see much bird activity.  The garden looks good. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin

the daisies / July 12

The daisies are in bloom.  They have been for a bit already, actually.  The first of my tomatoes are ripening, too.

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, cardinal (male)

July 11 / the rose

I found a little skipper (butterfly) in a rose today.  The bunny was in the garden this afternoon. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, grackle, cardinal (female)

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

the sunflowers / July 10

Hot and humid weather today.  My tomato plants are growing tall so I have tied them to some more supports.  The probable sunflowers growing thanks to the bird seed are also getting tall. 

Common birds: house sparrow, house finch (male), cardinal (pair), robin

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (female)

July 9 / the yard work

We got together for a visit and yard work at my sister's today. 

Common birds: house sparrow, mourning dove

the power cut / July 8

Greater Toronto has had a lot of rain.  My area is not bad, but it did mean our power was out for a few hours. 

Common birds: house sparrow, downy woodpecker, cardinal (pair), robin

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

July 7 / the tomatoes

Although I spent some time outside today, it was very humid, so I wasn't out there long.  I did manage to prune the tomatoes a little, a couple of them are getting a bit big. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, cardinal (pair), mourning dove, starling

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

the art show / July 6

I was out for the afternoon, and spent less time looking at birds, which explains why I didn't see many.  It was a sunny, hot and humid day.  I did also see a hawk while I waited for a bus, red-wing blackbirds at the train station, and pigeons in the city.  My outing was to an art show downtown, which both the friend I went with and I have been in in previous years.  I noticed several artists using birds in their subject matter.

Common birds: house sparrow, house finch, robin

July 5 / the chase

I've seen squirrels chase each other, but this morning I saw a red squirrel get chased by a robin.  It has rained, sometimes poured, several times today.  Everything looks so green. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), robin, downy woodpecker (female)

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

the cabbage white / July 4

I spent some time outside today, and briefly watched a little cabbage white butterfly when it landed near my vegetables.  It rained quite a bit overnight, and was sunny most of the day.  We had some shopping to do this afternoon, and from the car we saw a hawk sitting on a hydro pole, with a grackle (?) just a few feet away. 

Common birds: house sparrow, grackle, starling, robin, downy woodpecker (female), cardinal (pair)

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

July 3 / the rain shower

My little bunny friend was back today.  I also saw a mourning cloak butterfly, and something I think could have been a dark swallowtail - a dark morph of the eastern tiger swallowtail, or a black swallowtail possibly.  The pair of hawks were flying around, too.  We got a very fine rain shower this afternoon. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house sparrow, robin, house finch (pair), goldfinch (pair), mourning dove

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

Heard: blue jay

Previous Year's Birds / May 2011 & May 2012

May 2011

blackburnian warbler (male)
chestnut sided warbler
black throated green warbler (male)
rose breasted grosbeak (male)
flicker
woodpecker
goldfinch
robin
starling
cardinals
sparrows
chickadee
mourning dove
juncos
white throated sparrow

May 15/2011 - blackburnian warbler (male), chestnut sided warbler (pair), black throated green warbler, yellow rumped (myrtle) warbler, northern parula warbler, red tailed hawk, blue jay, house finch, rose breasted grosbeak (pair), nashville warbler, nuthatch

May 16/2011 - magnolia warbler, nashville warbler, black and white warbler, chestnut sided warbler, yellow rumped warbler, yellow warbler, blackburnian warbler, parula warbler, black throated blue warbler, goldfinch (pair), grosbeak (pair), red tailed hawk, white crowned sparrow, hummingbird, veery, baltimore oriole, nuthatch, housefinch, sparrow, chickadee, crows, blue jay, red-wing blackbird, cowbird (pair), robin, cardinal (pair), mourning dove

May 17/2011 - nashville warbler, magnolia warbler, yellow rumped warbler, chestnut sided warbler, northern parula warbler, yellow warbler (male), grosbeaks, starling, grackle, chickadee, cardinals, robin, sparrows, white crowned sparrow, cowbirds, oriole(?)

May 18/2011 - magnolia warbler, nashville warbler, chestnut sided warbler, yellow rumped warbler (male), tenessee warbler (?*), sparrow, blue jay, grackle, chickadee, woodpecker, grosbeaks, red tailed hawk, nuthatch, cardinals, robin, goldfinch (pair)

Note: tenessee warbler may instead be philadelphia vireo.  

May 19/2011 - orioles, yellow rumped warbler, parula warbler, nashville warbler, magnolia warbler, chestnut sided warbler, black throated green warbler (?), cowbirds, grosbeaks, blue jay, cardinals, sparrow, white crowned sparrow, grackle, robin, starling, mourning dove, goldfinch, chickadees, nuthatch

May 20/2011 - chestnut sided warbler, nashville warbler, northern parula warbler, sparrow, cowbird (male), mourning dove, cardinals, goldfinch (male), robin, blue jay, chickadee, grackle, gull, crow

May 21/2011 - robin, grackle, cardinals, sparrows, red-wing blackbird, goldfinch (male), cowbird (male)

May 22/2011 - robin, grackle, sparrow, cardinals, cowbird (male)

May 23/2011 - yellow warbler, nashville warbler, robin, grackle, sparrow, cardinals, cowbirds, crow, blue jay, red-wing blackbird, oriole, goldfinch (female), housefinch, mourning dove, starling, hawk

May 24/2011 - robin, grackle, sparrow, cardinals, cowbird (male), red-wing blackbird, starling, mourning dove

May 25/2011 - robin, starling, sparrow, woodpecker, cardinal (male), orioles, chickadee, goldfinch (male), blue jay, grackle

May 26/2011 - starling, chickadee, red-wing blackbird, oriole, grackle

May 27/2011 - starling, grackle, sparrow, cardinal

May 2012

palm warbler
yellow rumped warbler
black throated green warbler
nashville warbler
grosbeak
cedar waxwing
western kingbird/great crested flycatcher
ruby crowned kinglet (?)
oriole
hawk (ID?*)
hawk
woodpecker
white crowned sparrow
goldfinch
house finch

Note: the usual hawk is the red-tailed hawk, also saw one which may have been a juvenile, or something else. 

the bunnies / July 2

I have been seeing some digging in my vegetable patch, and a couple of grassy spots, in our yard.  I am sure some of it is birds (based on the droppings), likely starlings.  It may also be something else, and seeing the bunny in the yard in the early evening today, I wonder if it's him (or, her).  I went out for a bit, and there was a second, smaller bunny down the street. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), robin, grackle, starling, house finch (pair), goldfinch (male), mourning dove

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

Overhead: gull, red-tailed hawk

July 1 / Canada day

Happy Canada day!  Went into Oakville and spent a few hours at the Canada day events this afternoon.  There were at least four or five house finches this morning, and later, two female red-wing blackbirds on the feeder today. 

Common birds: grackle, house sparrow, robin, house finch (pair), cardinal (pair), starling

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

the fox / June 30

I spent half the morning outside, and we watched the robin in its nest for a bit this afternoon, while we had tea.  The hawk was also flying around further away, I only spotted it with the binoculars.  This evening while I was over in Oakville, we saw a fox crossing the bridge, into the bushes, then back again a while later.  As we were near the water, we also saw ducks, geese, possibly swallows, red-wings, a cardinal, and could hear a blue jay. 

Common birds: house sparrow, starling, grackle, cardinal (pair), robin, house finch (male, + female?)

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (female), brown headed cowbird (male)

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

June 29 / the feeding

I watched two female red-wings on the feeder earlier, and fed the vegetables this afternoon.  Aside from the birds and plants, it's been a chores day. 

Common birds: house sparrow, starling, cardinal (pair), robin, grackle, downy woodpecker, goldfinch (pair?)

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (female)

the skipper / June 28

I found a little skipper butterfly in the lawn today, and at one point the robin perched on the top of our patio umbrella.  It's been overcast and rainy, which is good for the garden. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, grackle, goldfinch (female), starling, downy woodpecker, mourning dove

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male), brown headed cowbird (male)

Overhead: gull

June 27 / the peas

My little peas, which I kept in a pot on the deck this year, are blooming, and forming their first few peas.  Last year I got some to grow, but something(s), I think the starlings, ate nearly all of them.  The arugula lettuce is also blooming.  Among the birds today, I saw the woodpecker, and pair of red-wings.

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, starling, grackle, cardinal (male), downy woodpecker (female)

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

the nest / June 26

There is a robin nesting in the maple tree.  Our peonies are nearly finished blooming, but the day lilies are just starting. 

Common birds: mourning dove, robin, grackle, house sparrow, starling, blue jay

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

June 25 / the blue butterfly

I saw at least four butterflies today - the cabbage white, which is common, the swallowtail that I have been seeing often this spring, something orange, but it was so quick I can't tell what sort, and a tiny little pale blue one.  I saw one like it last summer, this is the first time this season.  This evening I ate my dinner outside, since it was so nice out.  A hawk was circling overhead, and after I brought out the binoculars for a look at it, I also saw two cedar waxwings up in the tall evergreen. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), starling, grackle, robin, goldfinch (male)

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male), cedar waxwing

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

Heard: mourning dove

the red-wings / June 24

There were two female red-wing blackbirds at the feeder at one time today.  I watered the tomatoes and other bits of the garden in the early evening. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), mourning dove, robin, starling

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

June 23 / the heat wave

It was very hot and humid today, and is forecast to be the same, with some rain, for the next few days. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (female), robin

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

the thunder / June 22

I haven't been outside or at the window for long today.  Earlier the weather was lovely, but it rained at least once during the afternoon, and again this evening, and it's been thundering too. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house sparrow, mourning dove

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

Heard: blue jay

June 21 / the summer

It's the first day of summer, and the first day I've skipped writing.  I was off doing other things, but I did spend a little time in my backyard.

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house sparrow, starling

Summer visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair), brown headed cowbird (male)

the birds & the bees / June 20

It was a busy day in the garden!  I saw two hawks overhead earlier, and thought I saw one again this afternoon, but when I took the binoculars outside, I realized that it was a heron.  I fed & watered my vegetables, and checked out what the carpenter bees are up to.  They are  in our roof overhang - they don't eat the wood, but they make holes and create 'sawdust'. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, cardinal (pair), goldfinch (pair), grackle, mourning dove

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male), brown headed cowbird (pair)

Overhead: red-tailed hawk, great blue heron

Heard: gull

Previous Years' Birds - April 2012

I thought it would be good to compare my daily notes this year with some of the notable birds I've seen in the past couple of years.  In 2011 & 2012, I was not taking notes daily, or of all the common birds, but of some of the uncommon and migrating ones.  I wrote notes about them into a little book at the time; and I will say that I may have misidentified some along the way.  I will share them month by month, since putting it all in one post would be very long.  Where possible, I'm including what I thought the bird could be at the time, and what it is more likely to have been, in cases where my ID was uncertain. 

April 2012

golden crowned kinglet
common flicker
rufous-sided towhee
savannah sparrows? (more likely song sparrows)
white throated sparrow
red-tailed hawk

Next 'previous years' post will include May 2011 & 2012.

June 19 / the tree trimming

This morning included trimming overgrown and dead branches from some of the trees.  The viburnum pieces smelled awful!  After the noise had stopped, the birds went about their day. The cowbird flew from the neighbour's spruce to our feeder again, and a grackle on the grass fed its young one.  I watched a great TV program about Point Pelee National Park last night.  The park is known for its spring and fall bird migrations, which I knew, but it reminded me about it. 

Common birds: starling, house sparrow, robin, grackle, cardinal (pair)

Spring visitors: brown headed cowbird (male), red-wing blackbird (pair)

Heard: mourning dove

the robin / June 18

The birds have returned to the garden today, the female goldfinch sat in the tree out front for several minutes, and the female red-wing came to the feeder a few times.  Unhappily, I found a dead young robin.  It was out in the open, so I put it under the shrubs. 

Common birds: grackle, house sparrow, cardinal (pair), house finch (pair), robin, starling, downy woodpecker, goldfinch (pair)

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair)

June 17 / hide and seek

The swallowtail visited again today, as well as a little orange butterfly.  It might have been a skipper, or possibly the question mark or comma.  I also saw a mourning cloak butterfly when I was out shopping.  There were two or more robins outside this evening chirping to each other.  I could hear the red-wing, but it seems to be hiding from me. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), grackle, robin, house sparrow, house finch (female)

Heard: red-wing blackbird

the peonies / June 16

I brought a few peonies indoors today, the stems had bent with the weight of the bloom, and the rain the night before.  It was raining this morning, but cleared up and turned into a breezy, warm, and sunny afternoon.  The birds were scarce, or just were not around when I happened to be looking. 

Common birds: robin, cardinal (pair)

Heard: red-wing blackbird

June 15 / the perch

Another gorgeous day outside.  I sat with my coffee and binoculars, looking at a spruce tree, or, more particularly, the bird at the top of it, a couple of gardens over.  It turned out to be a male cowbird, and he was joined by a bright goldfinch.  The cowbird flew over and landed on our feeder. 

Common birds: house sparrow, blue jay, robin, starling, goldfinch (male), cardinal (pair)

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male), brown headed cowbird (male)

the blue jay / June 14

Today I was doing some paperwork, but did spend some time out in the lovely weather.  The blue jay was around, feeding a fledgling.  There was a bird overhead I think was a tern of some sort, it just didn't look quite like a gull, even though it was a quick sighting.  We are near a marsh, and lake Ontario, and we have seen terns a number of times.  If it was in fact a tern and not a gull, it was most likely either a black tern or a common tern.  Whatever it was, it was making a high, clear call.  The other call today was the male cardinal, which was sitting on top of the bird feeder at the time.

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), starling, blue jay

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

Overhead: tern?

June 13 / the orange butterfly

Today I saw a little orange butterfly.  I wasn't close enough to identify it, but I would say it was either a 'comma' or a 'question mark', which look similar, are orange with brown and white markings, and brown under-wings.  They are named for little white marks on the under-wings, which somewhat resemble the. 

Common birds: house sparrow, starling, grackle, robin, mourning dove, cardinal (male)

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

the photos / June 12

The other day, I spent a little time going back through various photos on my computer, and came across some fun backyard wildlife and bird ones, so I'll look for complimentary future posts in which to share some of them. Today, I briefly saw the hawk flying, as well as the swallowtail butterfly. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, grackle, blue jay, starling, house finch (female), cardinal (pair)

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male), brown headed cowbird (male)

Heard: gull

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

Probable: mourning dove, goldfinch (male)

June 11 / the geese

Another swallowtail butterfly was around today.  The weather was nicer - warmer, a little humid, mostly sunny.  We saw a V formation of Canada geese fly over, our peonies are starting to bloom, and the carrot sprouts are growing their first leaves that actually look like carrots (as opposed to nondescript seedlings).  I heard the blue jay again, but didn't see it. 

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, grackle, cardinal (pair), goldfinch (pair), house finch (pair)

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

Overhead: gull, Canada geese

Heard: blue jay

the gutters / June 10

In stark contrast to yesterday, it has been grey and raining steadily since the wee hours of the morning.  Some work has been done today clearing out leaf litter from the gutters, which should stop the birds from flicking lumps of that litter onto the front porch for a while, and of course let the water drain as it ought to.

Common birds: house sparrow, robin, starling, grackle, cardinal (pair)

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male), brown headed cowbird (male)

June 9 / the adventure

My cat was very 'brave' today, and decided to go for a walk around the garden.  She likes hiding among the plants in the beds, even though she isn't really 'hunting' anything like some cats.  Later this afternoon, the red-wing blackbird perched on the top of one of the spruce trees, but only for a minute.  We have a burr-like weed growing in a couple of places, which I have identified - I think - as yellow avens (Geum aleppicum), a native wild plant. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), robin, starling

Spring visitors: brown headed cowbird (male), red-wing blackbird (male)

the balancing act / June 8

I may have seen a goldfinch, but it flew by so fast.  The male cowbird was on the feeder today, and I saw him do the same thing the red-wing has been doing, counter-balancing the perch. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), robin, mourning dove, starling, grackle

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male), brown headed cowbird (pair)

Overhead: gull

Heard: blue jay

June 7 / the bird seedlings & the clever bird

Our bird feeders stand in among flowerbeds.  This means that when the birds drop seed, and they do, some of it sprouts.  Every few weeks the soil has to get turned to remove these seedlings, which is one of the things I did today.  Most of it is millet, which looks grasslike when it sprouts, but the mix also contains sunflower seeds.  I decided to save a few of what I am pretty sure are baby sunflowers, let them keep growing and see what happens.

The red-wings, or at least one of them, have figured out that the perch lever on the feeder sticks.  It's designed so that when a squirrel, a heavy bird, or too many little ones, land on it, it closes.  It doesn't always spring open again right away as it should when the weight is lifted.  The red-wing sees this, lands on the back side of the lever, which counter-balances it and opens the feeder, then flies round the front, where he can land and eat without causing it to close again. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house sparrow, starling, robin, grackle, blue jay

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair), brown  headed cowbird (female)

the dance / June 6

A pair of cardinals have been chasing off, or facing off with, a red-wing.  They chirp and fly at each other, jumping up from the top of the fence a couple of feet into the air and back. It's overcast, mid-teens, and has been raining steadily this afternoon.  There have also been some juvenile birds around again, including a starling or two, and at least one red-wing blackbird.  A dark, sort of ratty looking sparrow has been around, too, I can't tell if it is a young bird, or just wet. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house sparrow, grackle, robin, starling

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair), brown headed cowbird (female)

June 5 / the road trip

As you may have guessed from today's title, I didn't spend a lot of the day at home, looking out my own windows.  We took a trip up to Craighurst, ON where a gallery shop is taking some of my textile work over the summer.  So, I was here first thing and back in late afternoon/early evening.  That said, the gallery has a lovely green space around it, grass bordered by mixed trees, and flower beds along the building - a great habitat for birds.  Although our attention was on the work, and I was without my binoculars and bird book, we did see a swallowtail butterfly, some large crows, a tiny warbler (or warbler like?), which was collecting dandelion clocks, presumably for nesting material, and a phoebe or flycatcher.  Granted in the case of the warbler it was a short look, and of the flycatcher it was from some distance without binoculars, so being specific would be guessing.  The warbler was probably female, grey brown, lighter belly.  The flycatcher had a creamy belly/chest, dark sooty head, lighter grey back.  It was difficult to get a sense of size or any more detail, but it may have been an eastern kingbird, or the eastern phoebe (smaller).

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house sparrow, grackle, robin

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

the ice cream / June 4th

 Another nice day outside - we even stopped for an ice cream this afternoon.  While in the area, which is near river and lake, we saw a cormorant, and I think I saw a swallow, but it's hard to say for sure.  The patch of the garden under the bird feeder is again growing bird seed, including what looks like sunflowers, so I'm going to leave a few to grow and see what they are. 

Common birds: house finch (male), house sparrow, cardinal (pair), goldfinch (pair), blue jay, robin, mouring dove, starling

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male), song sparrow

Overhead: gull

June 3 / the swallowtail

I was standing just a few feet in front of our irises earlier, and watched a swallowtail butterfly land on them.  It didn't stay long, but it was lovely. It's been sunny, breezy, and cooler.  I haven't been outside as much either, but it did seem the bird activity was a little quieter. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house finch, robin, house sparrow

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male), brown headed cowbird (female)

Images / June 2

In the amount of time it took for me to have a cup of coffee this morning, a half hour or a little more, I had already seen several of the birds I saw today.  Again, a hawk was being chased off by a couple of other birds today.  For some reason, the hawk seemed smaller than the red-tailed hawk I usually see, but it was really hard to tell with it flying so high and quickly, and being unable to see the top side of the tail feathers - which, in the red-tailed hawk, are reddish brown and useful to identify this bird. 

I've set up a Pinterest board to compliment the blog, with pictures of various Ontario birds, including most of the ones I see, and some I haven't.  It's hard to take good pictures of my own of the birds, though I will try to occasionally.

Common birds: mourning dove, grackle, house sparrow, cardinal (pair), house finch (pair), robin

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male), brown headed cowbird (female)

Overhead: gull, red-tailed hawk

Heard: blue jay

June 1 / the sprouts

Another warm day.  The snails have been liking the rain - I watched one crawl over my hand this afternoon.  I'm also seeing some sprouts where I recently planted some carrots and other things.

Common birds: starling, house sparrow, cardinal (pair), house finch (male), robin, grackle, blue jay, mourning dove

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird, brown headed cowbird (male), chipping sparrow

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

Heard: gull

the flycatcher debate

I have been looking at web images, and re-visiting my bird book, and am beginning to think it more likely that the bird I called the least flycatcher in my post 'Previously Spotted' was actually an eastern phoebe, or maybe eastern pewee, the latter being similar but with clear wing bars. The least flycatcher is too small, more warbler sized. 

I've seen what I have called the flycatcher twice this season to date, once just a couple of weeks ago while gardening, and once some weeks earlier.  On the earlier occasion, the juncos were still around and that is what I thought it was at first - dark on top, light under, but looking longer, it was a bit bigger, longer, and had a black beak.  The second sighting, my attention was split between things, so I am assuming that it was the same type again, but did not have as good a look. 

the storm / May 31

Well, it's been another day of heat, around 30C, feeling like around 37C with the humidity, breezier than yesterday, and sunny with a few fluffy white clouds, until about 20 minutes ago.  A few minutes before 6pm, the wind picked up rapidly, clouds moved in, and it started to rain.  I've also heard some thunder and expect more.  Hopefully this will break the humidity.  It's been too stuffy outside for gardening, but I have been watching.  I've seen two male goldfinches chasing each other, two male and a female house finch, starlings feeding their fledglings, a woodpecker on some dead branches of the apple tree, and a hawk overhead.  Oh, I also saw a swallowtail butterfly (likely Eastern Tiger swallowtail). 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), starling (with young), house sparrow (possibly with young), house finch (pair), downy woodpecker (male), goldfinch (male), robin

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

May 30th / the heat alert

A heat alert was issued today - 6pm and still 30C outside, feels like 37C with high humidity and possible thunderstorms this evening, though it's been clear most of the day.  The birds have been showing off today.  The grackle was displaying to another, and the starlings already have fledged young and were feeding it/them.  Two birds were flying high overhead, I'm sure they would have to be hawks.  Sometimes they sit high in the evergreen over the back fence (where the crow was the other day), which gives me a much better view of them.

My cat took herself for a walk around the garden yesterday evening, she doesn't go outside much as she's a bit old.  The cardinals and red-wing were making quite a fuss over it, but she was more interested in chewing the grass. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), grackle, starling, mourning dove, house finch, robin

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair), brown headed cowbird (female)

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

the humidity / May 29th

The weather started out overcast, has gone through patches of sun and raining a few times, and is currently sunny.  Because of all the rain today and yesterday, and the rise in temperature (mid 20s today), it's also very humid.  I put a fresh fat block in the feeder this afternoon, it's been sitting empty since Friday.

Common birds: cardinal (pair), starling, house sparrow, robin, goldfinch (male), downy woodpecker (female), grackle, mourning dove

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair), brown headed cowbird (female)

May 28 / the rain

There has been a light fall of rain most of the day, and may be thunderstorms overnight and tomorrow.  I think most of the birds found dry places to sleep, but the snails are enjoying it. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house sparrow, starling

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

the squirrels / May 27

I took my coffee onto the back deck this morning, and watched 5-6 squirrels chasing each other along, and up and down, the fences.  One ran under the deck, and the one following ran up the steps, saw me, and scurried away.  It's also been such a nice day out.

Common birds: mourning dove, starling, grackle, house sparrow, house finch (pair), robin, blue jay, gold finch, cardinal (pair), downy woodpecker (male)

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair), brown headed cowbird (male), baltimore oriole (male)

Not quite sure: Something that has me stumped - streaky brown, not unlike a female red-wing blackbird, but it had a yellow patch on its chest.  Also, a little sparrow I didn't get a good look at - probably the song sparrow.  

May 26 / the noise

It's been warmer, sunny, and breezy outside.  I planted some poppy seeds, and tended to things planted a few days ago.

Earlier this afternoon, there was a bit of a face-off between a crow on one side, and several grackles with two blue jays on the other.  Over the back fence, there is a tall evergreen tree.  I watched the crow get chased in that direction, and as it landed on the very top of the tree, it was flown at by the other birds in turn.  It flew off after a few minutes, and I have no idea what started it all, but it was quite entertaining.

Common birds seen today: crow, blue jays, sparrows, cardinals (pair), mourning dove, robin, starling, grackles, gull.

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird, chipping sparrow.

stealth / May 25 birds

That black and white cat was at it again yesterday - this time I saw it go into the bushes with a bird in its mouth.  The feathers left behind tell me it was a mourning dove.

The weather was sunny, somewhere in the mid-teens, not as warm as I would like it to be, but nice.  Likely to be much the same today.

Common birds: robin, house finch, cardinal (pair), sparrows, mourning dove, grackle

Spring birds: red-wing blackbird (pair)

May 24 / the feline

Today I didn't see birds that I don't often see, but I did see something happen to one.

I was looking out the window at the right (or wrong?) moment, and saw a sparrow on our rose of sharon bush.  Next to this is a patch of day lilies, which was concealing a black and white cat, and said cat jumped into the air and caught the sparrow. I love the birds, but I am a cat owner too, and this is just what cats do naturally if they get a chance.

Common birds seen today: cardinal (pair), house sparrows, goldfinch (pair), starling, grackle, robin, mourning dove, blue jay

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird, brown headed cowbird (female)

Seen overhead: red tailed hawk

Previously spotted...

It's only morning, so I haven't completed today's list, but I thought I would add a list of some of the birds I've seen already this spring, before beginning this journal.  I've omitted from this list the most common ones.

Over the winter, we get juncos, which summer further north, so they leave this area in early spring.

Since early April, and in no particular order, I've seen blue jays, goldfinches, chickadees, house finches, downy woodpecker, red tailed hawk.  These are not uncommon.

More seasonally, I've seen both golden crowned and ruby crowned kinglets, an ovenbird (mid May), a brown creeper, red breasted and white breasted nuthatches, baltimore oriole, white crowned sparrow, and what is most likely a least flycatcher (mid May) - though there are a couple of other flycatchers/phoebes that are similar. 

I also think I've seen a couple of warblers, but did not get a good enough look to be sure, or to tell what kind they might have been.  One was possibly a palm warbler, which I've seen in previous years, but the chipping sparrow has a similar chestnut cap on its head so without a better view of it, it's possible that's what I was seeing. 

Birds of the Day / May 23

We spent much of today outside, planting, pruning, moving, weeding and seeding.  Good thing many of the birds don't seem overly intimidated.  The weather today has been more humid, partly overcast, with short periods of rain. 

Common birds seen today: sparrows, grackle, robin, mourning doves, cardinals (pair), house finch, starling, downy woodpecker

Spring visitors seen today: red-wing blackbird, chipping sparrow, cowbird (female)

Heard: blue jay

Seen overhead: gull (I am unfamiliar with what types we get here), two red-tailed hawks

May 22 / the warbler

I've noticed that I am seeing fewer migrating songbirds than I was this time last spring.  In 2012 & 2011 there were lots of warblers around by now.  That said, I am seeing some, and this morning, I saw one I don't remember seeing in my yard before.  There's also one I can't quite figure out yet.

Common in my garden: cardinals, sparrows, grackles, robins.

Spring visitors: baltimore oriole, red-wing blackbird, brown headed cowbird.  A heavily streaked sparrow with a central/chest spot - probably song sparrow. 

New today: common yellowthroat (warbler)

Not quite sure: there's a little bird, creamy underneath and taupey/olive on top, no wing bars, black eye bar.  I think it's most likely a philadelphia vireo, could possibly be an orange crowned or tenessee warbler. 

In one of my posts to come, I'll also note some interesting birds I've seen so far this spring, before beginning to write them down. 

International Day of Biogological Diversity

It's only a coincidence that I start this blog on the International Day of Biodiversity.  This is something I've been thinking about for a while.  My suburban garden either contains or is surrounded by a mixture of trees - spruce, crab apple, maple, cedar, apple, cherry, to name a few.  It also has two bird feeders, seed in one and fat blocks in the other.  Combined with the plants, both intentional and incidental, it seems to attract a fair bit of life - butterflies, rabbits, raccoons, a possum or two, and lots of birds.  I'm a bit obsessed with butterflies, so I'm sure I'll mention them on occasion, but it's the variety of birds, and when in the year I see them, that I want to explore here.  My goal is to keep track, daily if possible, for a year, of the birds I see, even if I only post the lists weekly.  Just to clarify, I won't be spending half the day every day staring out the window, usually just a few minutes, longer only if there's something really exciting.  My sightings will be mostly in my own yard, and some from the bits of my neighbours' yards I can see from my own window or garden.  If I find myself away from home, I'll try to note what I see wherever I am. You should also note that I am not an experienced birder, just a curious girl with a pair of binoculars and a guide to birds book.