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Fox Sparrow (30)

Passerella iliaca

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Apr 18 2022

Details: adult

Vankleek Hill - It took me a while to find one this spring. Our numbers are always low.

Date uploaded: Apr 19 2022

Comments (4):
Sue Bishop: Beautiful,Brian!
BrianMorin: This is one of my favourite sparrows, probably in part because we don't see many.

Pine Warbler (18)

Setophaga pinus

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Apr 15 2022

Details: male, adult

Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary - I had my first spring warbler singing away. Pines are usually early and can tolerate the cold well as long as they have enough food. When insects are not available they will eat seeds as well as berries.

Date uploaded: Apr 16 2022

Comments (4):
Chris: Fabulous. Love their song as well - good that you got him low down. In and around Long Point, I've seen/heard them 100 feet up!
BrianMorin: Agreed re the normal height. They are often well up there in evergreens.

Red-bellied Woodpecker (36)

Melanerpes carolinus

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Details: male, adult

Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary - Locally uncommon species. I'm hoping the bird finds a mate because the habitat is perfect and there are plenty of existing nest sites on the market. :)

Date uploaded: Apr 15 2022

Comments (4):
Chris: Terrific find. Lots of dazzling colours to find that mate.
BrianMorin: I heard it first then followed the calls. It never came down too far but at least it moved into the light a few times to grab some shots.

Tufted Titmouse (18)

Parus bicolor

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Apr 12 2022

Details: adult

Cornwall - A pair set up territory in a conservation area and the male was singing heartily. An uncommon to rare breeder.

Date uploaded: Apr 13 2022

Comments (4):
Chris: Amazing to see and superb capture too! It’s interesting this species isn’t expanding more rapidly to the north, given its a hardy bird.
BrianMorin: It has been a slow expansion with breeding concentrated in very low numbers along the southern border in Ontario. The population is actually declining again in the southern part of the province but holding in the East.

Great Grey Owl (55)

Strix nebulosa

Brian Morin

Canada (Québec)

📍 Map

Date taken: Mar 20 2022

Details: immature

There has been a minor irruption in the east with now well over a dozen birds being reported in recent weeks. However, they are notoriously hard to find, even when you know where one hangs out, and because they are primarily nocturnal they usually only show close to or after sunset.

Date uploaded: Mar 21 2022

Comments (4):
Chris: One of world’s iconic species, and unforgettable. Exceptional capture.
BrianMorin: We had been checking a forest edge for a bird that had been found in the area but it was a no show. We took a short walk in the woods and found it ready to hunt. What a beauty.

Wood Duck (114)

Aix sponsa

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Mar 10 2022

Details: adult, summer plummage

Ottawa - An attractive pair resting following their migration.

Date uploaded: Mar 11 2022

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Great Grey Owl (55)

Strix nebulosa

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Mar 10 2022

Details: female, immature

Ottawa - There has been a minor irruption in the east along the St. Lawrence in Quebec and parts of Eastern Ontario. They have been very difficult to locate.

Date uploaded: Mar 11 2022

Comments (2):
Ahmad Shah: Nice job finding and photographing this magnificent Owl .
BrianMorin: A lovely young lady – one of my favourite birds.

Snowy Owl (217)

Nyctea scandiaca

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Mar 4 2022

Details: male, adult

St. Rose - This male has been in the area for the winter but it was the first time I had a chance to see it up close.

Date uploaded: Mar 8 2022

Comments (4):
Sue Bishop: Stunning,Brian!
BrianMorin: I waited all winter for a chance at this bird and with luck it was close enough. I originally spotted it in a field that day but too far out to shoot.

Northern Hawk-Owl (23)

Surnia ulula

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Mar 3 2022

Details: adult

Ottawa - The winter is winding down so we can expect that this bird will be heading back to the boreal forest in two to three weeks. Because of its location along a popular walking/skiiing path it was viewed by countless people over the past few months. I wanted to make a final visit before it moves on.

Date uploaded: Mar 4 2022

Comments (4):
Chris: Superb. Hope he has a good flight back 😊
BrianMorin: Me too. It was a great bird to watch in the last three months and proved to be the most reliable Hawk Owl I've ever seen.