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Boreal Owl (11)

Aegolius funereus

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Feb 19 2026

Details: adult, outside normal range

Ottawa - defensive posture, possibly reacting to a Crow or Raven.

Date uploaded: Feb 20

Comments (2):
Chris: I think you’ve outdone yourself. Congrats on a “smasher”
Brian Morin: The Boreal Owl was high on my list for this winter. The shot window was very narrow because of branches, only about a metre, so a few of us were crowded together for a short time. Three were up and three were down in the snow. My knees took a beating. :)

Tufted Duck (8)

Aythya fuligula

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Details: male, adult, outside normal range

Cobourg - Eurasian visitor. The water colour was a great addition for my shots.

Date uploaded: Feb 19

Comments (2):
Chris: Another stunner. Fabulous to see!!
Brian Morin: It took two lengthy trips in a week to achieve this result but it was well worth it.

European Robin (15)

Erithacus rubecula

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Details: male, adult, outside normal range

Montreal - I returned to see this European vagrant and had a far better experience than I did a month ago. There was no crowd (myself and a couple from Pennsylvania) and the bird's habits were well understood since a feeder had been set up with meal worms, berries and safflower seeds. Instead of seconds I had it sunning itself for a few minutes before flying off into an adjacent lot.

Date uploaded: Feb 15

Comments (2):
Chris: Simply gorgeous. Glad the weather cooperated too! I may try and take my chances - have a work trip :)
Brian Morin: This bird is looking great and has clearly settled in with the help of local birders. There are multiple eBird reports daily.

Great Grey Owl (54)

Strix nebulosa

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

Details: immature

Eastern Ontario - I'm not fond of taking pictures of birds on wires but this rare winter visitor changed my mind. It was hunting in mid-morning which means it was hungry. This photo is cropped and I'm shooting at 800mm so I'm not nearly as close as it looks.

Date uploaded: Feb 14

Comments (1):
Chris: An absolute stunner! Congrats!

Taiga Flycatcher (7)

Ficedula albicilla

Chris

Canada (British Columbia)

Details: outside normal range

Canada's only Taiga Flycatcher continues to hold on so far through the winter. However this is the first winter in over 40 years where no snow has been recorded at the airport station. The bird was feeding actively today and capturing lots of bugs. Unfortunately it is crossing a busy road with buses, cars, cyclists, all the while dodging crows, large gulls, dogs and joggers. Near the Vancouver Aquatic Centre, downtown Vancouver

Date uploaded: Feb 14

Comments (2):
Brian Morin: Nice light. Best capture yet.
Chris: Thanks. It is tricky with the busy street, the park hills, the kids and dogs. The weather has been uncooperative as well for weeks with fog and many cloudy days.

Indochinese Roller (1)

Coracias affinis

Chris

Thailand

Date taken: Jan 27 2026

At the Marriott Bird Paradise near Khao Lak.

Date uploaded: Feb 13

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King Eider (65)

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Jan 1 2026

Details: male, adult

Toronto - It was a cold New Year's Day in Toronto, a 4.5 km walk to the end of this park in Lake Ontario overlooking Toronto Harbour and the CN Tower. One or two females or juvenile male King Eiders overwinter somewhere along the shore of western Lake Ontario but seeing an adult male is rare. I have been after an adult male within a reasonable distance since I began birding. It was not as close as I'd hoped but it still worked out and was worth the 9 km round trip.

Date uploaded: Feb 11

Comments (2):
Chris: Wow! What a treat, and congrats given the background you described!
Brian Morin: It was a treat for sure. The weather forecast said low winds but they blew at 30 kph+ making photography, even on a monopod, very challenging.