Birdviewing.com

Western Cattle Egret (33)

Ardea ibis

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Nov 15 2022

Details: immature, outside normal range

Brighton - My fourth and likely the last Cattle Egret for the year. The bird was just north of Presqu'ile Provincial Park and I was passing only a few kilometres away so I stopped to check it out. This was a stellar year for these birds, with several dozen appearing in diverse locations, including Northern Ontario. The bird was finally driven out by snow.

Date uploaded: Nov 23 2022

Comments (6):
Chris: Wow. Quite a set of experiences. Hope they somehow went south.
BrianMorin: Unlike wandering songbirds that get lost late in the season and lose the interest in migrating, often perishing when the weather turns very cold, these birds seem to be smart enough to exit before they get in trouble.

Pallid Harrier (2)

Circus macrourus

(Near-threatened)

Krish

India

📍 Map

Date taken: Oct 30 2022

Details: male, adult

A regular winter visitor to western India, they seem to suddenly appear, mostly in the last few minutes before darkness.

Date uploaded: Nov 19 2022

Comments (3):
BrianMorin: He's a beauty. Great light.
Chris: Stunning all around.

American Wigeon (30)

Anas americana

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

Date taken: Nov 17 2022

Details: male, adult

Ottawa - The duck, one of three, was in a city park in a pond. It had paused along the shore with a very large boulder offering a pleasing background.

Date uploaded: Nov 19 2022

Comments (2):
Chris: Agreed…great subject and background. Looks like the rock has some type of lichen or covering.
BrianMorin: Yes, could have been some but it was also an igneous boulder with a natural pinkish-brown tone. I think the warm light helped too.

Snow Bunting (74)

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Nov 15 2022

Details: female

Presqu'ile Provincial Park

Date uploaded: Nov 16 2022

Comments (6):
Ahmad Shah: Just adorable, wonderful capture.
BrianMorin: This was a rare chance to capture these birds (there were three) without the benefit of being shielded in a vehicle. I used my tripod as cover and moved slowly in their direction and was eventually close enough to have better than record shots. My only regret is that the Lapland Longspur that was in the area (but I missed) didn't join them.

Egyptian Vulture (4)

Neophron percnopterus

(Endangered)

Krish

India

📍 Map

Date taken: Oct 30 2022

Details: immature

Date uploaded: Nov 15 2022

Comments (3):
BrianMorin: Nice pose
Chris: Great close up.

Garganey (2)

Anas querquedula

Krish

India

📍 Map

Date taken: Nov 12 2022

Details: female, adult

Date uploaded: Nov 13 2022

Comments (1):
Chris: Great to see. This would be a mega rarity over here 😊

Northern Shrike (23)

Lanius excubitor

Chris

Canada (British Columbia)

At Boundary Bay, Delta, BC

Date uploaded: Nov 13 2022

Comments (2):
BrianMorin: Good shot in nice light. Your distance was very good. We never have a chance to get that close in the few times we see one.
Chris: He landed just in front of me but didn’t stay long…had to be quick. At first I thought it was the mockingbird that had been reported…but a great consolation prize lol.

Acorn Woodpecker (2)

Melanerpes formicivorus

Chris

Canada (British Columbia)

Date taken: Oct 10 2022

Details: outside normal range

A very short stay outside his normal range. Lucky to catch him. Delta, BC

Date uploaded: Nov 12 2022

Comments (4):
Ahmad Shah: Amazing find, superb shot Chris .
Chris: Thanks. He was unfortunately very high up, but I was lucky to get a window to get over to see him.

Purple Gallinule (15)

Porphyrio martinica

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Details: juvenile, outside normal range

Oshawa - The bird has been present for several days and remains in a tight area for viewing but you may be waiting for an hour or two while it makes the rounds in the cattails. I waited and it walked very close several times, once at 3 metres. I got it as soon as I arrived but after 15 minutes of on again off again viewing it disappeared and I left after an additional hour of waiting.

Date uploaded: Nov 10 2022

Comments (6):
Chris: What a find. I don’t recall details on Canadian records…but assume very rare.
BrianMorin: There have been a few Ontario records, usually juveniles, but they are still rare. This was a life bird for many new birders and a new Ontario bird for me. I missed an adult five years ago despite two attempts. Yesterday the bird was literally seconds from being lunch for a Cooper's Hawk. The bird had it firmly clutched in its talons and was taking off when it was startled to see an observer very close by. It dropped the bird and the observer picked it up, examined it and noting no issues, released it into the cattails. That's as close as it gets.