Barred Owl (27)

Strix varia

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Details: adult

Ingleside - There have been numerous sightings of these local breeders this winter.
The bird was hunting the roadside, enabling me to stay in the car to photograph it.

Date uploaded: Feb 23

Comments (1):
Chris: Lovely lighting. Amazing capture Brian.

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)

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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.

King Eider (64)

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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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.

Carolina Wren (64)

Melanie

Canada (Québec)

Details: inflight

Backyard capture this morning, -10C, Pointe-Claire, Qc

Date uploaded: Jan 23

Comments (4):
Sue Bishop: Congratulations on your first post. Great find and capture. I hope you keep seeing him/her
Ahmad Shah: Superb capture, nice bird for the backyard.

Willow Ptarmigan (8)

Lagopus lagopus

Brian Morin

Canada (Québec)

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Date taken: Jan 21 2026

Details: adult, outside normal range

Champneuf (Abitibi County) - I have been tracking the movement of this species since mid-December. Last winter there was a major irruption south so we should not have expected anything noteworthy for several years at least. However, the birds had other plans and have staged a minor irruption into familiar territory again. That worked for me. On this trip I saw 64 (my personal record) with 44 in one location. These birds are a lot of fun to watch and are a real treat for someone from southern Canada, a driveable distance to Arctic birds.

Date uploaded: Jan 22

Comments (2):
Sue Bishop: Wow! Wonderful!
Brian Morin: It was sure a wow for me as well. Despite the brutal temperature on that trip, -36C the first morning, the birds warmed my heart.

Pine Grosbeak (14)

Pinicola enucleator

Brian Morin

Canada (Québec)

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Date taken: Jan 20 2026

Details: male, adult

Champneuf (Abitibi County) - One of my favourite winter finches.

Date uploaded: Jan 22

Comments (2):
Sue Bishop: Another beauty!
Brian Morin: He sure is, showing best in sunlight.