Point Pelee National Park - What a treat to find one along a trail. The bird was heard calling on a few evenings but is a migrant species here. It was perched only 8 inches above the ground.
Presqu'ile Provincial Park - What a treat to see this bird. I had the one In Montreal last fall but the setting was nowhere near as good as this. I could always orient myself for the right light unlike with the other bird. The flycatcher was likely blown up by warm stormy weather that originated on the Texas coast a few days ago.
It was very cold first thing in the morning and windy after that, keeping insects low or on the ground. It always fed on the ground and seldom went to a perch so most of my shots were of it on the ground.
Not one, but 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers today at the feeders. There was a successful nest last year - wondering if somehow the same birds made their way back to the same location.
Ottawa - This is a known bird, quite used to people, although this was my first visit in a few years. It roosts a short distance from the nest site which the female is currently occupying. When I shot the photo, the bird was cautiously watching a mother raccoon and two kits high in a tree 8 metres away. They had just emerged for a night ramble. After a couple of minutes it launched towards the raccoons and flew right at the mother's head with wings open, likely dragging his claws on her fur as he flew by, it was that close. After a couple of minutes he repeated the attack and five minutes later did it again, each time engaging her head. It was pretty dark at that point so I didn't see the final outcome but the issue is that raccoons are one of the prime predators for Screech Owl nests.
The shots were taken as darkness was setting in so this was at only 1/10 second on tripod using a remote and ISO was up to 3200 (I don't have a mirrorless camera so ISO is an issue). Many of the shots incredibly were in focus and looked not bad. I got lucky.
Canada (Ontario)
