White-faced Ibis (1)

Plegadis chihi

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: May 5 2022

Details: adult, summer plummage, outside normal range

Erieau - The occasional individual deviates from its western flight path that would normally take it to South Dakota or even southern Alberta. I made two attempts at photographing this individual and on the second day it was much closer, offering excellent views. The breeding plumage is stunning, right down to the ruby-red eye. I've waited a long time for this bird.

Date uploaded: May 26 2022

Comments (6):
Chris: Excellent story. Glad it worked out so well. Believe this is your first upload of this species.
BrianMorin: Yes, it is.

Collared Sand Martin/Bank Swallow (1)

Riparia riparia

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Jun 9 2022

Details: adult

Alfred - This is a nest site, part of a colony in a large pile of peat on a peat farm. I hope the young fledge before the hill is excavated.

Date uploaded: Jun 10 2022

Comments (2):
Ahmad Shah: Superb find, well captured.
BrianMorin: I took quite a few photos of the birds going into a number of nest holes and remained inside my car for the shoot so I wouldn't disturb them. The results exceeded my expectations.

Tropical Kingbird (1)

Tyrannus melancholicus

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Oct 16 2022

Details: outside normal range

Windsor - The bird has been cooperative, showing for at least 10 days.

Date uploaded: Oct 20 2022

Comments (4):
Ahmad Shah: Excellent find, splendid shot.
BrianMorin: That was an 8-hour trip but I made it a family visit as well, with my son being less than two hours away. Gorgeous bird.

American Three-toed Woodpecker (1)

Picoides dorsalis

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Details: female, adult, outside normal range

Ottawa - There have been a few northern woodpeckers showing up in the region this winter.

Date uploaded: Feb 13 2023

Comments (2):
Chris: What a great sight. Terrific result.
BrianMorin: This was a treat, especially not needing to travel far north for a chance to see one.

Lewis's Woodpecker (1)

Melanerpes lewis

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

  📍 Map

Date taken: Mar 2 2023

Details: outside normal range

Manitoulin Island - This was a very long trip but since the last time this species was reported in Ontario was 2011 and earlier reports were way back, I decided to make the extended journey. It was worth the effort

Date uploaded: Mar 4 2023

Comments (4):
Chris: Great that it all worked out…I’ve not had luck getting them down low yet. Looks like a pretty wild area.
BrianMorin: Actually, it is in someone's yard in a rural area but with the crop, the lawn drops out. As for height issues, absolutely. The bird spent five hours at a perch 80 feet up a deciduous tree. It finally came down for a couple of minutes before ascending once again. It was feeding solely on cracked corn but I never saw it eat anything. I think it is only feeding early.

Mississippi Kite (1)

Ictinia mississippiensis

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: May 13 2023

Details: immature, outside normal range

Point Pelee National Park - One or two birds appear each spring around mid-May, sometimes hanging around for a couple of days before returning south. This is a second year bird showing adult features like whitish head and gray underparts but still having mottled underwing.

Date uploaded: May 19 2023

Comments (4):
Chris: Congratulations not only on the sighting and great picture, but the first upload of the species!
BrianMorin: This was a target bird for me on the trip. I was fortunate to have one of the best looks at the species that people have had in years.

Cassin's Kingbird (1)

Tyrannus vociferans

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Jun 16 2023

Details: outside normal range

Leamington – An exceptionally rare bird in the province with only a few prior records for this Southwestern U.S. species. Thankfully I was in the region at the time and saw the bird the day after many others had seen it. It was not found the following day so timing was perfect.

Date uploaded: Jun 18 2023

Comments (3):
Ahmad Shah: Great find, well captured.
BrianMorin: This was an exceptionally difficult subject to shoot. The initial brief activity at dawn was in the open but after that it was always within a small woodlot in a park. Poor light and lots of leaves and branches meant I'll only have about 2-3% keepers but at least I have this to show for the effort.

Roseate Spoonbill (1)

Ajaia ajaja

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Sep 17 2023

Details: immature, outside normal range

Aylmer - A rare flight of spoonbills brought birds to Ontario and Quebec. Ontario's first was in a conservation area being enjoyed by numerous birders, photographers and locals out for a walk. This was a real treat for us all. Most of the time it was at a distance but once it came within range.

Date uploaded: Sep 18 2023

Comments (2):
Sue Bishop: So lovely. I remember seeing them in Costa Rica many years ago. Always a joy to see.
BrianMorin: Even though this is a young bird it still had great colour. It was well worth the trip.

Black Scoter (1)

Melanitta nigra

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Nov 10 2023

Details: female

Long Sault - This is an uncommon fall migrant. She swam very close to a bridge and thankfully there was a pull off on the bridge. I was able to safely crouch down and wait until she swam closer.

Date uploaded: Nov 11 2023

Comments (2):
Sue Bishop: Great find and capture,Brian!
Brian Morin: What was exceptionally good was the distance. She was as close as I could have hoped for.

Fieldfare (1)

Turdus pilaris

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Nov 30 2023

Details: outside normal range

Sturgeon Falls - This bird has been high on my wish list for decades but being a Eurasian species the chances of seeing one here were slim. The last one to appear in Ontario was 42 years ago. After our success we almost added a second bird the next day in far eastern Quebec while watching a wayward Painted Bunting at a feeder. We didn't know that a bird showed up nearby the day before and we were told that it had been seen that morning a few hundred metres away from where we were. We missed it by an hour. It was not seen again unfortunately so we missed seeing two birds in two days in two months in two provinces. What are the odds of that? Both individuals likely came over from Iceland.

Date uploaded: Dec 3 2023

Comments (4):
Sue Bishop: Wow! Fantastic! You got a beautiful photo as well!
Ahmad Shah: Wow ! That is an amazing find, well captured, I have seen this bird in Germany, but I couldn't expect to see it here. Well done.