Willow Ptarmigan (9)

Lagopus lagopus

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

  📍 Map

Date taken: May 8 2023

Details: molting, outside normal range

Point Pelee National Park - This is the most unlikely bird to ever visit the southernmost point of mainland Canada and a record for this Arctic wanderer. Hundreds of observers saw the bird within its five hour visit before it flew off towards a destination even further south, Pelee Island, 16km away. In typical ptarmigan fashion it paid no attention to its admirers, at times approaching to within a few feet of them.

Date uploaded: May 19 2023

Views: 19

Comments (4):
Chris: That is indeed incredible. While at Long Point I overheard talk of this occurrence. Glad you caught up with him!
BrianMorin: I have seen birds in northern Quebec but not in Ontario and to have one show up on this trip was an experience beyond incredible. Ironically we were watching the appearance of the bird on its journey which was first noted in Toronto a number of days earlier then possibly Burlington, then Port Stanley, Wheatley the day before and then Point Pelee before a final flight south to Pelee Island with no further updates. Hundreds of people saw this species for the first time that morning. The discovery close by at Wheatley the previous day was a closely guarded secret known only to a few local birders. All that changed before 6:00 a.m. when it showed up at the southern Tip of the park and the whole birding world knew. It made regional media news and I discovered moments ago that so did I. I was in the throng captured on video by a local broadcaster and aired on CBC (I recognized my hat and jacket) :) https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2204262979681

Cape May Warbler (42)

Setophaga tigrina

Chris

Canada (Ontario)

  📍 Map

Date taken: May 14 2023

On of my favourite species, ever since first seeing him in 1989 in Pointe Claire. Seen during his thousand mile journey, successfully finding small bugs to eat in the pine needles. Long Point, Ontario.

Date uploaded: May 19 2023

Views: 24

Comments (1):
BrianMorin: Nice. One of my favourites too.

Winter Wren (10)

Troglodytes troglodytes

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

Date taken: Apr 21 2023

Ottawa - The lively extended song of this tiny mite is remarkable, a welcome sound on a spring day.

Date uploaded: Apr 23 2023

Views: 19

Comments (4):
Ahmad Shah: Marvelous capture Brian !
BrianMorin: He was being very vocal with his bubbly song. It was worth the effort to try for some shots.

Brown Thrasher (42)

Toxostoma rufum

Ahmad Shah

Canada (Québec)

In our backyard, Quebec.

Date uploaded: Apr 22 2023

Views: 15

Comments (2):
BrianMorin: That's a good sign. The season is moving along nicely and a good bird for the yard list.
Chris: Great job.::he is often very tough.

Eastern Meadowlark (73)

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

  📍 Map

Details: adult

Ingleside - These birds returned about a week ago and are a welcome sight in the fields. As expected, it was a very difficult subject to work with.

Date uploaded: Apr 13 2023

Views: 17

Comments (6):
Sue Bishop: Wonderful find and capture,Brian!!
BrianMorin: I went looking for them and found a pair where there was a pair last year. This time I had one bird closer than before.

Ring-necked Duck (29)

Aythya collaris

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

  📍 Map

Details: male, adult

Long Sault - There are still a few hundred diving ducks in the river, with Ring-necked being the most numerous.

Date uploaded: Apr 13 2023

Views: 19

Comments (6):
Sue Bishop: A beauty!
BrianMorin: He sure is and in good light.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (121)

Setophaga coronata

Chris

Canada (British Columbia)

Our friend is back in the yard. Not sure if it's the same exact bird, or perhaps a young bird from last year - but was happy to see him return. Delta, BC

Date uploaded: Apr 4 2023

Views: 18

Comments (3):
BrianMorin: Good shot. It will be three weeks before we can expect some of its cousins.
Sue Bishop: Nice find and capture

Western Grebe (73)

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

  📍 Map

Details: adult, outside normal range

Port Credit - This bird has put in an annual appearance for four years. It usually sticks around for a few weeks then moves about Lake Ontario and eventually heads to the Prairies. I went to see it last year but it was 150 metres out in the lake. Needless to say the speck in the middle of the shot was not very convincing. I spent the entire morning hoping for a close approach and had success a couple of times as it moved from far out to shore. It was always on the move and usually that was underwater. It can easily swim beneath the waves for several minutes and cover a great distance. It prefers underwater to flight or even swimming. It never flew.

Date uploaded: Mar 30 2023

Views: 18

Comments (4):
Sue Bishop: Wonderful find and capture Brian!!
BrianMorin: It was worth the trip and the delay of a year to have it at less than 8 metres.

Evening Grosbeak (21)

Hesperiphona vespertina

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

  📍 Map

Details: male, adult

Limoges - A flock was coming to a feeder. The birds were very skittish despite me being covered in camo mesh. It took two hours before they dropped down and I wasn't too close.

Date uploaded: Mar 24 2023

Views: 19

Comments (2):
Ahmad Shah: Gorgeous bird, superb work to get it. Well done Brian !
BrianMorin: He was a real beauty and for a couple of seconds was in the right place at the right time. I made an observation about the difference between males and females in my last two occasions with these birds. It is the females that will come in first, not the males but both are nervous. Pine Grosbeaks, on the other hand, are very obliging and are not only less skittish, they will allow closer approach. Unfortunately I haven't come across them this winter.

Boreal Owl (11)

Aegolius funereus

Brian Morin

Canada (Québec)

  📍 Map

Details: adult, outside normal range

Gatineau - This was my second trip to see this northern species and it turned out better than my previous visit. The bird showed better this time.

Date uploaded: Mar 10 2023

Views: 18

Comments (4):
Chris: A real treat to see knowing it is one of the most difficult species in North America to find.
BrianMorin: Absolutely. It is even a real challenge on its breeding territory. We got lucky with this one.