BrianMorin

1528 uploads

Total photos: 1528
Total videos: 0
Species photographed: 319
Most photographed species: Snowy Owl (See all)
Countries visited: 2

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Cattle Egret (29)

Bubulcus ibis

BrianMorin

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

Comments (4):
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.

American Wigeon (29)

Anas americana

BrianMorin

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

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 (22)

BrianMorin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Nov 15 2022

Details: female

Presqu'ile Provincial Park

Date uploaded: Nov 16

Comments (4):
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.

Purple Gallinule (14)

Porphyrio martinica

BrianMorin

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

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.

Cattle Egret (29)

Bubulcus ibis

BrianMorin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Oct 28 2022

Details: winter plummage

Merrickville - An invasion of Cattle Egrets has brought well over 100 into southern Quebec and Ontario. One Quebec location briefly had over 50 birds. This is my second sighting in October with this bird being far more photogenic than the previously shown individual. As is usually the case, the egret was hanging around farm animals, on this occasion a pair of horses, and wandered as close as 10 metres from me at times.

Date uploaded: Nov 1

Comments (2):
Chris: Great to see, and hear the story behind!
BrianMorin: I spent a few hours watching with others and it was interesting to observe its behaviour. We got lucky because that was the last day it was seen.

Wood Duck (22)

BrianMorin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Oct 21 2022

Details: male, adult

Ottawa - This as the actual reflected background colour, not enhanced.

Date uploaded: Oct 26

Comments (4):
Chris: The golden hour has arrived. Spectacular work!
BrianMorin: It sure has, aided by a glorious display of autumn colour.

Long-billed Dowitcher (13)

Limnodromus scolopaceus

BrianMorin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Oct 18 2022

Details: male, juvenile

Blenheim - An uncommon migrant. Identified as a probable male based on bill length. Females have a longer bill.The same goes for Short-billed Dowitchers. To add to the confusion of species, you can have a long-billed, Short-billed Dowitcher and a short-billed, Long-billed Dowitcher. Both species were poorly named.

Date uploaded: Oct 20

Comments (4):
Ahmad Shah: Wonderful capture.
BrianMorin: The lighting was perfect but standing in wind that was 40-50 kph with zero cover was something else. I hung on to my heavy tripod and even heavier lens the whole time, just in case.

Tropical Kingbird (21)

Tyrannus melancholicus

BrianMorin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

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

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.

Cattle Egret (29)

Bubulcus ibis

BrianMorin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Details: adult, winter plummage

Brooklin

Date uploaded: Oct 18

Comments (2):
Chris: Always room for more animals on the site 😂
BrianMorin: I think this bird would agree. :)

Cattle Egret (29)

Bubulcus ibis

BrianMorin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Details: adult, winter plummage, outside normal range

Brooklin - There is still a bit of breeding colour on the head but not much. This was the second day of the bird's appearance and I was lucky to be passing close by on my way home from Southern Ontario so I had to only make a minor detour.

Date uploaded: Oct 18

Comments (4):
Chris: Terrific clarity and what a cute bird.
BrianMorin: This was a great opportunity and the leafy background added to the shot.