Brian Morin

1772 uploads

Total photos: 1772
Total videos: 0
Species photographed: 347
Most photographed species: Snowy Owl (See all)
Countries visited: 2
Copyright Brian Morin
Birdviewing.com
Copyright Brian Morin
Birdviewing.com
Dec 2 2022
female, outside normal range
Bailieboro - This bird was seconds from eluding me. I had spent over an hour checking the fields and farms it had been reported in for close to a week. Others had given up and I made one final run when I spotted it about 100 metres out atop a fence. It looked like it was merely a very small bump because it was crouched in the wind. I was later able to go onto the farm property thanks to the gracious homeowner and followed the bird for a bit as it hunted for insects on the ground. It was cold so it was lucky to find some large caterpillars.
Dec 5 2022
22
Copyright Brian Morin
Birdviewing.com
Dec 2 2022
immature, winter plummage
Oshawa - An end of the year treat. These coastal birds show up very late in the season in very small numbers, normally along Lake Ontario. I was lucky to find two. They are very hardy and one or two may overwinter in rocky areas that don't freeze. They are notoriously tame. I just waited for them to come to me.
Dec 3 2022
23
Copyright Brian Morin
Birdviewing.com
Nov 24 2022
male, adult, winter plummage
Presqu'ile Provincial Park - This is a fairly rare shot of a common winter duck on Lake Ontario. I have never seen one out of the water although I have seen thousands. The bird was about 20 metres offshore and I stealthily approached very slowly, stopping with each small advancement. I used the camera on tripod as my blind so my form would not be obvious. It worked. In fact, I could have gotten even closer but I stopped when the water reached 3/4" from the top of my rubber boots. I knew what would happen next. I'd turn around and head for shore and it would move (I was about 10 metres into the lake). As soon as I turned it headed into the water and swam away.

The best thing about this rare experience was the setting. It was perfect late afternoon light with the bird in exactly the right position.
Nov 27 2022
42
Copyright Brian Morin
Birdviewing.com
Nov 15 2022
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.
Nov 23 2022
29
Copyright Brian Morin
Birdviewing.com
Nov 17 2022
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.
Nov 19 2022
19
Copyright Brian Morin
Birdviewing.com
Copyright Brian Morin
Birdviewing.com
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.
Nov 10 2022
19
First photo badge
Copyright Brian Morin
Birdviewing.com
Oct 28 2022
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.
Nov 1 2022
23
Copyright Brian Morin
Birdviewing.com
Wood Duck (74)
Oct 21 2022
male, adult
Ottawa - This as the actual reflected background colour, not enhanced.
Oct 26 2022
27