Harlequin Duck (27)

Histrionicus histrionicus

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Apr 7 2025

Details: male, adult

Mississauga - While this species is viewed every winter in the area with a few individuals, it is still a rarity in the province and is considered a species at risk in Eastern Canada. Females are usually observed more than males in southern Ontario.

Date uploaded: Apr 8

Comments (4):
Sue Bishop: Great find and capture, Brian!
Brian Morin: In morning light his colours really pop.

Tufted Duck (7)

Aythya fuligula

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Apr 6 2025

Details: male, adult, outside normal range

Erieau - This Eurasian wanderer put in an appearance in the extreme southwestern part of the province. I had a very poor distant look at one in Toronto in January and failed a second time for a better look at the same bird in a different location. This bird was much better.

Date uploaded: Apr 8

Comments (4):
Sue Bishop: Another great find!
Brian Morin: This was a long trip but after failed attempts this winter I had to try again. It all worked nicely.

Varied Thrush (11)

Ixoreus naevius

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Mar 7 2025

Details: female, adult, outside normal range

Ottawa - The bird remained in the area since January.

Date uploaded: Mar 20

Comments (2):
BobTour: very nice colorful bird
Brian Morin: It brightens up a winter landscape.

Willow Ptarmigan (7)

Lagopus lagopus

Brian Morin

Canada (Québec)

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Date taken: Mar 12 2025

Details: adult, winter plummage, outside normal range

Barraute - There has been a major irruption from the Arctic in Abitibi County. It was my second trip this winter and this time I had 51 birds in two days. The experience was terrific.

Date uploaded: Mar 17

Comments (2):
BobTour: wow what a great accomplishment, very nice photo
Brian Morin: This was a whole lot of fun. Very long days slowly driving country roads but well worth the effort.

Painted Bunting (7)

Passerina ciris

(Near-threatened)

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: May 3 2021

Details: female, adult, outside normal range

Ottawa - I had forgotten to post this individual, well out of range but a pleasant surprise.

Date uploaded: Feb 27

Boreal Owl (10)

Aegolius funereus

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Feb 22 2025

Details: adult

Ottawa - Well hidden in cedars, I finally saw this bird that I had missed earlier in the week. There have been a number of Boreal Owls in southwestern Quebec and this one in Eastern Ontario, part of a minor irruption along with Great Gray Owls. The bird was very difficult to shoot because of branches. My shot window was no more than 6" wide and 2" high before branches compromised the shot. I used a monopod otherwise precision would have been impossible. It was also very dark and very late on a cloudy day. I shot at 1/10 second at 8,000 ISO.

Date uploaded: Feb 23

Barred Owl (26)

Strix varia

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Feb 20 2025

Details: adult

Ottawa - The bird was still actively hunting 90 minutes after sunrise. The frosty look to its face is actual frost.

Date uploaded: Feb 21

Comments (2):
Ahmad Shah: Fantastic capture.
Brian Morin: A very cooperative bird in nice early light. This makes up for a midday shot of another one in bright sunlight that I got a few weeks ago. I couldn't do much with the conditions and that bird was squinting.

Northern Shrike (23)

Lanius excubitor

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Feb 14 2025

Details: adult

Kingston (Wolfe Island) - A pleasant surprise at the end of the day.

Date uploaded: Feb 15

Comments (2):
Ahmad Shah: Fantastic capture.
Brian Morin: It was the best capture of the day. Very few subjects to work with on that outing.

Eastern Screech Owl (23)

Otus asio

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Feb 12 2025

Details: adult

Ormond - I waited an hour for it to open its eyes at sundown. I am in my car on the other side of the road.

Date uploaded: Feb 13

Pine Grosbeak (13)

Pinicola enucleator

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Jan 19 2025

Details: male, adult

Matachewan - Beautiful male coming to a feeder. We have none down south this winter so seeing these birds was a treat.

Date uploaded: Feb 5

Comments (2):
Chris: A dream shot. Super result
Brian Morin: You are right. I dreamed of getting a shot like this with an adult male for years and when the scene unfolded I clicked away. Everything worked. I've had some luck closer to home in the past with males, which are never very numerous here (more females and immature males) but with nowhere near the result.