What's New?
As I update various sections on the webpage, they will be listed below along with the date they were added to the site. All photographs and content on this website are © Brandon Holden and cannot be used in any way without my permission.
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September 1st : summer vacation is over - the main update here is White-tailed Tropicbird pictures from Bermuda in April.
Red-necked Phalarope
Herring Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Grasshopper Sparrow
Peregrine Falcon
Unusual Ontario Birds: a few new, and a few really old ones I found on my computer recently.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Red-necked Phalaropes
Trumpeter Swan - tilbury
Long-billed Dowitchers - phone + scope combo. Sep 23, 09 - Amherstview
Purple Sandpiper - a pretty good phone + scope - Oct 25, 2008 - Grimsby
Pacific Loon - record shot to the extreme, Point Pelee - May 14, 06
more regular updates this fall I hope
June 16th - Newwww pictures:
Check check check out the blog for a set of Fox photos from the other day. I'm still not sure what to do with my mammal pictures on this site. Also some birds:
Wilson's Snipe
Osprey - below
- looks a lot better at full size, but what can I do?
June 14- work work work
I may not be updating it as much as before -- June is a really busy time of year for work, and i'll be spending some time in non-internet areas. Will try to get some stuff up though! The latest blog posting is about a strange observation of Cackling Geese at the Toronto zoo yesterday.
More recent images:
Kirtland's Warbler - 3 in one year! 4th pic down on the page
Whip-poor-will - my first shots of this species
A few Newfoundland pictures:
Black-headed Gull -2
Ivory Gull - 2 (bottom images)
I've also managed to create a section on my favourite image page for Ivory Gull photos. It was such an incredible experience, I figured it deserved it's own place (under the Peregrine pictures). Other Newfoundland images will eventually appear amongst the "other favourites"...
May 19th - New RECENT pictures! Woooo!
Kirtland's Warbler (scroll down)
Savannah Sparrow
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Cliff Swallow
Nashville Warbler
Barn Swallow
Laughing Gull
May 7th - I still haven't done anything on here.
The Blog is still rolling - hosting some hybrid shorebird pictures for Peter Burke. And more weather talk.
Kirtland's Warbler record shot from Hillman Marsh this evening.
April 30th: a few things
I still haven't done much with the Bermuda stuff. I still haven't done much with the Newfoundland stuff either. But hey! My feeble attempt at a blog has been reasonably popular. Still trying to update it almost daily.
First "Unusual Ontario Birds" photographed for the year:
Long-billed Dowitcher
Harlequin Ducks
I've finally updated completed the page on Presentations! So far it's only two, and they're both stories about travelling, but I think they're both pretty entertaining! Let me know if you have a group I could talk to.
Annndd my "about me" page has a recent picture of me from Bermuda. woo!
April 17th: home from Bermuda.. cha cha cha cha
Anything news and exciting from Bermuda will be put on the "blog". I'm still not comfortable using the word "blog", but I don't know what else to use!
New pictures will appear on this page when they arrive. For now, here's a single White-tailed Tropicbird (or Bermuda Longtail). More of these birds to come! Just don't expect too much else.
Also some "housekeeping" pictures I got ready a few weeks ago:
American Tree Sparrow - 1
Clay-coloured Sparrow - 1
April 1st : blog
im going to try to update the blog every day (ish).. but! I won't be updating this page every time.
I plan on having recent pictures on there too.. I just haven't taken any yet.
March 29th: more old images, finally making it online
White-cheeked Pintail X Northern Pintail hybrid - 2
Brewer's Duck (Mallard x Gadwall) - 2
Leucistic American Crow - 1
White-breasted Nuthatch - 2
Leucistic Black-capped Chickadee - 1
And a minor blog update
March 28th:
Decided to take the plunge and do something like a blog. I figure it will be a chance to post some non-ontbirds worthy sightings, and post my random thoughts about birds/birding photography. There is a link to it at the top of this page! and here - blog! - time will tell if it lasts.
Sooner or later i'm going to re-do the banners at the top and bottom for each page. But for now, links to the blog will be on this page and my home page. The presentation thing should be active soon.
March 25th: Well you'd think I've spent the last few weeks working away on Newfoundland images. Well I fooled you all! Butterflies and Florida images await, just to keep you on your toes
B-flys:
Great Spangled Fritillary
Green Comma
Monarch
Fiery Skipper
European Skipper
White Admiral
Red-spotted Purple
Viceroy
Silver-spotted Skipper
Question Mark
Orange Sulphur
Northern Peary-eye
Hackberry Emperor
Eyed Brown
A few old bird pictures online as well...
White-winged Scoter - 1
Red-necked Grebe - 5
Greater Scaup - 1
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1
Common Merganser - 4
Redhead - 2
Ring-necked Duck x Scaup hybrid/backcross - 1
Mallard x Northern Pintail hybrid/backcross - 2
Mallard X American Black Duck hybrid - 3
Florida?
Snail Kite - 5
Sora - 1
American White Pelican - 5
Brown Pelican -4
Glossy Ibis - 2
Cattle Egret - 2
Great Egret - 7
Great Blue Heron - 3
Green Heron - 4
Green-winged Teal - 2
Sandhill Crane - 3
Roseate Spoonbill - 1
Tricoloured Heron - 10
Mottled Duck - 3
Blue-winged Teal - 3
Black-bellied Whistling Duck - 1
Anhingia -
3
Snowy Egret - 10
White Ibis - 4
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - 1
Reddish Egret - 7
Wood Stork - 2
Little Blue Heron - 4
Limpkin - 4
Common Moorhen -
2
Pied-billed Grebe - 4
Florida Scrub Jay - 3
March 3rd:
Well its officially official. I needed a few days rest after driving 2100km in 19 hours straight from the ferry dock in North Sydney. My only stops were for gas, as I had food in the car. Not something I feel like doing again anytime soon!
The final picture tally was just under 20300, with several thousand of those just on Ivory Gulls over the last week. Lots of sorting to do......... eventually............
I can't say enough thanks to everyone who helped me out during the trip. Bruce Mactavish was probably the driving factor in me wanting to visit NL in the first place, answered a pile of my question-filled emails, and eventually got me up on the northern peninsula for a dream-come-true Ivory Gull event. If you're visiting NL, you should also take look at:
Dave Sheppard and Julie Capplemans Bed and Breakfast -
Open for the summer months. Located in Portugal Cove South, they were very kind in allowing me to stay with them on more than one occasion. If you're down there in the summer, it is an amazing place to see some very exciting things - and not far from St. John's.
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The Green House:
restored century saltbox house
Contintential breakfast, double and single rooms, daily, weekly and monthy rates.
709-438-1104
e-mail
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Also check out Dave Brown's Newfoundland Blog if you're headed out to NL anytime soon!
http://birdingnewfoundland.blogspot.com/
And finally, Newfoundland bird listserv/group is always a great read:
http://groups.google.ca/group/nf.birds/topics?start=
Check back here as I upload new pictures from the trip (and other new pictures) over the next few weeks. I can promise it won't be daily. Being back in Ontario is already exciting, even when I haven't done any birding! Cardinals (among other species) are in full song, and migrant Horned Larks are all over the roads. I actually had 10 Short-eared Owls less than a KM away from my house last night!
March 5th - I should mention I made it home in late February! I'll post a more final-looking update in the next few days... I thought I already did this once, but I guess not! Been a bit busy with non-bird things since returning home.
Feb 26: disaster! Catastrophe!
Well my final depatrue from Newfoundland hit a roadblock.. Actually a ferry block. Winds increased steadily overnight until they were 60kmh steady (east) this morning. It was enough to prevent the ferry from docking, and it's now holding offshore. Sounds very familliar to to my trip out here! Other than I don't have an attractive young lady to spend the waiting game with :). My ferry is now moved to 11pm tonight, when the MV Caribou arrives (better at docking in winds like this)...
Given the winds aren't really forecasted to let up until wednesday, waiting for the ferry tomorrow morning probably isn't a good idea. So I'll be taking the night time one, ensuring I won't be seeing any cool pelagics. What can you do? I've still got the Ivory Gull high, so I'm not all that upset. Spent the day working on the website. Got some pictures ready to be put online:
Ivory Gull
Gyrfalcon
Northern Fulmar
Feb 25: they don't want me to leave...
Left St. Anthony just as the sun was coming up. Saw the expected birds on the drive out (finches, Gray Jays etc). The main highlight was mammals! In the few few hours, the following were on the road to say goodbye:
1 Moose
1 Moose
~60 Caribou
1 Moose
1 Caribou
2 Moose
~10 Caribou
My girlfriend texted me and told me to look away! Since they were obviously trying to lure me into staying. I wondered why they all had to be on the road! Hitting one of those big animals in the car can be deadly... Thankfully I avoided all of them :)
Not much worth stopping for in the Straight of Belle Isle. Bruce and John went home this way yesterday, and didn't see much - so I decided to not look that hard. I missed one goal (making it to Tim Hortons before they stopped serving breakfast sandwitches, missed by 20mins).... But obtained another when I arrived at the Corner Brook landfill just after noon. Lots of time to look at gulls!
Unfortunatley the weather was beautiful... A few degrees above freezing, with no wind and brilliant blue skies! There weren't all that many gulls at the dump, and some Bald Eagles were lazily circling overhead, keeping them flushed most of the time. The only real highlight was an adult Goshawk that I saw very breifly, before it was mobbed by several hundred crows and ravens. It was a tornado of mobbing! The noise was deafining when I went close to them.. Find kinda bad for the Goshawk, but I'm sure it could handle itself. A very impressive sight!
But now what was I going to do? I had planned on spending the afternoon here searching the gulls, but now I was bored! I spent some time mulling about Corner Brook, before deciding to head to Stephenville Crossing. I was going to do it the next day, on the way to the ferry.... but meh
I arrived with about 2 hours of daylight remaining. After seeing a few Geese and ducks, I moved locations and scanned some gulls. Then I noticed them! Ivory Gulls! Two at first, then I noticed a third much closer to me! A better scan turned up a fourth! What was going on here? The IVUG's up north had all returned to sea, and I was much much farther south! Given the brilliant sun, I decided to walk out on the ice to them, in hopes of getting some excellent evening light:
- taken today!
I had walked out towards the single close bird, but by the time had set, there were SIX adults together, right in front of me! I got a few of them in the very last rays of sunlight. Something I wasn't able to get up north. It couldn't have worked out more perfectly! So I thought I had seen my last one, but now my (probably) final total will be 117. How could I ever have expected this?
I then found a place to sleep for the night.. Probably not the best place (next to a church, on the side of a fairly busy road), but I fell asleep nonetheless. Temps went down around minus 4, and I wasn't sure if I'd stay warm. Well I got a solid 10 hours of sleep, only waking up a few times! Sometimes I would wake up because my nose was getting very cold. But a few times I woke up because my hand warmers were burning! No problems with the cold at all :)
Feb 24: and then there was one...........
My last day up on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland, and what a day it was. Light snow overnight, cloudy in the morning, turning to brilliant blue skies and light winds in the afternoon. Temperatures going above freezing in the afternoon... It's usually worse than this for the May long weekend back home. Great weather to be outside, but not to see birds really... Most of the birds seemed to be enjoying the weather. Big disappointment was finding a disemboweled Glaucous Gull at Goose Cove this morning. Looks like a Gyrfalcon caught it yesterday afternoon after we left.....
I checked several spots, but only had 1 Ivory Gull - an adult at L'anse aux Meadows. Seemed to be a fitting end to the trip. I talked to a local at Goose Cove who said just over a week ago, they watched at least 150 Ice Partridge (local name for IVGU) fly past them while eider hunting... Seems like the invasion was bigger than I witnessed, with the birds already moving offshore when I first arrived. My current tally of 111 Ivory Gull sightings is still incredibly more than I ever expected.
I haven't talked much about other sightings up here, but some sightings over the past few days included (but not limited to):
Ducks: Long-tailed Duck - 1 at St .Lunaire... Common Eiders - lots at L'anse aux Meadows. Single-digit observations elsewhere. Probably King's out there, but they were too distant to properly scan.
Alcids: didn't do a lot of looking, but only saw Black Guillemots - all looked like the arctic race
Gulls: - Glaucous the species usually seen. Much fewer Great Black-backed Gulls in 2nd place. A few Kumlien's in St. Anthony and singles elsewhere. Kittiwakes seen most days (singles), 3 Herring Gulls seen in the past week.
Raptors: only Gyr's seen! And a few Bald Eagles...
Landbirds: Gray Jays seen today. 2 Blue Jays in St. Anthony yesterday. Snow Buntings in L'anse aux Meadows once. House Sparrows in the outport towns, including L'anse aux Meadows. No pigeons or starlings though! Crow's and Ravens regular.
Finches: Pine Grosbeaks regular, White-winged Crossbills seen most days. The last few days brought a few sightings of Common Redpoll flocks.
Mammals: 60+ Caribou seen in Boat Harbour a few days ago. Otters and otter-slides noted. Harp Seals seen almost daily. Today there were 70 Harp Seals on the Ice off St. Lunaire. Unfortunately, no Polar Bears around..... Moose too!
So yeah! After nearly 2 months away from home, the time has come to start back. The Ivory Gulls are pretty much gone, but the Gyrfalcons are regular winter residents here. I'd love to stay and try to photograph them, but I'm not really prepared to put some serious effort into it. That means only one thing - I'll have to come back! Now that I've experienced these past 7-8 days, I know I won't be able to stay away if it happens again in the future.
Leaving the hotel early tomorrow, will check the Straight of Belle Isle on the way out - then try to get to the Corner Brook landfill to do a good check there before dark. Will spend the night in the car, and will check Stephenville Crossing the next morning before catching the ferry to Nova Scotia at 11:30am on the 26th. After that bit of pelagic birding, it will be straight driving towards home.
A few parting pictures:
Distant record shots of the gray gyrfalcons. Left, Feb 19 Gyr at Fishing Point Lighthouse atop a massive cliff. Right - big slate-gray adult Female Gyr at L'anse aux Meadows yesterday.
A bit disappointed I didn't get even a record shot of either white Gyrfalcon... but that'll be for next time!
And a few parting Ivory Gull pictures:
Will try to update if I get the chance... but don't expect anything too exciting! When I get home, I'm going to get to work putting pictures online.. So check back for a pile of IVGU pictures! oh, and I'll answer some emails as well!
Feb 23: Today:
Went to Goose Cove first thing (a bit late, not getting enough sleep!)... 1 adult Ivory Gull out on the ice, 1 adult feeding on the seal. Spent some time taking pictures of the cooperative one, but eventually it got full and flew away! Continuing the trend of fewer IVGU being even less cooperative....
Then went searching, had 1 ad. IVGU in St. Anthony, the first one I've had here in a few days. 2 more IVGU in St. Lunaire (ad, juv).
Made it to L'anse aux Meadows without any more IVGU. When I arrived here, one of the first things I found was a Northern Fulmar, floating just offshore with a group of Glaucous Gulls. It wasn't looking good, so I got the camera gear out and hoped it would float closer to shore. I stood on shore for a while, but it was just too far away. I decided to leave my camera there, and go check my IVGU "bait". (when I arrived, I brought some roadkill and moose legs in hopes of feeding IVGU's). As I got close, I noticed a Glaucous Gull taking off, which are always around before the IVGU's - a good sign!
One more step around the corner brought something totally unexpected. There was a huge slate-gray female Gyrfalcon, feeding on my moose legs!!! I was as shocked as the Gyr, which quickly jumped back and took off, flying away towards an offshore island. I had killer looks from 50-70ft away with my eyes and bins, but no pictures... I went back to the car and got the scope for some prolonged views of it on the island. A striking bird!
Once that crazyness was over, I noticed the fulmar was close enough to shore for pictures! I went out and snapped a bunch... I think this is the only fulmar seen from shore this winter in Newfoundland:
- some people have asked (and some accosted) if it's bad to photograph these probably sick/dying birds when their guard is down. I tend to be happy to photograph them like this, capturing them in a picture to live on - even if they pass away.
Checked a few other places on the way out, only real highlight was 1 more adult IVGU at St. Carols. Decided to head back to Goose Cove in hopes of photographing more IVGU's. On the drive there, just outside of St. Anthony, I noticed a bright white bird power flying the other way, a few hundred feet away from the road. A glowing white Gyrfalcon! I had 4-5 seconds to look at the bird, before slamming on the breaks, making a u-turn in a dangerous spot, and trying to chase the bird down. Unfortunately I lost it... It is somewhat close to where Bruce and John had a brief look at a white Gyr yesterday - probably the same bird
The day ended without much note. Went to Goose Cove, and found Bruce and John who said there were no longer any IVGU around. Decided to go searching for the white gyr again (no luck), and ended the day at the Fishing Point Lighthouse looking for Gyr's of any colour - but no luck there either! I've decided to stay for tomorrow, before starting my drive home on the 25th. I've already decided I'll have to come back here for future IVGU events, or even just to put some serious effort into getting better pics of the Gyrfalcons. It's a magical place!
I haven't edited any IVGU pics from today yet, so in the interest of getting to sleep, here's another from a few days ago:
- adult IVGU about to get swamped by a wave.
Feb 22: Another quick update. Long day of birding, John Wells and Bruce Mactavish are still around. We all went to Goose Cove to start, but the IVGU's were being really uncooperative. It seemed like all the ones there yesterday had left, and we were only seeing "new" birds moving in from further south. Bruce has noted they're pelagic birds, and for the last few days they've been moving back offshore. Numbers are lower and lower, but I'm getting better at finding them. I can only imagine how many were around the few days before I arrived here. My days total was 12 (7 "migrants" at Goose Cove, 5 feeding at St. Carols),,, giving me 104 for the trip! Unbelievable.
Today was my first day up here without a Gyrfalcon sighting. Bruce and John had a possible/probable white Gyr, but it didn't stick around to give good views.
Photography was slow today. Far and away the fewest pictures taken. One notable thing about today was the prolonged period of blue skies and sun! I actually got a bit of a sunburn today. IVGU's weren't all that cooperative, but I still managed a few pictures against the blue:
- blue skies today!
I'll share another early favourite as well, from a few days ago:
- full frame - an early fave.. I have a LOT of early favourites!
Time for sleep... zzzzz...........
Feb 21: Some people noted I seemed a little upset in the update yesterday! Well I was.. I wrote that soon after the Gyr-thing... But don't get me wrong. It was an unbelievable day! Today was as well! Bruce Mactavish and John Wells arrived last night, to take part in the Ivory-gull goodness.
The IVGUs seem to be moving back offshore. There are a lot fewer around, and in fewer places. End of day total was 7-8 I think, even after some looking. Tomorrow I should break into tripple-digit IVGU sightings. Not too many repeat individuals in that total...
Sticking with the "only two birds matter" theme, I had Gyrfalcon for the 4th day in a row. Wasn't a new bird though, it was the same culprit as yesterday (silver).. Good news was that I saw it 5 times, and actually got some good pictures of it:
I've taken over 5500 Ivory Gull pictures as well. Fixed some up, but haven't really scratched the surface yet. I feel like I should share one though~! Taken a few days ago, a preview of the dozens and dozens to come:
- an early favourite
Feb 20: This is what makes them once in lifetime shots I guess... I quite possibly missed the two best photo's I (could have) ever taken in my life today.
These (missed) pictures would have combined it all.. Sharpness, exciting subject matter, multi-bird interaction, full-frame quality, (and maybe the "wow" factor)... So what happened?
Subject A:
Had the above birds wing not been shaved off, it would have been magic. This is re-sized from a full frame image. I will probably re-add the wing in photoshop later... but that is pretty much cheating when it comes to pictures like this.
Subject B:
Yep, that's a Gyrfalcon with an adult Ivory Gull. This picture is a huge crop. Worst part of it was, it caught the Ivory Gull 40ft away from me.. I heard the "whock" and turned around and saw the Gyr on the ground, the IVGU feebly struggling. The gyr bent down and snapped the IVGU's neck, (I heard the crack), then flew away... the IVGU dripping blood as it flew.
So where was my camera? Well it was 20ft away. I was out on some ice chunks, trying to haul seal skins out of the water to feed the IVGUs on later days... The above shot is a super-distant "record shot"... I've got the vision of the Gyr, facing me, mantling the IVGU, burned into my brain right now.
Tomorrow's another day.
(final days tally was 23 IVGU and 1 Gyr.. I guess 22 IVGU now)... Making 85 IVGU sightings for me in Newfoundland (and 3 Gyr's in 3 days - white, gray, and whatever you call this one.. silver? it was pretty dark on top)... I guess I can't complain too much.. Actually, yes I can. ;)
Feb 19th - seal is definitely their favourite:
Checked the seal in town first thing this morning... Only 2 adult Ivory Gulls eating it... and only 2 more adults seen flying around. What was I to do? Well I took pictures of course ;)
Then I went to the Fishing Point lighthouse.. Didn't see any Ivory Gulls on the way, and none out over the ocean! Maybe today will be slower than yesterday? Wait, what's that on the cliff? Oh.. it's a gray Gyrfalcon... Had awesome views in the scope.. The bird was sitting atop a massive cliff overlooking the ocean.
Next trip was a 10km drive to Goose Cove, somewhere not checked yet. I drove as far as the road went, then stopped to look over the water. I noticed Ivory Gulls feeding near some floating ice.. Awesome! Got out, and walked towards them. 2 adults and 1 juv were around. The juv was picking at something in the water - close to shore. Oh boy, it's was a seal skin... It was dangerously close to floating out to sea.. I grabbed a stick, and tried to draw it towards shore. I finally got it within arms distance. I put my hand inside a plastic bag, and tried to drag it up onto the ice. It was really hard to hold onto, but I finally got it.
The entire time I was "saving" the seal skin, the Ivory gulls were going nuts. 3 adults and the juv were flying around, calling, diving within feet of my head! Once the skin was on the ice, I backed up about 10ft and two landed and started eating right away. I went back and got all my lenses (including the small ones!). And spent the day with this seal skin. It was another unforgettable day.
Ivory Gulls arrived all day, ever few hours it seemed like a small group of new recruits would arrive (from upshore? offshore?). One group flew in with a juv. Kittiwake. I'm not really sure how many were around.. It's not easy to tell differences between the adult Ivory Gulls, but it was a decent number. I'm guessing 10-14 adults and 2-3 juv's. I took a lot of pictures...... Different than other IVGU's i've seen, I gained these birds trust completely, and was allowed to walk around them within 7-8 feet, without disturbing them at all. If I got within 5ish feet, they would move back a few feet. If I moved slowly, I would get my face down within 2ft of them as they picked at the seal. Normally only a few birds were around at one time, but late in the day it looked like this:
(taken from 15ft away)
Some things I've learned about them. (well, a lot I had already heard from others, but now I've seen it for myself!)
- they are really bad at judging waves close to shore, I've seen a few get swamped
- they're really aggressive towards each other. (it wasn't long before all heck broke loose in the above picture).
- several "adults" have black flecks on the head - is this 2nd ba. plumage??
- they're tough! - they take eachothers beatings... One bird had a dislocated leg, and was the meanest of the bunch!
- they sound like terns
- they're always talking to each other
- they really are whiter than snow (they're a warm white)
- they're fearless.. not scared at all of the huge Glaucous Gulls, or me.. or my beard
I saw a few other things today, but lets be serious, after Ivory Gulls and Gyr's?? Time to get ready for tomorrow and get some sleep. It's a busy life right now! But a fun one :)
Feb 18th - where do i begin? If you're coming up here, bring something dead for the gulls to eat! Seal might be their favourite!
Left the hotel... 15mins later had an Ivory Gull on the road, leading to a warf. Drove up to the warf, and there was gold. And by gold, I mean someone had cleaned a seal. ALL the skin with blubber attached left on the ice. 3 Ad. Ivory Gulls eating it at once with a bunch of Glaucous. Spent some time here (for obvious reasons).. I figured there were 8 Ivory's in the general area, including my first 2 Juv's.
Drove up the road towards the fishing point lighthouse. 1 Juv. Ivory on the ice on shore (close to the road). Got to the lighthouse, in heavy fog. Couldn't see much - other than the 3 adult Ivory Gulls feeding in the surf. Awesome
Left town, went to some nearby (smaller) towns. St. Anthony bight had nothing. Then went to St. Carols - and right away saw the open water in the docks was dotted with adult Ivory Gulls. Someone had dumped snowshoe hare parts on the ice, being eaten by a single Juv. Ivory. I counted several times, and had 14 Ivory Gulls (3 juv's, 11 ad's) in 150ft of shore... Unbelievable. A kittiwake came in close, but I was busy talking to a local and missed the pictures!
Then, the fog and drizzle cleared rapidly. The skies broke into sunshine! Went back to St. Anthonys (home base), to get gas, and checked the seal feeder. ALL the Ivory Gulls were gone! A-well, decided to make the drive to L'anse aux Meadows. Checked all the coves/water on the drive up, with very very little. Quirpon was the first place I had 200ish gulls (most GLGU, some GBBG) - plus 1 adult Ivory Gull and 1 Kittiwake mingling about.
Made it to L'anse aux Meadows without much else. I don't want to write a long story, so to make it short - I've wanted to visit this place for years. I had seen Bruce Mactavish's pictures of Ivory Gulls from here, and have since heard stories of him living up here for several years. It's the stuff of birding legend! So how was my visit?
Well I arrived, and did a quick drive around. Didn't see any Ivories. I decided to park and watch the water for a while. 2 adult Ivory Gulls flew up, over the car, and along the shore... a few minutes later, a WHITE Gyrfalcon did a power flight past. Probably 200ft in front of the car, and only 30-40 ft. up. Unbelievable views, and it went at rocket-speed out over the water towards an island (at rocket speed, into a 40kmh headwind!!!)... It was getting late, but 2 more adult Ivory Gulls flew past offshore... L'anse aux Meadows? Magic..............................
Feb 17th - they're here :)
- 10 Adults seen from Savage Cove to Eddies Cove on the drive in :)
Feb 16th - nothing new to report. Didn't take a single picture! Didn't even see the Redpoll. Many thanks (again) goes to Dave and Julie for letting me stay at their place! Awesome food and company. Packing up the car to leave for 3-3:30am tomorrow. Probably won't have internet for a while. The longer I stay up there, (with no updates), you can assume I'm seeing lots of good stuff, and am not willing to leave!
Edit: While thinking about the adult Ivory Gull seen in Toronto (home) yesterday, I got a call about an adult Ivory Gull 45 minutes south of my current location, as I pack all of my personal belongings in anticipation of driving 12+ hours to L'anse aux Meadows tomorrow at 3am.
Edit: Anyone play poker? I'm going all in, pre-flop with a 7, 2 offsuit on a hunch. Yes, I'm driving AWAY from a close Ivory Gull report in the morning for L'anse aux Meadows.
The local bird was seen for 40 minutes as it hunted the shoreline and was eventually lost. It could be in the same spot tomorrow, or gone. I'm going for sure though :) wish me luck....
Feb 15th- mid day mega-update
Going to update right now, because I wont be able to tonight! See below for map and details of new travel plan:
D - where I'm going right now, Portugal Cove South to try and photograph the Hornemanns' Hoary before I leave
C- My room in St. John's... Bye room!
B - I have to drive this far already, to head home..... so why not visit:
A - L'anse Aux Meadows!!!!!!!! Yep, word of Ivory Gulls on the coast in Labrador has me on the move... This is the bird I want. I'm gonna have to find them. Northern Peninsula here I come.
So yeah... I plan on leaving early on the 17th (unless the weather gets really sticky). Will update on the 16th at night
Feb 13th - 14th:
Newfoundland daily trip updates
Feb 12th - website update:
I finally did some serious work today on my "Favourite Images" section, getting almost all of the thumbnails activated (along with some new additions).
Also, put some pictures onto their pages... Most old, some new:
Boreal Chickadee
Slaty-backed Gull
Tufted Duck
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Bald Eagle
Glaucous Gull
Herring Gull
Great Cormorant
American Crow
American Black Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Yellow-legged Gull
Feb 2nd to Feb 11th:
Newfoundland daily trip updates
Feb 1st -
It was yet another inside day. For your birding/picture viewing entertainment, I present a new article that I finished this morning:
Canada and Cackling Geese in Ontario - an awkward introduction
Any comments on the goose article are most welcome :)
Jan 20th to Jan 31st -
Daily updates from my Newfoundland Trip:
January 16th to January 19th
2010 Newfoundland Trip
I also put some pictures on their pages. Most are repeats, but a few are new:
Slaty-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Gull
Great Cormorant
Black-headed Gull
American Black
Duck
Great Black-backed Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Common Eider
January 11th to January 15th
2010 Trip to Newfoundland
I finally got around to putting some pictures onto their pages:
Northern Pintail
Common Gull
Tufted Duck
Black-headed Gull
Iceland Gull
Mallard
American Black Duck
January 2nd to January 10th
2010 Newfoundland Trip
January 1st, 2010- happy new year!
Newfoundland: Leaving in a few hours on the 4-5+ day drive to St. Johns, Newfoundland with my girlfriend Jenn! I'll be staying there for 2 months, Jenn was nice enough to do the first 10 days of the trip with me!
There is a heavy snowfall warning for more than half of our driving trip, with upwards of 30+cm forecasted for parts of New Brunswick. Not the best forecast, but I've consulted the weather gods (weather.ca / intellicast.com / environment canada) and I think we stand a good chance of missing the worst of the storm. The plan is to leave the Ontario Science Centre today at 4:30pm (where Jenn has been doing presentations for the past week), and try to get somewhere around Montreal or Quebec City before we call it a night. Will try to update tomorrow (if we can get internet) on how far we've made it!
Updates!!
I did an article! Don't get too excited though. It's not much... It's my favourite pictures of 2009!
Old Gull pictures, trying to clean up some unsorted pictures before my trip:
Nelson's Gull - adult - Jan 20, 2008 - Hamilton
Thayers Gull - juv/1st ba - Jan 31, 2008 - Niagara River
Herring Gull - 1st ba - Nov 24, 08 - Waterdown - showing some features of California Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gulls - TWO - first alt's - July 3, 09 - Waterdown, ON
Glaucous Gull - adult - April 2, 2008 - a good candidate for barrovianus Glaucous Gull?
Great Black-backed x Herring hybrid - adult - Jan 3, 2008 - Hamilton
Lesser Black-backed Gulls - October 8, 2008 - TWO juv's from Thunder Bay, ON
Great Black-backed X Herring hybrid - adult - two "record" shots - Nov 21, 09, Niagara River
Iceland Gull - adult - Kumlien's?? Looks wrong for glaucoides, but it has beautiful pure white wingtips! Waterdown, ON - Mar 19, 09
Ring-billed Gull - adult - Mar 19, 09, Waterdown, ON. Orange legs and bill!
Ring-billed Gull - adult - Apr 7, 09 Waterdown, ON. Another "orange" one...
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1st ba - Apr 7, 09 - Waterdown.. Nothing special :)
Herring Gull - adult - with an obviously darker mantle than normal. L.a.argentatus like?? Jan 9, 05
Herring Gull - 1st ba - Sure looks good for European Herring Gull, but its probably not. Waterdown, ON. Apr 7, 09
Herring Gull - 1st ba - another "European" looker, Welland, ON - Feb 2, 2005
Herring Gull - 1st ba - the "Binbrook Euro HEGU" returns to the online world - March 4, 2005
What is this? - 1st ba - Welland Canal, Feb 19, 2005. A brown LBBG? Does LBBGxHEGU make sense?
December 26th - More Barred Pics...
I'm leaving for Newfoundland on January 1st! I will be posting updates from my 2 month trip on this page, so check back!
December 25th - Merry Christmas!
RECENT bird pictures!!!!
Bonaparte's Gull
Barred Owl
Snowy Owl
Merlin
Unusual Ontario Birds page update -
Phainopepla
Possible Canada X Cackling hybrid
Gulls!? With my favourite gull place currently out of comission, its back to distant poor record shots from the river.
California Gull - 3rd ba
Herring X Lesser Black-backed hybrid - adult
Great Black-backed Gull - adult - with yellow legs?
I've updated some of the gull pages as well... Take a look! It IS gull season after all....
December 11th: Just when I thought life was falling to pieces, I couldn't help but notice everything is better than it ever was!
With a finally repaired lens, a clean camera sensor, and a brand new comptuer (old one died), I'm finally ready to do some damage on here again! Late fall is a horrible time for photography in southern Ontario. Early winter can be magic! Things are happening now!
This is a trial update to make sure everything is in working order.
November 30th: "house keeping"...
October 30th: I did a presentation about my Florida Trip recently, which got me looking through some photos again. I decided to upload some new ones as I wait!
Great Blue Heron
Sandhill Crane
Glossy Ibis
Swallow-tailed Kite
Reddish Egret
Brown Pelican
Willet
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Double-crested Cormorant
September 28th: Black-tailed Gull from Port Burwell P.P. this evening!!!
September 26th: recent photos
Merlin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-headed Vireo
Canada Goose
September 17th: Point Petre Goodies
Dickcissel
Western Kingbird
(also added another adult Sabine's shot, and a new Pomarine Jaeger shot).
September 7th - Quick update to show some Pomarine Jaeger photos from the boat today:
Zodiac Pelagics article updated
September 6th - Some pelagic birding here in Ontario
Click Here for an article/running updates on the pelagic boatings trips I've been taking offshore Lake Ontario in the Hamilton area!
Sub Adult Parasitic Jaeger - is this first alternate?
August 30th - !!!!!
Black-throated Sparrow pictures!
August 29th - new:
Black Tern
Common Tern
Red-necked Phalarope
B-sides and rarities:
Unusual Ontario Birds page update:
Hudsonian Godwit ! in the backyard
August 17th
A few (somewhat) recent photos :
Red-necked Grebe
Lawrence's Warbler (hybrid)
Canada Warbler
American Redstart
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Dunlin
Prothonotary Warbler
Peregrine Falcon
Hooded Warbler
Piping Plover
B-sides and rarities :
Tundra Swan
Snowy Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Brown Thrasher
Cedar Waxwing
Black-capped Chickadee
European Starling
Tufted Titmouse
Common Tern
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Warbling Vireo
Mallard
Pomarine Jaeger
Long-tailed Duck
A few rarities photographed this year added to my unusual ontario birds page
Ruff
Lawrence's Warbler
Piping Plover
Black Swift
Laughing Gull
Lark Sparrow
& some unusual gulls
Eared Grebe (apr 2008)
MAY:
Quick Update! - Black Swift Photos can be seen here:
Black Swift - Point Pelee - May 17
Home from Florida!!! incredible adventure. Updates will appear on my "Florida Page"
Florida Page - Facts, route, locations visited and photos! -
I should note that the main page is a work in progess, check back for updates!
Locations online as of Mar 29th:
Cruickshank Sanctuary, Gatorland Rookery - 1st visit, Tigertail Beach - Marco Island, St. Augustine Rookery, Fort Myers Beach - Little Estero Lagoon, Cape Coral - Burrowing Owls, Everglades National Park - Flamingo Area and Anhingia Trail, Gatorland Part 2, Kissimmee Swamp Tours - Snail Kites, Fort De Soto
Florida: Bird Species Photographed... Check the Florida Page, for links to the photos!
April 8th
Red Knot
Wilson's Plover
American Coot
American Oystercatcher
Snail Kite
Black-necked Stilt
Little Blue Heron
Osprey
Short-tailed Hawk
Swallow-tailed Kite
Crested Caracara
Snowy Plover
Eastern Meadowlark
Black Skimmer
Royal Tern
Black Vulture
White Ibis
Anhinga
April 3rd
Reddish Egret
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Roseate Spoonbill
Wood Stork
Common Moorhen
American Coot
Pied-billed Grebe
Sora
Florida Scrub Jay
Tricoloured Heron
March 29th
Osprey
Snowy Egret
Tricoloured Heron
Snowy Plover
Florida Scrub Jay
Great Egret
Limpkin
Snail Kite
March 19th:
Blue-winged Teal
Mottled Duck
Green-winged Teal
Laughing Gull
Reddish Egret
February 17th, 2009
Horned Lark
Rough-legged Hawk
Glaucous Gull
Iceland (Kumlien's) Gull
Snowy Owl
Lesser Scaup
Wilson's Phalarope (yes, another one)
Greater Scaup
American Black Duck
Red-shouldered Hawk
And the gull parade continues!
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 3rd ba - feb 3 - waterdown
Thayer's Gull - juv/1stba - feb 3 - waterdown
Iceland Gull - strange for the Kumlien's I usually see. Very well marked. Jan 8, 09
Kumlayer's Gull - another presumed Thayers/Iceland mixture - Feb 6 - adult
Kumlayer's Gull - yet another dangerous bird inbetween Iceland and Thayer's Gull
Herring Gull - 2nd ba - from early december, which was obviously blue on the mantle
Herring Gull - 1st ba - March 18, 08 - with a tailband
Herring Gulls - 1st ba's - Jan, 08 - both with tailbands
February 2nd, 2009 - some recent duck photos:
Red-breasted Merganser
Long-tailed Duck
Common Merganser
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
White-winged Scoter
Dun-dun-dun-dunnn.... Gulls!
Glaucous Gull X Great Black-backed Gull - Juv/1st ba
Gull species - juv/1st ba - very pale Herring-like beast. Slaty-backed/Thayers like as well.
Kumliens Gull - 3rd ba
Nelson's Gull (Herring X Glaucous) - 2nd ba
Another pale-winged gull beastie - Nelsons??
January 18th, 2009 - Owls.... Snowy Owls!
Snowy Owl page 17 new photos added
January 1st, 2009!! - Stuff!
Golden-winged Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Ovenbird
Belted Kingfisher
Dark-eyed Junco
Dragonflies!
Calico Pennant
Crimsion-ringed Whiteface
Eastern Pondhawk
Slaty Skimmer
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Black-tipped Darner
Canada Darner
Common Green Darner
Cyrano Darner
Fawn Darner
Green-striped Darner
Lake Darner
Mottled Darner
Ocellated Darner
Azure Bluet
Eastern Forktail
Ebony Jewelwing
Familiar Bluet
Stream Bluet
Rainbow Bluet
Black Saddlebags
Blue Dasher
Carolina Saddlebags
Spot-winged Glider
Wandering Glider
White-faced Meadowhawk
Black-shouldered Spiny Leg
Stream Crusier
Gulls, gulls gulls gulls!!!!!!!!!!!
Nelson's Gull - juv/1st ba. - very glaucous-like - Dec 23
Herring x Lesser Black-backed Gull - adult - Dec 30
Thayer's Gull - adult - Dec 23
Thayer's Gull - 3rd ba - Dec 30
Kumlayer's Gull - juv/1st ba - dec 30
Iceland Gull - Adult - Dec 23
Iceland Gull - adult - Dec 30
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2nd ba - dec 30
December 21st- some new, mostly old!
Short-eared Owl
Snowy Owl
Blue Jay
Long-tailed Duck
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Mallard
Great Crested Flycatcher
Northern Shrike
Warbling Vireo
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Wood Thrush
Red Knot
Greater Yellowlegs
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Look out! More gulls... Highlights:
Nelson's Gull - Adult - (Herring X Glaucous) - Dec 11
Herring X Great Black-backed Gull Hybrid - Dec 5 - adult, a bit distant
possible 3rd ba. Herring X Great Black-backed Gull - a tougher call... its possible.. but it might just be a Herring Gull
Herring Gull: - check out the Herring Gull Page - for some older photos, espicially young birds with tailbands!
Adult with a massive amount of white in the primaries - December 5th, 2008
Iceland Gull
Adult - Dec 11 - Waterdown - darkish bird...
Juv - Dec 11 - Waterdown - a paleish bird, but I've seen a lot of pale birds this fall....
December 7th- finally something to put online that isnt gulls!
2 new Articles:
5 Style Tips for Photographers - a new article talking about how I try to create photographs that are different from the norm.
Little Stint at Townsend - My OBRC report detailing this bird I had in July, 2008. Seemed like a lot of work, so I figured i'd put it online
Favourite Image Gallery: Click here - or at the top navigation bar - I've finally put some work into getting my favourite images on one page. About half are working...... The ones with NA below the thumbnails are not currently active...
New website photos, some from spring - along with my limited collection from this fall:
Sabines Gull
Purple Sandpiper
Kumliens Gull
Wilson's Phalarope
Short-billed Dowitcher
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Snowy Owl
Warbling Vireo
Blackburnian Warbler
My Unusual Ontario Birds page has a few new updates as well.. Including the Fort Erie Curlew Sandpiper !
November: ya ya more gulls.... I promise i'll put the dragonflies back up eventually!
What am I? category
A strange whitish 1st ba. Herring Gull - perhaps closest to the old world forms?
adult Herring X Great Black-backed hybrid - nov 21
Great Black- backed X Herring Gull - adult - nov 24... 2nd bird in 3 days!
A paler Herring or a darker Thayers? Nov 19, 2008
Lesser Black-backed:
Thayer's Gull:
2nd Basic - Nov 14, 2008 ......... same
2nd Basic - Nov 21, 2008 ..........bird ... i think
Iceland "Kumlien's" Gull
Ring-billed Gull
2nd basic with a solid yellow (dull yellow) bill. Nov 14, 2008
Adult with reduced black on the primaries, and large white mirrors Nov 14, 08
Herring Gull
14 Nov, 2008 - is this bird actually in 2nd ba. plumage??
18 nov 2008 - 2nd ba.
19 nov 08 - showing a bit of a tail band
19 nov 08 - showing more of a tail band
18 nov 08 - two strange-ish birds standing together.. both "Northerns"? ... plus a 3rd distinctive "Northern" added for good measure
July 16th - Gulls? why gulls? isn't it summer?
I spent some time trying to get my gull pages back online. Some old birds, and a number of new birds. The below species have been updated:
Lesser Black-backed Gull page - now with 15 different birds of all ages
Nelson's Gull (Herring X Glaucous hybrid) - now with 6 different birds of all ages
Kumlien's/Thayer's Gull page - new birds added, now with 33 different individuals...
Califronia Gull - pictures of 5 different adults over the years in Ontairo.. where are the young birds?
Strange Hybrids / Mystery Birds - 5 different hybrids or unknown birds
The Unusual Ontario Birds page has been fixed up a bit more, for anyone having trouble with some of the links. One new addition to the page as well:
Laughing Gull (Pelee, May)
Finally I started to work on my Favourite Image Gallery - to start, two images of Lightning from my backyard are active.
July 4th- New/Recent Images:
Peregrine Falcon
Rusty Blackbird
Yellow Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Kirtland's Warbler
Wilson's Phalarope
June 22nd- some images from a short, bug filled, wet and very fun trip to Algonquin Park:
Northern Parula
Black-and-White Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
and an early start to the Peregrine Falcon nesting season!
UOB - King Rail - hillman marsh
And two articles for your reading enjoyment
Spring Hawk Migration through Lambton County
The Peregrine Falcons of Niagara Falls
May 29th- images!
Horned Grebe
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-throated Loon
Eastern Bluebird
Gray Catbird
Grasshopper Sparrow
Blue-winged Warbler
European Starling
White-crowned Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch
Swamp Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Unusual Ontario Birds page updates :
Kirtland's Warbler
Mottled Duck
Lark Bunting
2 California Gulls
April 12th- more recent images, and an article on using photographs to notice new details in rare birds (based on two California Gulls) Click Here to read
Bald Eagle
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Bohemian Waxwing
Northern Mockingbird
A "What am I" Gull - a darkish mantled, 2nd ba/alt "thing" from Waterdown.
Older Images:
Blue-winged Warbler
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Downy Woodpecker
Swamp Sparrow
March 12th- more images
Cooper's Hawk
American Wigeon
Rock Pigeon
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Glaucous Gull
Eastern Screech Owl
Eastern Kingbird
March 6th - A short article about finding a Barn Owl feather - and a collection of recent and older pictures:
Red-throated Loon
Blue Jay
American Goldfinch
Common Redpoll
House Finch
House Sparrow
Mourning Dove
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Northern Cardinal
Dunlin
Ruddy Turnstone
Grasshopper Sparrow
Field Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Black-throated Green Warbler
Cooper's Hawk
American Wigeon
February 6th -
A photo salon of the various plumages I have seen shown by Pine Grosbeaks - as a new article. Click Here to read - thanks to Peter Pyle for commenting on the birds!
Recent Pictures!!! :
Northern Hawk Owl
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Brown-headed Cowbird
Northern Mockingbird
Dark-eyed Junco
Glaucous Gull
Nelson's Gull (Herring X Glaucous hybrid)
Cooper's Hawk
Wild Turkey
Rough-legged Hawk
American Tree Sparrow
Great Black-backed Gull
My Winter List also added a few birds, with the highlight being the Niagara Falls Ross's Gull
January 17th - Happy New Year! Winter list added a few new species, and I learned how to feed the mockingbird in the backyard after a few tries (scroll down).
and a Handful of recent & older pictures:
Northern Hawk Owl
Hooded Merganser
Wood Duck
A few more images of a Goldeneye X Bufflehead hybrid from 2005
December 24th- a little less picture-taking and a little more birding ment some new species for my winter list - but still lots of pictures:
American Kestrel
Broad-winged Hawk
Pine Grosbeak
Merlin
Osprey
Fish Crow
Cooper's Hawk
Gray Catbird
Sage Thrasher
European Starling
Rough-legged Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
December 15th- my Winter List added two Common Ravens over Guelph, but not much else. I wrote a short note about my backyard feeder birds as well! New pictures below:
Northern Hawk Owl
Pine Grosbeak
Gadwall
Wood Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Turkey Vulture
December 10th- my winter list slowed down a bit, at 68 species, mainly due to spending my time taking pictures! Read about a huge group of Pine Grosbeaks in Guelph, and see some pictures added below:
Pine Grosbeak
Northern Hawk Owl
American Kestrel
more to come of the above species!
December 4th: first day out birding this December turned up a partial albino American Crow, and got my winter list to 61 species
New pictures added:
Northern Crdinal
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Dark-eyed Junco
Orchard Oriole
Common Grackle
Bobolink
Boat-tailed Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
December 1st: A few notes about a cormorant, an eagle trying to grab a great blue heron, and the starting of a winter list: Read more here
Also a few added pictures:
House Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
November 27th: Pictures of the Northern Gannet and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls can be seen by clicking here!
other additions:
Purple Sandpiper
Cackling Goose
Chuck-will's-widow
Chestnut-sided Warbler
November 23rd -
Pictures of Cackling Geese, Black-legged Kittiwake, Northern Shrike, Purple Sandpipers etc. Can be seen by Clicking Here!
Pictures of the strange Canada/Cackling Goose can be seen here
Nov. 17th update:
Little Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Mallard
Brant
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Snow Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Surf Scoter
Northern Pintail
Common Goldeneye
Kirtland's Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler
Lawrence's Warbler
Brewster's Warbler
Short-eared Owl
Ring-necked Pheasant
Rock Pigeon
Warbling Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
Cerulean Warbler
Acadian Hairstreak
Banded Hairstreak
Bog Copper
Bronze Copper
Coral Hairstreak
Grey Hairstreak
American Snout
Atlantis Fritillary
Pearl Crescent
Mustard White
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - incl. a black female
Laughing Gull
Cackling Geese
Kirtland's Warbler
Hooded Merganser X Common Goldeneye
Tricoloured Heron
November 12th- pictures added:
Baird's Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Semipalmated Plover
Horned Grebe
American Coot
American Robin
Bald Eagle
Caspian Tern
Cooper's Hawk
Great Egret
Green Heron
Red-necked Grebe
Ruddy Turnstone
Wood Duck
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Hairy Woodpecker
Bay-breasted Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Canada Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Parula
Palm Warbler
Kirtland's Warbler
Grey Hairstreak
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Comma
American Lady
Black Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Common Buckeye
Hackberry Emperor
Miblert's Tortioseshell
Mourning Cloak
Question Mark
Red Admiral
Summer Azure
August 1st - a note on some strange ducks from July 30th, along with some on bird migrations. Also, the below images:
Recent Pictures!!! -
Lesser Yellowlegs
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Spotted Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Sanderling
Some new pictures from a short (but amazing) visit to Port Huron, MI in June:
Golden-winged Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warber
Black-and-White Warbler
Mourning Warbler
And some more re-added pictures:
American Redstart
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Tree Swallow
White-crowned Sparrow
July 28th- more pictures (below) and more Notes on birding
"New" New pictures to the website include:
Bonaparte's Gull - (it took me over 500 pictures to get a full frame, vertical flight shot that I was happy with)
Common Loon - (2nd and 3rd image)
Common Yellowthroat
Savannah Sparrow
Snow Bunting
"New" re-fixed pictures include:
Blue-headed Vireo
Fox Sparrow
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Parasitic Jaeger
Philadelphia Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Ring-billed Gull
White-breasted Nuthatch
July 22nd- more!
--- Some Notes on Marsh birds at Pelee, and bird highlights from Pelee Island.
also, some notes on a possible Slaty-backed Gull from the Island. Pictures can be seen from July 17th, July 18th, and pictures showing differences caused by the camera.
--- A few new species - images online include:
--- Old species - images added include:
American Avocet
Barred Owl
Black-billed Cuckoo
Black-bellied Plover
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Canada Goose
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Screech Owl
Eastern Wood Pewee
Great Blue Heron
Great Gray Owl
Horned Grebe
Killdeer
Mourning Dove
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Pectoral Sandpiper
Purple Sandpiper
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-necked Grebe
Ruff
Ruddy Turnstone
Scarlet Tanager
Summer Tanager
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Snowy Egret
Tricoloured Heron
Upland Sandpiper
Willet
Wilson's Phalarope
Wilson's Snipe
July 10th- Website is Alive Again!
After a long period of down time, I've finally got the shell of a new website up online. I've spent a lot of time not working on this site (when I should have been), and that is one of many reasons i've come up with to explain what the delay was. Either way, I should now start to re-add images (all re-done in some way) to the new website. Some stuff online includes:
A few examples of new pictures to the website:
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Harrier
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Common Loon
Some old pictures that have been re-done and re-added:
Least Sandpiper
Sanderling
American Coot
Least Flycatcher
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Lesser Yellowlegs
Barn Swallow
Short-billed Dowitcher
Blue Jay
Rock Pigeon
Eastern Kingbird
American Crow
Dunlin
House Wren
Great Egret
--- The Unusual Ontario Birds page has many images up. Lots are the same as before, however there are some new additions including Black-capped Petrel, Gray Flycather, Painted Bunting etc. from the past. And also recent images I haven't had online yet, including Razorbill, Black-necked Stilt and Kirtland's Warbler (to come).
--- I've also creates a new section I've called Articles and Notes. This is a place for me to put up some ideas in an article form, or just random comments. I hope to update this part regularily. Up already is an article on how I store my images, and a note on a Laughing Gull.
--- It should be noted that dozens of links on the website don't yet work, but everything should start taking shape! Lots of spring migration pictures and "recent" fall pictures will be added very soon!
If you are interested in purchasing any of the images you have seen on my website, please see my information on Image Purchase and Use. All photographs and content on this website are © Brandon Holden and cannot be used in any way without my permission.