Trying to catch up for a Year.

Spring is always a time of renewal as the winter birds head north and the summer birds start to find their way back this way to start a new breeding season. One of the birds we are a bit sad to see depart is the Snowy owl. These are such a treat to see when they arrive in the area and are one of the few owls that is diurnal meaning it hunts in day or at night. I guess they have to be used to day hunting as they have almost 24 hour days where they raise their young on the arctic tundra. When the lemmings are plentiful there are many new owls but years where the lemmings collapse very few new owls are born.

Snowy Owl

A visitor we see for only a short time in the spring or fall is the Greater White-fronted goose. They breed in the far north of Canada and spend the winter in the southern USA and Mexico. It’s surprising how they can blend in with a flock of Canada geese until you see their orange legs or beak and then you see that their colouring is indeed a bit different from the Canadas. Before migration the females can gain 30% more weight to fuel their migration and egg production. Pairs can stay together for years and even keep family members close through the next breeding season. They have been known to live for 25 years.

Greater White-fronted Geese

Sandhill cranes are another sure sign that spring is on the way. Their unique call can be heard from quite a distance away. They have long windpipes that coil into the sternum and help develop their unique lower pitched sound as well as harmonics to add to their call. When they get to their breeding grounds their mating dance is indeed a unique dance to see as they leap into the air, pump their heads, and basically bow to each other.

Sandhill Crane

On one of the first days near the end of March or first of April when we get rain the Spotted salamanders emerge from their subterranean winter homes to head to the swamp across from us to mate. They breed in shallow temporary wetlands that are fish free. We’ve made it an annual event to go out on that wet night to help any across the road before a car might come along to run over it. It’s always interesting to see them even if it only a one night per year occurrence.

Spotted Salamander

One of the first warblers to arrive from the south is the Pine warbler. It is one of the few warblers that doesn’t leave the southern continental United States so doesn’t have as far to travel to return to its nesting grounds. It’s the only warbler that eats lots of seeds so sometimes can be seen visiting a bird feeder for lunch. As their name implies, you’ll find them mainly near or in stands of Pine trees where they nest.

Pine Warbler

Adult Bald eagles head off in the spring to refurbish a nest and settle in to raise a new family. It takes 5 years for a Bald eagle to mature to raise a family so the first 4 years of their lives are spent wandering and exploring vast territories. In the winter near here we have upwards of 90 Bald eagles of various ages spending time watching for a fish or duck dinner. They are opportunists and prefer to steal meals from other large birds or find some dead fish or other animals to feast on. They have made a great comeback since DDT was taken off the market in North America.

Bald Eagle

The odd time birds will stray from their normal range and cause quite a bit of excitement when they arrive somewhere they don’t usually inhabit. The first one we saw in 2022 was a Western tanager that showed up just a bit north of us. Normally we have the Scarlett tanager in this area as the Western tanagers’ range is a fair bit west of the Mississippi River. It’s always nice to add a new bird to a life list and this one stayed around long enough that several people saw and photographed this beautiful bird. Their scarlet head feathers are caused from a rare pigment called rhodoxanthin that the birds probably obtain from insects in their diet.

Western Tanager

The other bird we saw that was quite a bit away from its normal territory was the Marsh sandpiper. These birds are native to Eurasia but sometimes show up in North America as vagrants. This one was seen to the south of us and attracted a lot of birders coming to both look at it and capture some photos. This was the first recorded eBird sighting in Canada. There have been a few sightings previously in California, but it is indeed a rare sight to be able to share in.

Marsh Sandpiper

Our winter birds we seldom see in breeding plumage but as spring arrives the birds heading north are beginning to display more of their breeding plumage. When they arrive at their destination they need to be able to impress the ladies so catching them at this time of year can show you quite a different looking bird. During the summer months while raising a family these Lapland Longspurs can eat an estimated 3000 to 10000 seeds and insects per day as well as feeding their nestlings an additional 3000 insects per day. The name Longspur refers to an unusually long hind claw on this species and others in its genus.

Lapland Longspur

One of the brightest and earlier warblers to arrive in the spring is the Yellow warbler. In addition to this migratory bird there are other Yellow warbler forms that stay in a specific area and develop colouring for example a chestnut or reddish head (Mangrove version). Sometimes when Cow birds parasitize the warblers nests and lay their own eggs there the warbler will build a new nest directly on top of the old one and its own new eggs to keep from having to raise Cowbird young.

Yellow Warbler

Mangrove Subspecies

The bright warbler colours of the Spring continue with this Magnolia warbler. Its considered (all dressed) with its bright colours, bold necklace, white wing bars and a white eye ring. Other than specifically during breeding season this warbler inhabits a large range from sea level to 5000 feet in a variety of habitats. They may nest in this area and pick dense conifers to build their nest in.

Magnolia Warbler

As Spring progressed the numbers of birds appearing increased to the point of distraction. It’s always hard to concentrate when you see more bright colours in the trees. This particular bird caught our eye as it didn’t fit in to a specific spot in our minds. After getting a few photos and seeing its specific colours it is a Scarlett tanager but in an orange colour instead of the typical red. Quite an interesting bird to surprise us and catch our attention. I’m sure many other warblers flitted by as we watched this unique tanager.

Orange Scarlett Tanager

Red Scarlett Tanager

Out in the pastureland Upland sandpipers have moved in and started to get organized to have a family. One of their favourite things to do is fly up to a fence post and give their distinctive call, which can be heard from quite a piece away. They aren’t a colourful bird but still a treasure to find along the way. They arrive around the end of April and are heading back south around mid July so they don’t have a lot of time to waste in starting a family.

Upland Sandpiper

This next bird is one we don’t see often in Bruce County. It swims like a duck but also walks along the top of vegetation in a pond. Last year we were fortunate to hear of one in a lagoon near Watford and we stopped in to see if we could catch a glimpse of it. When we did see it, we also saw three chicks with it before it disappeared into the vegetation. It’s a treat knowing that they breed in southern Ontario. Its long toes help it to easily walk on the vegetation, but it has no webbing on the toes like a Coot does but can swim quite good anyway.

Common Gallinule

Leaving birds for a bit we happened to see a Spotted turtle on one of our nature walks. These are not large turtles at about 10 to 15 cm and are an endangered species and not very common to see. It was nice to see a healthy one out enjoying the habitat it was in. Habitat destruction and the pet trade are two of the main reasons for this turtle declining in the wild.

Spotted Turtle

During our walk in the same area that we found the turtle there are also many wildflowers. This Grass Pink orchid is one of the more colourful ones that grow in a fen. Grass in the name refers to the grass like leaves of the plant and pink refers to the obvious beautiful bright colour of the bloom.

Grass Pink Orchid

This Wood lily is also a plant that likes the wetter soil of a bog or fen but can also be seen along an undisturbed woodland road. The bulbs of this plant used to be gathered by the natives for food at one time. They have also disappeared from intensively used meadow areas but when you find one its tough passing up a chance to take a photo or two.

Wood Lily

During the summer months birds are a bit tougher to find as they are busy raising new families and enjoy hiding behind the foliage that is fully out on the trees and shrubs. This is when we switch over a bit to the colourful butterflies in the area. The Baltimore checkerspot seems to be limited to one area around us but can be reliable in this area for a photo. They aren’t a large butterfly and overwinter as a caterpillar near the ground of their host plant. In early July the butterflies emerge as a photo treat.

Baltimore Checkerspot

A bit later in July you might find a Buckeye flitting about close to the ground as they like open areas with low vegetation. Caterpillars and adults overwinter but only in the south as they can’t tolerate the colder temperatures in our area. They are a treat to see though as you get a great view of their colours and pattern when they spread their wings while perched on the ground.

Common Buckeye

A path not far from our house is a great place to get some butterfly photos but often its hard to get them to stop and sit for a moment on a plant to get a decent photo. The Great Spangled fritillary are often chasing each other and are an extremely energetic butterfly. There are usually several of them though so if you can see when and where they land and are quick you can get a decent photo.

Great Spangled Fritillary

This Spicebush swallowtail arrived in the yard August 25^th and managed to zero in on our Spicebush plant. It proceeded to lay a few eggs which although small were obvious under a few of the leaves. The eggs hatched on September 1^st and the caterpillars after eating the egg sack, started on the leaves. These caterpillars make a home for themselves by gluing the sides of a leaf together to make a shelter where they stay whenever not eating. The caterpillars grew but it was late in the season, and they didn’t get large enough to pupate before bad weather destroyed their homes as well as the caterpillars. We are at the very north edge of the range of these butterflies but maybe with seasonal warming we’ll get one to visit a bit earlier and manage to see them pupate. The pupae overwinter and the new butterflies will emerge the next spring.

Spicebush swallowtail

Spicebush swallowtail egg

Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar

As the fall arrives birds start getting ready to head back south for the winter. Some of these Golden-crowned kinglets do winter over here as we are at their most northerly edge of their winter range. So, if you go for a walk in the woods in the winter chances are you’ll see some of these little birds moving along with small flocks of Black-capped chickadee.

Golden-crowned kinglet

The Merlin that spent the summer in the area now start to move south as well but also end up terrorizing the birds visiting the bird feeders. They too must put on some weight and the young birds born in the summer aren’t quite as adept at catching their dinner as the adults. This young bird stayed around until well into January of the new year so hopefully it did manage to find a warmer spot for the rest of the winter but sometimes these new birds don’t make good choices and suffer the consequences.

Merlin

A surprise visitor to Horseshoe Bay in Southampton got several birders active and out with their cameras. This American White pelican stopped for a day or two in the area before continuing its trip south. These birds summer out in the prairies on small lakes and are actually becoming more common on Lake Erie where they might actually be nesting now. As time marches on and climate changes some of these birds don’t have to go as far south as usual. If the lakes don’t freeze over, they can still access a food source and will stay around.

American White Pelican

One day in November as I was scanning for bird activity on the lake, I noticed some birds land on the rock point just a bit to the north of us. As I scanned with the scope I saw a Horned lark, a Snow bunting, and a small shorebird I couldn’t quite identify as it was behind some rocks. I walked over and much to my surprise and enjoyment found that it was our first Purple sandpiper to visit here. They are one of the last sandpipers to migrate south and usually stay closer to the coast of the ocean when they migrate. My prayers were answered when this little bird decided to stop by for a visit as they are a rare visitor to the area. We managed a few photos and then had a few other birders stop by as the bird stayed the day. I was hoping it would be there the next morning, but we had a windy night and the waves were washing over the point. In the morning I checked but it was off on its trip south to the eastern coastal areas of the United States for its winter relaxation.

Purple Sandpiper

Now winter is ready to take over again and the Snowy owls begin to appear in the area. This past winter Snowy owls were few and far between as apparently their food source in the summer crashed in numbers so there were fewer new owls to travel our way. The low numbers of lemmings mean a low number of new owls and that’s exactly what we saw. Instead of seeing possibly 30 or more owls through the winter we saw only about 10 and very few of those stayed in this area. Most moved farther south to areas where they could find food.

Snowy Owl

The month of February arrived and off we went to a warmer place to enjoy some winter birding in Panama. This was the third time we had visited Panama to stay with a birder friend who lives here in the summer and Panama in the winter. It’s always a treat to see some colourful birds as well as other animals that visit his jungle like “garden”. One regular daily visitor was a small troupe of Geoffrey’s tamarin. These 5 would visit the feeder to feast on bananas and entertain us as they were only about 5 meters away from us while they ate. Their bodies are only about 24 cm long and their tail is about 35 cm long so not a very large animal. The female leads the group and would watch over the rest when they came in to have some bananas. It was always a treat to see them coming through the trees in the morning.

Geoffrey’s Tamarin

When we were not out birding, we would often get some interesting visitors that would come to sample some of the fruits on the trees in the garden. These Collared aracari were always appreciated but didn’t visit too regularly. Often if birds did come for a visit they were behind some branch or leaf and hard to get photos of.

Collared Aracari

The unique sound call of the Keel-billed toucan would alert us and then we would try to see just where these large secretive toucans were perched. Its interesting to see these large-billed birds pick small figs and other fruit off the trees and then tilt their bills up to drop the fruit in their mouths.

Keel-billed Toucan

A noisy but bright bird would often come first thing in the morning to check for bananas in the feeder. Their calls would alert us and then the challenge was on to try and get one in the clear to snap a photo or two. Morning coffees were always a special time as the birds came visiting but often the coffee got cold as you were jumping up trying to focus your binoculars on that little bird moving through the tree leaves to try to ID it.

Orange-crowned Oriole

One of the other interesting animals in the area is the Agouti. They look much like an overgrown guinea pig but are reasonably large at 76 cm long. They loved the ground corn that Alfred placed at one spot on his trail. He then cut a few small branches so we had great views of the animals but from a distance so as not to scare them. Two of them regularly showed up for a corn snack.

Agouti

One of my favourite small birds is the Red-legged honeycreeper. Again, its tough getting photos of them as they jump around in the trees feeding on nectar from the flowers. Its bright blue head and body and its red legs sure make it a standout in the crown.

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Our mornings in Panama often started out with the call of the Grey-cowled Wood rail but we had in the past not seen them much as they are very secretive. This is where the ground corn helped us as they would sometimes stop to eat some corn giving us a great photo op from the balcony of the house.

Grey-cowled Wood Rail

Our trip was finally over so off we went back to Bruce County to give our insect bites some time to heal and see what birds were around our area. The Snowy owl again pops up due to the fact we hadn’t seen many of them this winter, so we have to share with you our own rather rare experiences. This was a wonderful white male that found some of the remaining snow to try and camouflage himself with.

Snowy owl

Two of the winter gulls that will now he heading back north are the Glaucous gull (all white or light grey on top) and the Great Black-backed gull (black on the upper wing). The latter being the largest gull in the world with the Glaucous not being far behind. These are always special to see in the winter and when they disappear in the spring you know many more smaller birds are on their way north.

Glaucous and Great Black-backed gulls

As we make the full cycle of the year here we are back at Spotted salamander mating time. This year the event occurred on the 31^st of March in a soaking rain. We realized many years ago that the fence we built was an obstacle for these salamanders but hadn’t seen the salamanders before we built the fence. Fortunately our road isn’t too busy but this year was special as we had several grandchildren here for their introduction to the event. They weren’t disappointed as we had a very rainy night and managed to see a few over 180 Spotted salamanders make it safely across the road. This was the most we had ever seen so I guess the population here is still doing well.

Spotted salamander.

Spotted Salamander spots on legs

One we saw had no spots and one only had spots on its legs but most of them had lots of yellow spots. So, after a fun night adults and kids all had a dry out time and then off to bed. I’m sure the kids will be watching carefully next year for the first rainy day near the same date to see if they can help the salamanders out again.

With that first Spring event we’ll finish up this blog and hopefully you’ll not have as long to wait on the next one. Until then, enjoy nature and help to ensure it stays as healthy as possible.