Red Tailed Hawk?

Soaring above my backyard!  Really don't want these as backyard birds :(

I have seen quite a few Red-Tailed Hawks, mostly while driving along the 401.  We have a wooded area very close to our home and I can often see hawks soaring in the distance above it and the neighbouring park.  This is the first time I have see one (or at least I think it is a Red-Tailed Hawk) soaring over my backyard!  This was taken from the comfort of my patio about a week ago.  I hope I never see feathers scattered over my backyard indicating a visit :(

More First from Mother's Day at Point Pelee

I have been reluctant to post all my "firsts" from Point Pelee because I fear I won't have any new bird pictures to post for a while.  However, here are some more firsts from Point Pelee, May 8, 2011. 

I am not sure what this is...we were walking along the beach to the Tip and saw about 10-12 of these beauties perched in the tree tops.  As we approached, they left.  If you know what it is, could you let me know?

I am pretty sure this is a Red-Breasted Nuthatch.  We watched as he (I think?) searched for food, however, he went up the tree trunk head first instead of coming down head first.  From my very limited knowledge, that is typical activity of a Creeper, but this bird doesn't look like a Creeper to me.

The best I can tell, this is a Yellow Warbler.  This is the second warbler I have ever seen in my entire life and was thrilled to get pictures of both (see my earlier post).  This is very cropped as I saw him out of the corner of my eye and had just enough time to snap a couple pictures before he flew away.  I am using "he" and "him" generically as way to refer to the birds.  I am still learning to identify the birds I see.  If any of my posts wrongly identify a bird, please let me know :)

If you are counting (not including the hawk-like bird), that is 31 birds! 

This Weekend's Visitors

This weekend was a wet, soggy, cold weekend.  I did a little bit of backyard birdwatching from a window and was thrilled to see a Baltimore Oriole found the orange halves I had nailed to the tree...it took about two weeks (and a few oranges later) for someone to find them. 

While enjoying the numerous goldfinches, my daughter and I got a really good look at a female Ruby-throated hummingbird who was just sitting in the tree.  I was surprised how long she stood still, blowing in the breeze on that branch.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something blue fly past.  About five minutes later an Indigo Bunting flew to the Rose of Sharon in the backyard, perched for a few moments then headed into the tree, where he (I am guessing) stayed for a bit.  All we had were binoculars (and the window was filthy anyway) so I got no pictures of these visitors.  They made my day :)

I had seen an Oriole before, but not this clearly to be able to certainly identify it, and I had never seen an Indigo Bunting before so I consider both of these firsts :)  It is nice that both stuck around long enough to really study them so I could identify them.  I think that makes 29 birds!

Yellow Rumped Warbler (Myrtle Warbler)

Point Pelee, May 8, 2011

I don't have a lot of photographed "first" birds left.  Not only is the first Yellow Rumped Warbler I have ever seen, it is the very first warbler I have ever seen!  I had heard of them but didn't understand the fascination in them until looked through a field guide recently...then I saw the incredible variety and was excited to go to Point Pelee and try my luck.  I saw this guy flying out of the corner of my eye when I was taking pictures of the Ruby Crowned Kinglet and was thrilled to discover that I got at least a somewhat decent photo of him, given the circumstances.  This makes bird specie number 27!

Essex County "carved" in Stone

Found near the Tip, Point Pelee, May 8, 2011

I found this rock on the way to the Tip....doesn't it look like Essex County?  :)

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Point Pelee, May 8, 2011

On the way back from the Tip, I noticed this tiny bird flitting around on the branches alongside the trail.  He had absolutely no fear!  He got within a few feet of me, but kept a watchful eye on me.  I took lots of pictures of this little guy, but ended up with lots of back and head shots.  I am thankful for the head shots as they helped me to figure out what he was.  Although this blog is out of order, this is specie 26 listed on the blog (more for my sake than yours :) ).

White Throated Sparrow

White Throated Sparrow, May 9, 2011

Forgive my blurry photo, but I couldn't believe it!  Another new species in my backyard :)  I was watching my new found sparrow friends and found this guy in the mix.  Clearly a White-Throated Sparrow....I was thrilled!  It was almost as if God was showing me the difference in these two birds.  This makes 25!