Winter Sightings

I really enjoy this time of the year.  The bird watching is usually still pretty good (at least in the Niagara area) and we have had our first few snows of the year which make things fun for cross-country skiing.  I hope to get out a little bit this weekend if the weather holds!

I was down in Haldimand County this past week with Ken and we had lots of interesting sightings including a juvenile Northern Goshawk (chasing a Red-tailed Hawk), a couple Northern Mockingbirds, and this Northern Shrike!

Northern Shrike

I was also down in Niagara last Thursday and saw some of the typical Niagara River specialties (somehow missed the Black-headed Gull) including two male Harlequin Ducks.  Can you spot them in the photo below?

Harlequin Ducks - way out in the rapids

Caitlyn and I went to the Arboretum on Sunday after church and had a few hardy birds out in the snow including this beautiful male Purple Finch.

Western Grebe - Midland

There have been a lot of rarities popping up throughout Ontario lately including the Thick-billed Murre, Crested Caracara, and the Western Grebe.  I decided not to chase the first two since they were too far for me and settled for the Western Grebe today since I had some extra time!

I made the scenic back roads drive from Fergus up to Midland on Georgian Bay in just around 2 hrs and I am glad I did! I saw the bird immediately after I stepped out of the car and had phenomenal views of this awesome species.  I was able to snap a few pictures for the record.

Western Grebe