It has been an interesting couple of weeks around here. The birds are busy raising babies amidst some crazy weather. Between the heat, wind, and rain which has been great for the mosquitoes, I’ve wondered how the young birds have been making out. If they’ve survived the weather, there is plenty of juicy bugs to eat!
I thought I would share a few random bird photos from this year. I don’t always get enough photos of a species to do a whole big long post about a specific bird so I thought I’d just share some of my favourites from this year so far.
The first is a pic of a Boreal Owl. This little owl is TINY! It is a little bit shorter than a robin. Boreal Owls hunt at night and roost during the day so they are rarely seen. If you’re out in their territory keep your eyes open for a tiny but plump bird near the trunk of a tree between 10-20 feet off the ground.
The second photo is an image of two male King Eider ducks. These ducks have been on my wildlife bucket list for some time. While in Ulukhaktok this spring, I had the opportunity to get out on the arctic ocean and see them up close. They can fly a lot faster than you might think!
The clay-coloured sparrow is a shy bird that has a buzzy call. I found this one up Highway 4 thanks to a tip from a friend. It was nice to be able to find this little treasure relatively close to home.
The fourth image is a red-breasted merganser that was hanging out at willow flats, an area in Yellowknife popular for birdwatchers. You can see the female bird resting in behind the male.
The next image is a Palm Warbler, a friendly little bird with a bouncy tail. These birds are curious and can often be found in trees surrounding a marshy area. The birds around here sound very similar to a swamp sparrow.
Finally, I include a photo of a Long-billed Dowitcher, a shorebird that is a lifer for me. First time seeing one. The Short-billed Dowitcher’s bill is almost the same length. The difference is so slight it’s like trying to decipher a Greater Yellowlegs from a Lesser!