08 March 2013

Prairie dog (in and out)

All photos (and comments) © Stuart Oikawa, AKA prairie dog (in and out) – a birder and wildlife/nature photographer living in Winnipeg, Canada. 


Black-capped Winged Wonder  
...this BC Chickadee was starting to launch...
 
 
Chickadee on the Wing...  
... a study in aerodynamics of landing... uber fast shutter speed used to stop the action.


Common Redpoll  
I've noticed a hoard of redpolls feeding feverishly around both feeders at Fort Whyte, with yesterday being the most that I've seen. Sunday was family day and with the warmer weather, you needed to hit the trails that were less frequented by the masses.


 Golden-crowned Kinglet
Reached into my October archives to pick these shots of the migrating Golden-crowned Kinglets that have already left south from here a while ago.


Hoary Redpoll m. (Acanthis hornemanni)
I wanted to post these three bird shots, I've way too many to post...!! This first, I believe, is a Hoary Redpoll, male.


Leucistic Yellow-rumped Warbler
This Leucistic Yellow-rumped Warbler was observed catching flying insects with a group of regular Yellow-rumped Warbler species yesterday morning at Fort Whyte. (Leucism)


 Pine Grosbeak Takes Flight...  
... captured in the midst! I really liked the way the wings and feathers turned out in this shot... surprised with the details.


Red-breasted Nuthatch
One of my favourite little birds in winter.


Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Bird photographers treasure the capture of the red crown on this Ruby-crowned Kinglet as it is rarely displayed. I was quite delighted with getting these shots.


Townsend's Solitaire
I've posted some further shots, for identification purposes, of the Townsend's Solitaire that's been sighted by an increasing number of birders here in our city, in the last few weeks. Their normal territory is along the higher mountainous elevations along the west coast of Canada, preferring the tall coniferous tree environments. A long way from home and on flat prairie, in the middle of our winter here. Although he's in for a treat and surviving more likely by finding food (European Buckthorn berries) and shelter and our very mild winter so far!

On this day, this one was especially friendly as he approached me with curiousity, and followed on the trail as I walked about.


Yellow-rumped Warbler
A male Yellow-rumped Warbler in spring breeding colours.




Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are more easily detected and identified by ear than by eye. Most birdwatchers pursue this activity mainly for recreational or social reasons, unlike ornithologists, who engage in the study of birds using more formal scientific methods.




Many many more gorgeous bird photos if you click prairiedog (in and out)'s photostream / Tags / bird @ flickr.com



And many many many more widlife photos if you click prairiedog (in and out)'s photostream @ flickr.com