May Birding Highlights

Male Scarlet Tanager

I was fortunate to see many of my favourite spring birds this month and some unexpected ones. The Scarlet Tanager above appeared briefly near the bike trail between work and home. I have looked for these beautiful birds in the past, but other than seeing a pair captured at a bird banding station, I have never found one on my own.

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is fairly common in woodlands and old orchards in the spring, but this one visited our backyard staying in the tree long enough for me to go in and grab my camera. It is a great singer and I heard it in the neighbourhood before it came to our yard.

Grey Catbird

Grey Catbirds have a metallic robotic song with an occasional "meow" and commonly skulk around bushes with berries. They have a rufous patch under their tail and are otherwise a handsome grey colour. This one was beside the VIA rail tracks in Ottawa.

Male Wood Ducks

Wood ducks are fairly common but the ones near our home are secretive and paddle off quickly if disturbed. They are abundant in Ottawa and almost as indifferent to humans as Mallard Ducks. 

Male Northern Shoveler

I found a pair of Northern Shovelers beside the Wood Ducks. They have a large scoop of a bill used to filter food. They were having a morning nap but the male, with his big bill under a wing, was eyeing me carefully. 

Male Blackburnian Warbler

For many birders, spring warblers are the ultimate find. I was on a trail above the Ottawa River and could see this bright Blackburnian Warbler darting around the top of a treetop. I was happy to get an identifying shot of a new bird for me.

Male Northern Parula

A Northern Parula stayed in the park near our home for about a week. I became familiar with its song and located it a few times. I love this picture of it singing in the scrub brush.

Native species counted around the home in Kitchener and Ottawa this month: 64

Warblers and Vireos:  

                                                                 

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Black and white Warbler

Northern Parula

American Redstart

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Pine Warbler

Warbling Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo

Others: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Hermit Thrush, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Tree Swallow, Grey Catbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Hooded Merganser, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Woodpecker, Wood Duck, Northern Shoveler, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Bluebird, House Wren, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Osprey, Meadowlark, Indigo Bunting, Sharp-shinned hawk

Everyday native birds include American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, House Finch, Goldfinch, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Red-tailed hawk, Turkey Vulture, Great Blue Heron, Mallard Duck, Canada Goose, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Crow, Mourning Dove, Rock Pigeon