Sunday, December 22, 2013

Timmins Christmas Bird Count

Yesterday, December 21st, marked the start of longer days.  Finally!  It was also my first participation in a Christmas Bird Count and I loved every minute of it.  The sun was shinning and the temperature stayed between -18 and -16 Celsius with minimal wind, which is as good as it gets here in Northern Ontario!  
 
December 21, 2013 -  Timmins, Ontario
As you can see, It was a beautiful day.  Since Gary and I covered a region with lots of fields, I was hoping to see a Snowy Owl.  Southern Ontario and the eastern provinces have been seeing a large number of these gorgeous birds but so far, they haven't been spotted near Timmins.  

The Christmas Bird Count is a great way to spend the day outside while contributing to science.  I didn't take many photos but here are a few of our sightings.

Pine Grosbeaks - Dec 21, 2013
Timmins Christmas Bird Count
Ruffed Grouse - Dec 21, 2013
Timmins Christmas Bird Count
American Goldfinch - Dec 21, 2013
Timmins Christmas Bird Count
Blue Jay - Dec 21, 2013
Timmins Christmas Bird Count
To learn more about the Timmins Christmas Bird Count, visit Timmins Christmas Bird Count Page and the Oxygen Grows on Trees Page.

December 21, 2013
Timmins, Ontario





Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Grimpereau brun

Read post in english: Creeper

Samedi dernier (14 décembre) la température était de -24 C (Température ressentie -31 C) selon la station météo.  Après plus d'une heure à l'extérieur, j'avais la sensation que la température était plus près du -40 C; il n'y avait personne dans le sentier sauf Gary, moi et quelques oiseaux qui ébouriffaient leur plumage pour conserver leur chaleur. 

Mésange à tête noire
South Porcupine (14 décembre 2013)
Du coin de l'oeil, j'ai vu un petit oiseau qui montait le tronc d'un arbre; il grimpait en petits sauts rythmés.  C'était un Grimpereau brun!  J'ai essayé d'obtenir une bonne photo mais mon appareil photo et mes doigts menaçaient de succomber au froid.  J'ai obtenu cette photo juste avant que mon appareil photo cesse de fonctionner.  Cette photo démontre à quel point le Grimpereau est parfaitement camouflé ... il ressemble à un morceau d'écorce!   Le voici…complètement dissimulé:

Grimpereau brun
South Porcupine (14 décembre 2013)
Observer un Grimpereau brun lorsqu'il escalade un tronc d'arbre, c'est fascinant!  Il se nourrit d'insectes et d'araignées qu'il trouve dans l'écorce.  Il s'agit d'un oiseau qui porte très bien son nom:  il grimpe et il est brun! 

Voici une photo que j'ai prise au mois d'avril 2013… on peut voir son profil et son bec courbé.
Grimpereau brun
South Porcupine (avril 2013)


Creeper

                                             Lire en français: Grimpereau brun

Last Saturday, Dec 14, the temperature was -24 (feels like -31 C) according to the weather network. After over an hour outside, it felt more like -40, which is probably why there was no one on the trail other than Gary and I and a few birds that were fluffing up their feathers to try to keep warm…

Black-capped Chickadee / Mésange à tête noire
South Porcupine (14 Dec 2013)

We were watching Chickadees and Nuthatches while trying to listen for some woodpeckers when I noticed a small thing crawling up a tree trunk near us.  It was moving steadily up the trunk in little bursts all the way to the top; I knew it had to be a Creeper.  When he flew back down to start his climb on the next tree trunk, I tried to get a decent picture.  Unfortunately, my camera was in direct competition with my fingers to see who would succumb to the cold first; they both gave up at the same time.  I only got this blurry photo, but it shows just how well the Brown Creeper is camouflaged… he basically looks like a piece of bark.  

Can you spot it?

Brown Creeper / Grimpereau Brun
South Porcupine (14 Dec 2013)

It's a lot of fun to watch their methodical climb when we're lucky enough to spot one.  They actually eat insects and spiders from the bark.

Here's a photo I took in April 2013… we can see its profile and curved bill.  

Brown Creeper / Grimpereau Brun
South Porcupine (25 April 2013)

Monday, December 9, 2013

Pine Grosbeaks and Red-bellied Woodpecker

Weekend update…

Sunday, December 8, I saw the Red-bellied Woodpecker again.  He's been hanging around this South Porcupine neighbourhood (since at least the 22nd of November).  I find it surprising that he sticks around in spite of the freezing temperatures.  From what I've seen, he seems to like hanging around birch trees, especially the stumps where branches have been broken off.  (Although the first time I spotted it (Nov 22) it was in a thick spruce tree seeking shelter from heavy wind and snowfall.)   I managed to get this photo through my window yesterday.

Red-bellied Woodpecker
South Porcupine (December 8, 2013)

A beautiful photo of this Red-bellied Woodpecker was also featured Saturday on the Weather Network.

Pine Grosbeaks…
Saturday was a beautiful sunny day.  The temperature was -17°C,  -24°C with the wind.  Gary and I walked part of the Bart Thompson Trail at the end of Legion drive in South Porcupine where we saw Gray Jays, Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches.  Near the start of the trail, I saw 4 Pine Grosbeaks (first sighting since last spring); they were flying from spruce tree to spruce tree, feeding on cones.   I managed to get only a couple of pictures.  I wish I could have kept my hands out of my mitts longer but after 30 seconds, I couldn't feel my fingers anymore. 

Pine Grosbeak
South Porcupine (Dec 7, 2013)
Pine Grosbeak
South Porcupine (Dec 7, 2013)


On Sunday, we ran into some very friendly Nuthatches down the trail...

Red-breasted Nuthatch
South Porcupine (Dec 8, 2013)

They would not come to me but they seemed to love Gary's thick gloves!