Photos from the past week

Pine Grosbeak / Durbec des Sapins
Bart Thompson Trail (11 Jan 2014)

Pine Grosbeak / Durbec des Sapins
Bart Thompson Trail (18 Jan 2014)

Pine Grosbeak / Durbec des Sapins
Bart Thompson Trail (18 Jan 2014)

Blue Jay / Geai bleu
South Porcupine (17 Jan 2014)

Red-bellied Woodpecker / Pic à ventre roux
South Porcupine (17 Jan 2014)

Red-bellied Woodpecker / Pic à ventre roux
South Porcupine (18 Jan 2014)

15 January 2014 - South Porcupine

Freezing temperatures and a tough Red-bellied Woodpecker

I haven't posted in a while.  I've been out on the trail almost every day but it's been so cold that I haven't seen anything other than Hairy Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Nuthatches and Gray Jays.  

To say that we've had a cold start to the year 2014 would be an understatement.  Here's a screen shot of the Weather Network page I took during the early morning hours of January 2nd, 2014.  Note the Wind Chill factor of -54 C. 

The Weather Network -  Jan 2, 2014 at 3 am.

And it's been a sustained freeze: the temperatures have been ranging from minus 40 C to minus 54 Celsius during the last 6 days.  

That's why I was surprised to see the Red-bellied Woodpecker again today in my back yard at around 3 this afternoon.  I read in a few guide books that they are expanding northward but I doubt that they are used to this type of sustained freezing temperatures.  My first sighting of this bird was around Nov 22, 2013 and it's been spotted by myself and by various people in the neighbourhood since then.  Thanks to everyone on Helmer and Hellen avenue who put out suet; if he survived the last week, he can survive anything!

Here's a photo I took on December 22nd.  He's holding a piece of my home-made suet.

Red-bellied Woodpecker / Pic à ventre roux
South Porcupine (22 Dec 2013)

 Here's the first photo I took January 1st, 2014.  My suet has attracted a lot of these lately….

Hairy Woodpecker / Pic chevelu
South Porcupine (Jan 1, 2014)

Happy New Year !

  

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 (22 Nov 2013) 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)

Le Conte's Sparrow

The last 2 days were beautiful fall days ... and I got to do some more birding in and around Moonbeam's Sewage Lagoon.

Ring-necked Duck / Fuligule à collier
Moonbeam Sewage Lagoon (Oct 2013)

There's still plenty of life in the ponds, including Mallards, Ring-necked ducks, American Wigeon, Canada geese, American Coot, Green-winged Teal and Common Goldeneye.  I also spotted a Bufflehead for the first time.

I was very excited to see my very first Le Conte's Sparrow tonight.

Le Conte's Sparrow / Bruant de Le Conte
Moonbeam Sewage Lagoon (Oct 2013)