Random Late May, - Early June Photos

 Palm Warbler, Tree Swallow, Hermit Thrush.

Warblers - Black and White - Male

 

Warblers - Black and White - Female

 

Warblers-Chestnut-sided

 One of my favorite warblers, I'm always happy when I can find and photograph Chestnut-sided.

 

Warblers -Northern Parula

 One of the most common of our native warblers, the Northern Parulas arrive back here in early - mid May. Here are photos of two different males and a female all shot in the same general area, the second male a day or two later. The males are a little more striking with their prominent breast band and rusty flanks. You can notice the variation here in their coloration. They seem particularly attracted to apple trees which is where all three of these were photographed.

Finches

A male Purple Finch and American Goldfinch - male as well.

Early Morning Tree Swallow

 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Male

 Just after the hummingbirds returned to Nova Scotia and before the females arrived this bird had claimed the feeder but it wasn't to last. The females have since taken over.

Yellow-rumped Warbler - Spring Male

 

Indigo Bunting

 I had an Indigo bunting coming to my bird feeder for about 3 days in May.  It is the first time that I've ever had one here and one of the reasons I continue to feed the birds every year until the end of May. If you're ever going to get something unusual it will likely be during the height of Spring migration.

Purple Finches and Red Maple

 I often associate Purple Finches with Red Maples since they tend to show up each Spring around the time the maple buds are beginning to open. The males as well are a similar colour to the maple buds and the seeds that are just forming. So I guess it's appropriate that I was able to photograph them on Red Maple branches.

    

 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

 

Willet at Sunset

 First shot from my May collection. More to come.

Double-crested Cormorant

 These are not the images I would have liked to have been my favorite from this day. The ones I missed were of an adult Bald Eagle ready to take this cormorant for dinner. The last photo here is of what a cormorant looks like when it's about to be pursued by an eagle. It flew about 25 feet toward me and then dove under the water. The eagle was cruising about 20 ft in the air and when it saw me move hovered in place moving backward, going straight up all the while looking directly at me. My camera was on the tripod with no chance of getting it off in time to get a shot.  So I have to be satisfied with these and this story for what its worth.

Home at Last - Tree Swallows

 April 19, shortly after the Tree Swallows arrived back in the province. This pair was checking out this nest box. Ultimately I think they decided on another location.

Juncos

 Some April shots of Dark-eyed Juncos.

Early Spring Arrival - Palm Warblers

 While I hadn't set out to photograph Palm Warblers, I was actually trying to photograph waterfowl, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. There were several in the area that day and the ducks were not cooperating. This was the 18th of April, a little over a week from the time I had first spotted one in the new year. It's exciting to see them for the first few times in the Spring but after awhile it becomes - "Oh not another Palm Warbler!"

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Female

 I had this female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker coming to my suet feeder for a few days in April. It's not a bird I see that often here.