Black-bellied Plover

This species is quite variable in the plumage phases it exhibits when they arrive here during their migration South. I'm mostly guessing when I say that of the three birds shown here, two are juveniles and the other is a female moulting into Winter plumage. There are usually many birds that are sporting full breeding plumage (black breast and belly) but the ratio gets less as the season wears on. I'm not often lucky enough to get shots of the those birds. The bottom two shots are from September 2, the top is from mid August.

Dunlin

 This was the first time I observed this species this year at the lake. They are always one of the last shorebirds to arrive after nesting in the high Arctic and one of the last to leave. This one is still sporting some of it's breeding plumage but will turn mostly grey and white later in the Fall if they haven't already. These were taken over a month ago.  September 2, Matthew's Lake.

Belted Kingfisher

I didn't have much luck getting close to kingfishers this year or letting them get close to me for that matter. This was about the best I could do. It takes a certain amount of dedication, time and luck to get good photos of this species and I had limited amounts of all the necessary ingredients. Well there is always next year. September 2, Matthew's Lake.

Late Summer Warblers

Cape May Warbler has been high on my list for a photo of a male in Spring breeding plumage. Unfortunately I haven't been lucky enough to get that shot but I was happy to at least get a shot of one in late summer, possibly an adult female, when they are still fairly bright in colour. This was part of a mixed flock of mostly Palm Warblers, the shot of the Palm Warbler here however was taken on a different day at a separate location. September 2, Matthew's Lake and September 9, East Jordan respectively.

Got One - Greater Yellowlegs

These birds are pretty versatile in their feeding habits. You often see them darting around in shallow water trying to catch small fish. They are aided by those long yellow legs relative to their body size.  It's not that often that you see them catch something or maybe I haven't been paying close enough attention. August 27.

Close-up. Juvenile Great Blue Heron

This bird seemed like it had never seen a human up close before. It was more curious than afraid although eventually it flew off. In the second photo it is watching a plane fly overhead. The same plane I think that spent the next couple of days mapping the ocean bottom in the area. August 27, Matthew's Lake.

Three Plumage Phases - Ruddy Turnstones

I watched a flock of Ruddy Turnstones fly in and start preening one day at the lake. I found it interesting that among that small group of birds there were three very distinct plumage phases, the adult bird in the top two photos, a juvenile with its head tucked in  (middle) and what I think must be an adult already transitioning to winter plumage. (bottom)  The bird at the top is probably in the initial stages of moult as well, it's just not as obvious yet. It's easy to see why birders, myself included, can get easily confused when trying to ID birds when they're not in their breeding plumage. August 27, Matthew's Lake.