ID Quiz #1: Bird from behind!

Before we begin identification, I will give you a hint: I took this photo in February in my backyard in Toronto. From this, we can assume that this bird is resident and more common. While trying to identify this bird, notice that there is nothing to really compare for scale. This just adds another ID challenge. This is why it is really important to focus on body structure and key field marks on the bird.
      Firstly, notice the large feet on this bird in relation to the size of its body. It must spend lots of time on the ground... Also notice the pale rufous flank visible on the bird's right side. This should get you closer to getting the answer.
      If you're ever confused about a bird, note all possible field marks such as body structure, bill shape, wing and tail length, colour, etc. Having gathered all this information, we can then leaf through our field guides to see if any species match our description. As well as appearance, we must take habitat, behaviour, voice, range, and abundance into account. Surroundings are typically a great way to point us in the right direction.
      If you're still stuck, does this help?

American Robin

Congratulations if you successfully identified this unusually dully coloured American Robin! There are times in the field when we birders are forced to face ID challenges where you see the bird from an odd angle or in terrible lighting. Photographs are very helpful when you are stuck on a bird and just can't figure out what it is. They preserve field marks that you may not have noticed before. As well, you can send them to more experienced birders that may help you ID it.

Thank you for participating in my first ever bird ID quiz and I hope you enjoyed it! Please leave a comment or suggestion to help me make my blog a better one. Good birding!

Western Grebe in Colonel Samuel Smith Park

Since late January, a Western Grebe has been lingering on the shores of Lake Ontario between Colonel Samuel Smith Park and Humber Bay Park. Although it has been here for so long, it has been avoiding me. Whenever I am at one park, it is always at the other. Luckily, I finally managed to catch it early this month. It was actually quite close to shore, so I managed to get some adequate photos.

Western Grebe - Colonel Sam Smith Park

Western Grebe - Colonel Sam Smith Park

I've heard that apparently this grebe is still here, so you can have a chance to see this rare and elegant bird. Good luck!

Spending the GBBC Weekend in the Adirondacks

For long weekend of February 15th to 18th, I went on a hiking and skiing trip to High Peaks, Adirondacks. This was somewhat unfortunate because I knew that I wouldn't have many opportunities to birdwatch. Still, I saw a stunning twelve species (!) that I reported for the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Overnight, I stayed in a cozy motel in Lake Placid. From there, it wasn't a long drive to the peaks. On Saturday, I climbed Phelps Mountain. The trail was extremely icy near the top, and I can honestly say I slipped a few times even while wearing crampons. Nonetheless, the view was magnificent. The weather conditions proved to be perfect and cloudless. Phelps isn't one of the taller 46 mountains above 4000 feet, but the view was still one of the better ones.

Phelps Mountain, High Peaks, Adirondacks

The next day I planned to ascend Giant Mountain. However, the temperatures went down further than I was prepared for and the winds were strong enough to blow me off the mountain. Instead, I went skiing on Whiteface. This way, if I got cold or tired, I could just hide away in the cafeteria with a hot chocolate.

The skiing was fantastic. As it turned out though, the next morning all the lifts were closed except for the ones on the bunny hill. Apparently the winds were too violent, but it wasn't any worse than the day before. A voucher was good enough for me though, and that was the end of my weekend.

November in Tommy Thompson Park

Winter birding in Tommy Thompson Park this November was very rewarding. Due to low water levels, the island on the northwest side was accessible. The island is a nesting colony for Double-crested Cormorants, gulls, and night-herons between April and September, so there were some remains that were difficult to avoid.
On the harbour we saw a flock of hundreds of waterfowl that mainly consisted of Long-tailed Ducks. Additionally, sparrows were abundant in the dense shrubs north of the island. We also had a long look at one Peregrine Falcon that was perched upon a tall dead tree preening its feathers.

At about noon, we decided we would start heading back. Just as we were passing the harbour, I noticed a silhouette beside a big boat; an owl! Looking closer I realized it was just wooden...

November 3rd in Humber Bay Park East

November 3rd I spend my Saturday afternoon birding in Humber Bay Park East and honestly, I did not see that many species of birds. However, this was more than made up by the number of Long-tailed Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers, Buffleheads, and Scaups.
I also had the chance to get some photos of a pair of Snow Buntings right by the Humber River, just posing there. (They are so cute - Snow Buntings are my new favourite birds!)

Snow Bunting on the east bank of the Humber River near Lake Ontario.

Spending October 21st at Lynde Shores CA

On the 21st of October I visited Lynde Shores Conservation Area near Ajax, by Lake Ontario. It was quite a productive day as I and a group of friends saw 50 species in total until lunchtime.
It was an unusual day because we were there for an OFO Trip, however it was moved to next week and we were not notified. However, we still had fun and took some decent photos.

Desperate Black-capped Chickadees fighting for the granola bar on my hand. (Photo taken by Ark.)

House Finch by bird feeders.

There was a great abundance of sparrows. Apparently someone also spotted a Long-eared Owl among the evergreens, but we didn't get a chance to see it. There was also a wide range of duck species and numerous herons present. A good bird we observed was the Nashville Warbler by the marsh, which was supposed to have migrated by now. (See that yellow blur!)

New Backyard Bird: the Hermit Thrush

Recently, I had an interesting bird in my backyard that I thought is worth mentioning. It was the Hermit Thrush and I had it return several times over the course of three days in October. I believe it was a migrant on its way south.

Hermit Thrush in my backyard.

It do not think it was that unusual because I live near a park and running water, however my backyard did not provide any suitable food for this species or moving water. It was a nice new backyard bird, but I hope I get some more exciting ones during the winter.