American Robin: May Backyard Birds, Regina, SK (1)

The American Robin is first in a series of backyard birds seen this month in Regina, Saskatchewan. I love robin in spring, when their feathers are all still crisp and mating-flashy-new.

There are several pairs of American Robins in our neighbourhood now, swooping and chasing each other — but so far, in my yard at least, no signs of nests.  (Several years ago, they nested in our apple tree. It was a little alarming the first day the young fledged — what with rain and neighbourhood cats!)

American Robin - a sociable bird that usually looks cross.   © SB 

While some American Robins live year-round in the U.S. (and parts of B.C. and the Maritimes), others only winter in the south and then migrate back north to the rest of Canada (and Alaska) for summer and to breed.  

So for us, these are spring birds, and their appearance is a welcome sign that winter is over. 

What is this? American Robin.

Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 21, 2013.

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Baltimore Orioles in Regina: High in Wascana Park Trees

Baltimore Oriole near the tree top. © SB 

High in Regina trees near sunset last night, I saw five Baltimore Orioles — four males, one female.

(Perhaps there were more female Baltimore Orioles, but they are not as easy to see, being a soft yellow rather than the fiery torch orange of the males — a colour that's even brighter in red sun rays.)

I was at Wascana Park, Regina, Saskatchewan, in and around the bird pond by the Conexus Arts Centre, and what a gathering of birds!

Canada Geese, Double-crested Cormorants, Eastern and Western Kingbirds, Robins, a Brown Thrasher, three kinds of Warblers (Yellow, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crested), various sparrow and lots of Red-winged Blackbirds.

But the Baltimore Orioles were my favourite, live energy glowing and crackling at the tops of the tree! I love that orange flash!

Baltimore Oriole feeding
on (insects in?) old leaves. © SB 

Baltimore Oriole - male. © SB 

Baltimore Oriole - female.  © SB 

What are there? Baltimore Orioles
Location: Wascana Park, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 18, 2013.

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Northern Lights: Faintly visible from Regina, Saskatchewan

A geomagnetic storm is underway — and I'm sure if I drove into the country, I'd see clear and vibrant Northern Lights, but even in my backyard, they are faintly, softly, visible.

Here's an image, taken a few minutes ago,  corrected for Tungsten; 11/16 mm, 2.5 sec at F2.8, 800 ISO.

Northern Lights, seen from Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard.  © SB 

What is this? Streaks of green Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.
Location: Above my garage, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 18, 2013.

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Brown Thrashers: Will they nest in my backyard again?

Brown Thrashers are the First of the Season bird of the day in my Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard. I saw a flash of rust-brown in the lilac trees, and then it flew away — but my luck held and it soon came back to peck at seeds strewn by House Sparrows on the ground.

Last year, a pair of Brown Thrashers nested somewhere nearby. For several days, we saw an adult keeping watch on the top of the garage, and then one morning, an adult walked the fledgling across the yard to the seeds. So cool to see the young birds greed and grey eyes! (The adults's eyes are stunning gold.)

I hope there is a nest again. And if there is, I hope I see the young Brown Thrashers this year, too.

Brown Thrasher - look at those elegant legs!   © SB

Brown Thrasher, posing for backyard photo © SB

I'd love to know what the Brown Thrasher is looking at... © SB

What is this? A Brown Thrasher.
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 17, 2013.

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Yellow-rumped Warbler - my bandit bird is back!

Yellow-rumped Warblers make me think of bandits in old black and white TV shows — dashing Zorro-like outlaws, wearing black masks.

But the clearest identifying mark on Yellow-rumped Warblers is not, of course, their facial marking, but those vibrant flashes of yellow on their chest and — most of all — their rumps. An apt name.

Here's my first Yellow-rumped Warbler of  2013, in the bushes by Wascana Lake, east of Broad Street, in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Regina, Saskatchewan.   © SB

What is this? A Yellow-rumped Warbler
Location: East section of Wascana Lake, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 15, 2013.

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Pine Siskin in my backyard: Regina, Saskatchewan

A Pine Siskin showed up at my backyard bird feeder in Regina, Saskatchewan, today. It sat with a red House Finch — and their apparent congeniality led me, at first glance, to think the Siskin must be a female finch...

But yellow-tipped wing and tail feathers were wrong — and so was that beak. (Pine Siskins have narrower, more delicate beaks than House Finches.) A search through finch-like birds in The Sibley Guide led me to the Pine Siskin page, and there it was — my bird feeder bird of the day: A Pine Siskin.

Pine Siskin - note the yellow feathers on wings and tail, 
and clear light wing streaks. © SB

Sibley says these birds are mainly found in open coniferous forests, which does not in the least describe my suburban, flat land, backyard! So this Siskin must be passing through, to parts further north and more conifer-filled. 

In backyard bird photography, the stakes always increase. My challenge now is to photograph a Pine Siskin with sunlight sparkling in its dark eyes. 

Eye reflection, check!
Pine Siskin on Finch feeder. © SB

Next, with its feathers open, to display those lovely yellow wing bars! 

What is this? A Pine Siskin.
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 11, 2013.

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Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek: Ancient dance, ancient birds

Sharp-tailed Grouse displaying purple neck patch.  © SB

Recently, I had an awesome opportunity — to visit a Sharp-tailed Grouse lek near Regina, Saskatchewan, and watch these prairie birds perform their dance of dominance.

It's all about mating — but the female grouse didn't seem to care.

In fact, we only saw one bird that may (or may not) have been a female Sharp-tailed Grouse during the two hours we were there. (Males and females look alike, except when the males are actively lekking.)

I love that word, lek, whether in verb or noun form.

It so well describes the dominance displays of a few human males I've known, who apparently saw fashion (no jeans/running shoes, please!) as part of their corporate dominance plan.

The video, below, shows some footage I took of part of their lek dance.

And I loved seeing these birds! If any avian species has ever made me think of dinosaurs, their potential cousins or ancestors, Sharp-tailed Grouse in full lek would be it.

They prowl, they pounce, they prance, they dance. They make themselves very tall, then very broad. And then they stare. Long meaningful stares of threat... or forgetfulness. They sit down. The focus, perhaps wanders, or perhaps it's all a waiting game. Eventually, one male ambles off. A pause, and then the lek begins again.

Low and broad, the Sharp-tailed Grouse strut. © SB

The Sharp-tailed Grouse also leap into the air
- and at other males. Beware! © SB

The birds I saw claimed a section of pasture near Regina — there used to be several Sharp-tailed Grouse leks near the city, but this seems to be the only one now left.

Every morning around dawn (that's now about 5:30 a.m.), the birds gather. They cluck, they chatter, their pinions rattle and they do a gobbling thing, a little like the sound of turkeys.

About 12 grouse were gathered for the lekking display when we arrived. The neighbour's dog chased them off by rushing across the pasture to meet our two cars, but dogs are easily bored and mating birds, determined... So the dogs wandered off and the grouse flew back to their chosen spot of trampled prairie. (Yes, this was a remnant of original prairie, with club moss and other low plants forming the fragile and essential base layer.)

The Sharp-tailed Grouse appeared to divide the lek space into sections, within which several individual dominance displays took place. They say not all breed, just the ultimate winners, so the gene stakes are high.

Sharp-tailed Grouse on the lek. © SB

The Sharp-tailed Grouse has been Saskatchewan's bird emblem since 1945. I visited this lek with friends from the Public Pastures - Public Interest group, to learn more about this amazing native prairie bird.

What are these? Sharp-tailed Grouse.
Location: Near Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: April 27, 2013.

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White-crowned Sparrows Return to Regina

White-crowned Sparrows returned to our Regina backyard this weekend — a stop-over on their migration to their northern breeding grounds (Northern Saskatchewan, Yukon, etc.) from their winter patch in the southern U.S.

White-crowned Sparrow, hunting for seeds in my backyard.   © SB 

I love watching new native sparrows and song birds pass through! And I welcome these White-crowned Sparrows, with their crisp black and white head markings, and jittery way of jumping back and forth while foraging for seeds under the feeders.

(And the grass itself has just started to sprout; a week ago, we had snow drifts in our yard.)

What is this? White-crowned Sparrow.
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 7, 2013.

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Snow Mould Spider Webs Emerge From Drifts

Snow Mould  © SB

I saw the first snow mould in the garden today, and now I know why I've been sniffling for the past few days.

Fascinating stuff: While we're huddled inside, sheltered during seven months of winter, a fungus grows like spider webs across the dead leaves and stalks left in our garden. Under the snow! Beneath that weight of frozen water. 

Rain is forecast tonight, and then more snow... Then sunshine.

As soon as the ground dries, we'll rake* the snow mould — it emerged only in the last few days, as the  months-old drifts across our garden magically receded.

(*Or, then again, if eyes turn red and sneezing overcomes the rakers, we'll pray for heat and sunshine... Either way, the garden will be cleared for new growth; the snow mould will be gone. Until next spring...)

Achoo! 

What is this? Snow Mould. 
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: April 29, 2013.

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Peregrine Falcon on Regina City Hall

High on a ledge at Regina City Hall, there is a Peregrine Falcon. The falcon likes the east side of the building, birders say, and it's sometimes seen near the south-east corner.

Although falcons aren't huge birds, this one was fairly easy to spot... I'd heard it was often at City Hall, and I saw it from several blocks away. (Then again, at about 16 inches, with a wingspan of about 40 inches, they aren't small birds, either!)

Peregrine Falcon on the east side of Regina City Hall.   © SB

Peregrine Falcons are birds of prey, hunting "mainly medium-size birds from high above in spectacular swoops," my Sibley guide says.

Pigeons — and robins — beware...

High, high - yes, almost near the roof
and sky in this urban canyon. © SB

For those who know Regina City Hall, the picture above shows the falcon's position on the ledge. And, for those who don't, this total building shot (taken a couple of weeks ago at the Mayor's Poetry City Challenge), shows the scale — although to see the falcon yesterday, you'd have had to walk around the corner to the east side. 

Regina City Hall. Walk around to the right,
towards the rest of downtown, to see the falcon.
(If, that is, it's there...)  © SB

For more, the CBC last year aired a video interview about on falcons at City Hall with a bird watcher and with ornithologist, Dr. Stuart Houston.


What is this? Peregrine Falcon

Location: Downtown Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: April 24, 2013.

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