Birding and Nature discoveries 2012-3

Fall migration in 2012 brought the usual migrants, such as the Yellow warbler, through the city and as always Woopeckers and Nuthatches became much more visible once the leaves began changing colors.  For some reason I was out and about more during fall migration this year than I had been during the spring and the result was an absolute treat.

Magnolia Warbler

The beautiful Magnolia warbler above and Ovenbird below were very welcome additions to my growing life list.

Ovenbird

The best part, aside from the many delightful surprises this year is that I managed to meet several personal goals this fall.  One was to get a good  flight shot of the Red shafted northern flicker and a decent photo of a Yellow shafted flicker which also showed it's gorgeous yellow for the purpose of comparison.

Red Flicker

Yellow Flicker

The sighting of an American Kestrel in the city came as a complete surprise late in fall, as was the dawn arrival of an immature Black crowned Night heron.

Black crowned night heron

American Kestrel

Pied Billed Grebe

The little Pied billed Grebe above gave me a merry chase for several weeks, however to my absolute delight I finally captured him on camera late in fall.

Cape May Warbler

Cape May warbler

Canada Warbler

The Cape May warbler above, presented a challenge because I had some difficulty identifying it, in fact, I mistook it for another species until just recently.  The Canada warbler however gave me no such difficulty.  Both birds were another totally awesome addition to my birding list.

I added a few more bird species to that list when I made a six hundred mile round trip to Calgary.  Below are some of my favorite photos from that trip.

Bull Moose Crossing a farmers field

Juvenile Snowy Owl

Rough legged Hawk juv

First snowfall delivered another sighting, and much better photos, of the Brown Creeper and the tiny, adorable  Golden crowned Kinglet.

Brown Creeper

Golden Crowned Kinglet

Winter really roared in in earnest about mid November and with the snow arrived another surprise and the fulfillment of a wish I made in spring.  A closer view and photo of an Eagle.

After the storm

Immature Bald Eagle

The month of December has been very cold, too cold to take the camera out safely.  However, it seems 2012 had one more surprise in store.  Yesterday the weather was balmy in comparison to what it has been, so naturally I headed out.  I discovered that the Bohemian waxwings are back in force, the Chickadees were very cheerful and as I stood knee deep in snow and looked up, I was amazed to come face to face with a Juvenile Goshawk perched in a tree top.  A female, by the size of her. Judging by the Magpies still eagerly hanging around her, I would guess that she had just finished a meal.

Juvenile Goshawk Female

Surrounded by magpies

Goshawk preening

I can't wait to see what birds, wildlife and other things nature shows me in 2013, can you?  Happy New Year every one:)

Enjoy,
Susan