Starling

 

Large groups of Starlings are gathering and flying in packs. On this day they had landed in a Maple tree that was loaded with keys. If you don't look closely at a Starling you don't realize what interesting plumage they have with all the dots and speckles. 

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

Disrupted

 

I have been seeing flocks of birds gathering and heading south while the House Sparrows have been gathering and grazing on all the seeds from weeds and grasses. Sometimes there can be more than a dozen of them in one patch. These two were is such a group that I disturbed by accident and they flew up to the top of a fence and gave me the evil eye.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

Water

 

I have a large container for a bird bath on the roof deck. The bigger birds like the Robins love it but the smaller Sparrows love this small metal saucer-like container. I have been filling it a couple of times during the day while we have been having hot weather. Sometimes there have been as many as 5 of them around the edge at a time. In this catch just 2 with one perched on the wing of one of the metal decorative birds. At the right you can see another bird on the edge of a planter waiting for a chance to get in. 

Taking part  in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

A Youngster

 

I was sitting in a park and noticed this Robin all puffed up and at first thought that it was injured but after a few minutes some kids came near the bird and it flew down into the grass and started to look for food. Finally it found some and fixed all its feathers into place and flew up into  a tree away from the kids. I think it was a young bird just catching its breath when I first saw it.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Foraging

 

I was watching this Robin poking around in the grass at a park and when it stopped I could see that it had been successful in finding a couple of creatures to take back to its nest. It had been a good catch for it! I'm thinking it must have babies waiting for its return.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.  

A Visitor

 

I was sitting on the roof deck and heard a hawk sound nearby and then spotted this one up on the neighbouring cellphone tower. It stayed there quite a while so I got my camera and bird book. I think it is a female Merlin but the experts may know better.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

A Handsome Creature

 

This male Cardinal has been singing quite loudly around our place for the last week. Mating season again? He certainly is looking to be in his prime.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

Puddle Action

 

These pigeons had found a couple of puddles along the driveway into a busy grocery store and nothing was going to stop them from enjoying the water. If a vehicle came by they would walk over a few feet and then return immediately to the puddle. Even a large tractor trailer didn't bother them much.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

Treats For Us?

 

This group of Mallards was terribly disappointed when I had no food for them. They have become accustomed to people giving them bread which isn't good for them.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

Heron In The City

 

I don't get to see too many herons in the city so it was nice to spot this one painted on a utility box. The soft colors seem to suit the scene. 

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click Here to see more creatures from around the world.

A Private Pool

 

We have had some dry spells lately but when we do get rain and puddles form the birds take advantage of the puddles. This Robin was in the middle of a bath in this private puddle but stopped to make sure I was no risk to him.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

A Crowd Of Ducks

 

The crowd of ducks in the foreground has attracted the 2 ducks in the upper half of this shot. They were rushing over to see if they were missing out on something. Spotted at James Gardens.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

They Are Back

 

The Robins are back from their winter holidays in the south. I have been seeing large flocks of them in a local park but caught this pic in the Annex neighbourhood. This Robin looks a bit bedraggled but he was finding lots to eat in this lawn so will soon be fit again. My regular Robin who visits my birdbath on the deck has been back and bathing on days when it hasn't been raining.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Spring Arrivals

 

We have had awful weather lately but last week one afternoon there was a bit of sunshine and I looked out through the window to see this pair of House Finches in the trees by the roof deck. They were there for about 45 minutes just grooming and resting. I have seen them a few times since and hope that they may stay around for a while. They are always together.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

A Visit

 

We had a visit from this hawk who sat out in the tree by our roof deck for at least 10 minutes. This is the tree that the squirrels use all the time and a squirrel actually started to climb up before it noticed the hawk and turned around quickly. I'm not sure but I think it was a Coopers hawk? 

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Looking Ducky

 

I am back to my archives for this pic of the ducks at James Gardens. I haven't been to visit them all winter but it will soon be time for an excursion to see how they have weathered this winter.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Walking In The Snow

 

It must be cold on those feet walking through the snow but it doesn't seem to bother them. Spring can't come too soon.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

More Birds

 

This is the rest of the birds from yesterday's post. There are a couple more off to the right but the construction materials were in the way of getting them in a pic. A new elevator is being built to provide full access to the subway station.

Birds On Dupont St

 

I happened to go by the subway station on Dupont St and was delighted to spot this large mural that has been painted around the entrance. The artist is Nick Sweetman. There were so many birds that I will have to show the other half of them tomorrow.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Finding Water

 

That is not a pond those ducks are in but rather is a large puddle beside the pond which had a lot of ice on its surface. The Mallards didn't seem to care.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.