A video of a woodpecker, but who is doing the singing?

This is the Black-backed Woodpecker. I assume the singer is a warbler, but that is as far as my guessing goes. Once again the SaskBirders have come through. They tell me this is a Tennessee Warbler. 

For people like me who prefer to see the bird that is singing, here is a Tennessee Warbler I photographed in our yard a year ago in May.

Least Flycatcher: no longer a mystery

At a picnic today, someone told us there was a bird's nest nearby at eye level containing a titmouse.  I was immediately sceptical, but hopeful at the same time.

The nest wasn't quite at eye level, not for me anyway, but when I stood on an unused picnic table some distance away I was able to take some photos. With only half of the bird visible, identification for me is a tricky thing, but how about a Least Flycatcher?  My first guess was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, but on closer viewing of the photos I'm pretty much rejecting that idea. It appears that rejection was a good choice, as this little bird has been confirmed as a Least Flycatcher.  Or as confirmed a silent flycatcher sitting on a nest can be.

Here is a photo I took a few years ago for comparison.This is a Least Flycatcher, using voice as well as appearance to make the id.

New Birds

We went searching for new birds in Prince Albert National Park.  We certainly heard new birds, but were unable to identify most of what we heard.  Here are three we did identify. The first we did by sight, but then confirmed with a recording of its voice.

The Alder Flycatcher.

This one was in the grass along a path when Ray passed by.  It waited patiently till I caught up, then flew up into a tree for a photo shoot.

The Spruce Grouse.

We went north hoping to see woodpeckers.  We saw three species, this was the only new one, but we were fortunate to see it three times, Ray and I each glimpsed it once separately, then we were together when it stuck around for photos.

The Black-backed Woodpecker.

We were looking for new warblers as well, but that is another story entirely. Maybe next time.