Saskatchewan Summer Birding

 Summer is when birds are less noticeable and we do less intentional birding.

That can mean we see fewer birds, which was true this past summer as grandchildren came to visit and birds were sidelined except for the occasional one that forced its way into my line of sight.

We did drive to Gardiner Dam August 9 where I counted 17 Great Blue Herons and Ray counted 23.  (He has better eyes than I do, which is very useful in finding birds while driving.)  No, not all 17 (or 23) are in this photo.

In case you are doubting those herons, here is a closer view of one.  By the time we drove around the spillway to get a better view, they had left.  We learned last year that there is a heronry near the dam, so were not as surprised as we would otherwise have been to see this gathering.
 

On August 16 we drove to Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park where we saw several Common Nighthawks flying overhead.  In the middle of the afternoon.

After searching neighbouring trees we found one resting on a branch.  Great camouflage!

Also in the park were the usual Northern Flickers.

On August 26 we didn't need to go anywhere to see two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.  They were eating (drinking?) at the feeder 

but they also appeared to be dancing in the air.  It made capturing them both in one shot tricky but, what with taking over a hundred shots in four minutes, I did catch them both a couple of times.

These were either adult females or first year birds.  I have never yet seen an adult male at our feeders. Which also means I haven't photographed an adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird.  

The other summer birds of note were a family of Brown Thrashers.  They frequently nest in trees outside the yard but this year they must have been around my garden for I saw or heard them daily.  Not a lot of photos, but good to know they were there.  Here's one of them on a bad hair day.