May Birding

May is the month when the interesting birds show up.

 House Finch

Red-necked Grebe.  Some of these will breed in southern Saskatchewan.

Tundra Swans, the swan normally seen in Saskatchewan. We just see them on their way north.

Swainson's Thrush.  Only two thrushes hang around our area, the American Robin lives everywhere, several pairs in our yard.  The Veery nests in well-treed parks but they are not as plentiful as the robins.  I'd love to see more of the other thrushes, like this one.

Song Sparrow.  They'll breed, and sing, anywhere but they prefer to be close to water.

The White-throated Sparrow.  One of my favourite singers. I first noticed this bird in Spruce Woods Provincial Park in Manitoba, the song echoing through the park.  Unlike the thrushes, they have no hesitation in singing while migrating.

Lincoln's Sparrow.  I love their dainty look. Another Just-passing-through bird.

Probably the most frequently seen migrant warbler.  The Yellow-rumped Warbler looks most beautiful in the spring.  This one with the white throat is the Myrtle subspecies we usually see in Saskatchewan.

But this May I spent a few days in Lethbridge, Alberta, and was happy to find a couple of yellow throated Yellow-rumped Warbler. The Audubon subspecies.

Also from my time in Lethbridge, a pair of Common Mergansers.  The redhead is the female.

We don't see these every year, but I was very pleased to have Rose-breasted Grosbeaks show up for a few days.

Here is a migrant that actually nests in our yard.  This Brown Thrasher appears to be collecting dead leaves to line a nest.

Baltimore Orioles, a favourite migrant.  At least one pair chooses to nest in our yard most years.  Others just pop in for a juice break and keep on going.

Orange-crowned Warblers drop by, eat for a few days, and move on.

We had a dozen Pine Siskins here for a few days, and then one or two several other days.