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.

First Goldfinch

Two arrived in our yard earlier this week (May 5). Scouts, I'm guessing, as they didn't stay long.

 Had a sprinkling of rain and our first-of-year rainbow the same day.

Osprey at Gardiner Dam

I had no time to bird yesterday, but when I drove across the dam there were two big birds sitting on the Osprey nest.  What could I do?

The Ospreys have returned!


 I guess the Bald Eagle we saw on April 12 was just house sitting.

And yes, I am seriously thinking about a new camera.  I love this one in many ways, but not when the distance grows.

Common Redpolls

It's been almost 2 years since we had Redpolls, but I'm happy to say that they are back.  They may have been around the yard earlier in the month, but this week they visited my feeders.

Colourful Trogons

More of the exciting birds that never stop in Saskatchewan.

A Citreolene Trogon.  If we had got a better angle, I would have had to put it in with the yellow birds.

and the Mountain Trogon. Very similar to the Elegant Trogon we saw last year near Puerto Vallarta. 

Neither of these were lifers for us, but these were definitely our best views.