Buffalo Pound Provincial Park

Eastern Phoebe nesting in an old barn swallow nest in a gazebo.

Mountain Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird (taken into the sun, unfortunately.  When I tried to circle around, he took offense and flew away.)

These three birds were photographed by the bison paddocks in the Nicolle Flats trailhead area.

In the main park area we saw at least two flycatchers, probably Least but as they were silent, we can only guess,

 several Chipping Sparrows,

and a noisy family of young Eastern Kingbirds.

If someone can tell me why the above Chipping Sparrow looks so different from the one below, I'd appreciate it.  Is it age?  sex?  regional variations?

Who's Nesting in our Yard? Part 2

 Chipping Sparrows

 Mourning Doves

 American Goldfinches

And Loggerhead Shrikes

Sorry, I don't have juvenile photos for all of these, but I feel we can safely assume they are nesting here when they are around at the end of July. I saw three Loggerhead Shrikes together today, and another right afterwards that I don't think was part of the first group, so can say they had a successful nesting season.  One of the birds hovered in the air for several seconds. I watched it, then wished I could have caught it on video.

Somehow it looks cuter when wrens do it

Juvenile American Robin

Who is nesting in our yard? Part 1

Barn Swallows

Baltimore Orioles

American Robins

Common Grackles

Is this yet another wren song?

Apparently it's not.  According to the very helpful people on SaskBirds, this is a Warbling Vireo. Now I just need to see the bird.  It is very elusive, at least in my yard, and prefers to forage in the tops of trees.

Learning to recognize birds by their sounds as well as by sight is very challenging, though it certainly increases the number of birds I can identify at any random time.  It would be a whole lot easier if they didn't have so many different songs.  Or if they would just come out into the open while they sang.