Outdoors with the Birds
I went out a couple of times during the Easter weekend to shoot the birds with my Canon.Here is what I saw , including one “lifer.” Getting outdoors makes me feel complete and I am so grateful to be able to take photos, smell the fresh air and watch and listen to the birds and wildlife.
Did I tell you that I booked a seat on the “Wild Goose Chase” tour? We will be going to see the snow geese migration, possibly owls, cranes, bluebirds.. I haven’t done this in years so am looking forward to it. The trip is on May 3rd and of course I will be taking photos and posting them!
But back to the birds, etc. from this past weekend…
It is always a sign of spring to see the gulls return. Here is a resident Ring-billed gull.
I got a kick out of the Canada Geese lined up at the open side of the pond.
The House Finches are back in the neighbourhood. I like their songs, although my neighbour hates them since they nest right outside his window.
Here is a shot of a Handsome Canada Goose gander.
And you know who had to make an appearance, always helping himself to the spoils at the bird feeder.
I had been trying a number of self -portraits when this beauty showed up. I quickly grabbed the camera off the tripod and changed my settings from timer to bursts. 
Both the male and female Downy Woodpeckers showed up This is the male.
This is the female Downy Woodpecker.
The Black-capped Chickadees.
Red-Breasted Nuthatches.
The White-breasted Nuthatch
And my “lifer” the American Tree Sparrow. Yay!
Blue Jays, Magpies and Downy Woodpeckers
Sunday was bright and sunny and had warmed up to minus twenty something with a light breeze. I spent less time swearing and put my energy into shovelling the wind drifts from behind my car and went to the park. No sign of the grosbeaks but was seeing blue Jays, Magpies, Crows and Downy Woodpeckers.
I find the blue Jays a little more evasive, coming from a distance staying in the trees in the safety of the branches and taking a quick dip to the food and retreating.The magpies are similar but a bit bolder until you get just about focused , then they take off. On this day they were used to the person feeding them and showing themselves more. I really noticed the change of behaviour in these birds while someone was feeding them. They start to compete and fight over the food which was some sort of bird feed that they obviously liked. There were about six Magpies, one Blue Jay and a pair of Woodpeckers. The chickadees were staying a safe distance away. I would have stayed longer but was losing light as well as the feeling in my hands and toes.It was good to get out again.
Morning Walk with the Dogs-Blue Jays
I started work later on Saturday which enabled a long leisurely morning walk with the dogs. I was so impressed with their manners because when I saw some blue jays, I calmly said stay, then sit, and they did. The light was poor and I threw away a few shots but was pleased with these ones.Good dogs! Nice Blue Jays!
A Good Day for Birding
It was a great day yesterday. I had only two clients each at opposite ends of the day so I spent the hours in between at the park and had a great time! Oh, and check this out Deb. I didn’t know I had this until I saw the photo: Birds are as follows: black-capped chickadee, slate-coloured Junco, female pileated woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch x2, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, red-breasted nuthatch, female pileated woodpecker, male pileated woodpecker, and male pileatedwoodpecker Most were shot in aperture or shutter priority with an ISO of 800.
My Heartsong 