Northern Parula and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Kirkup Woods: May 2020

On this day, I wanted to explore the area just west of Lake Simcoe and, completely haphazardly, came across this place:

It was perfect for a walk on a sunny day and there were trilliums everywhere.

White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)

Butterflies were out:

Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak

and a few mammals:

Red Squirrel
Chipmunk

High in the trees and moving quickly and frequently was a Northern Parula. This very small warbler is becoming more common in the last 20 years or so. In my youth, I do not remember ever seeing one. None of these photos is perfect but you get an idea of this beautiful little bird:

Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula

Large birds such as hawks and penguins are very careful to send their “scat” as far away as possible as you can see in this Osprey sequence:

Osprey
Osprey preparing to”eliminate”
Osprey “elimination”

In Toronto, we only see Sapsuckers in migration but they enliven cottage country with their “Morse code” tapping, their whining calls and excited activity near their nests. Males have a red throat as this one does:

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (male)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (male)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (male)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (male)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (male)

Other birds:

Killdeer
Killdeer
Tree Swallow
Mourning Doves
Bobolink (male)
Bobolink (male)
Canada Goose
American Robin
Brown-headed Cowbird (female)
Brown-headed Cowbird (male)
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (female)
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Kettle of Turkey Vultures
Kettle of Turkey Vultures

NATURE POETRY

May is bee in blossom,
May is birds a-nesting,
May is picking violets on a hill;
May is young and twenty,
May is Sunday-besting,
May is eager Jack and willing Jill.     – The Old Farmer’s Almanac 1961

Miles Hearn

3 thoughts on “Northern Parula and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Kirkup Woods: May 2020

  1. Rosemarie Fischer

    wonderful to see all these gorgeous birds and other critters….thank you for bringing Spring into our lives… Rosemarie Fischer

    Reply
  2. Pina

    Wonderful pictures. Beautiful birds.
    So nice to see the sun come out. Brightens everything.
    It’s been so gloomy and cold the past few days.

    Reply

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