White-throats, Yellow Warblers and an Iceland Gull: May 2021

Every photography instruction guide that I have read or watched tells us NOT to photograph in poor light. Those gray skies will rob everything of colour. BUT … it’s May which only comes once a year. Birds everywhere!

Here is what the Ashbridge’s Bay area looked like in the windy early hours of daylight:

CN Tower

The last few days has produced a wave of migrating White-throated Sparrows:

White-throated Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

Yellow Warblers are one of the few warblers that nest in Toronto so we can enjoy them into July.

Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler

Ring-billed and Herring Gulls have black wing tips:

Ring-billed Gull

The Iceland Gull does not:

Iceland Gull (juvenile)
Iceland Gull (juvenile)

Other birds:

Double-crested Cormorant
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Robin
Song Sparrow
Common Raven
Northern Cardinal (female)
Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorants
Gadwall (male)
Tree Swallow
Tree Swallows
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Canada Goose
Buffleheads
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Song Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Red-winged Blackbird (female)
Red-winged Blackbird (female)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Cardinal (male)
Common Grackle
Long-tailed Ducks (female)
Long-tailed Duck (male)
Long-tailed Duck (male)

MYSTERY BIRD

The “white spectacles”, blue-gray head and 2 white wing bars identify this as a Blue-headed Vireo.

Blue-headed Vireo

MAILBOX

At this time of year especially we should be cognizant of our great debt to birds, bats and insects for the miracle of botanical life and the beauty that comes from their pollination labours.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xHkq1edcbk4?rel=0

NATURE POETRY

Summer, fall, winter, spring,
The seasons rotate as each brings
Its special beauty to this Earth of ours.
Winter’s snow and summer’s flowers;
Frozen rivers will flow come spring,
There is a renewal of everything.        – Edna Frohock (1906–97)   

Miles Hearn

4 thoughts on “White-throats, Yellow Warblers and an Iceland Gull: May 2021

  1. Gail Adams

    Wonderful way to start the day Miles though perhaps a little later than yours!

    The video was amazing too!

    Reply
  2. Lisa Volkov

    Well, I did say to myself: If it isn’t a warbler, it must be a vireo. That’s something! Ah yes–the vireos!
    I love the pictures you took here, whatever the conditions. I loved the pictures DEPICTING the conditions.
    Thanks, Miles!

    Reply
  3. Lisa Cyr

    Amazing what birds are right in our backyard. I look forward to reading more of your posts!

    Reply

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