“Mummy, what are they doing?” May 2021

I heard this child’s question as we stood on the bridge at Humber Bay overlooking a sandbar below. Here is the scene that unfolded:

Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer

“They’re having fun” was Mummy’s response. And so they were.

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

Male American Redstarts are brightly coloured birds:

American Redstart (male)

I saw a female this morning. My Grandfather always referred to them as “Yellowstarts.”

American Redstart (female)
American Redstart (female)
American Redstart (female)
American Redstart (female)

Yellow Warblers are everywhere at the moment. The male “wears” a reddish “necklace”.

Yellow Warbler (male)
Yellow Warbler (male)
Yellow Warbler (male)
Yellow Warbler (male)

The female does not:

Yellow Warbler (female)
Yellow Warbler (female)
Yellow Warbler (female)
Yellow Warbler (female)

Other birds:

Robin chicks with parent
Robin chick with parent
Robin chick
Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird
Pekin Duck
Pekin Duck
Warbling Vireo
Mallard (male)
Song Sparrow
Herring Gull
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gulls
Song Sparrow
Eastern Kingbird
Gadwall (male)
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorants
Common Grackle
Song Sparrow
Mute Swan
Song Sparrow
Tree Swallow
Baltimore Oriole (male)
Baltimore Oriole (male)
Canada Goose chicks
Ring-billed Gull
Red-necked Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Mallard (male)
Northern Cardinal (male)
Tree Swallow
Baltimore Oriole (male)
Northern Cardinal (male)

MYSTERY BIRD

The white throat and striped crown make this a White-throated Sparrow.

White-throated Sparrow

NATURE POETRY

May brings flocks of pretty lambs,
Skipping by their fleecy dams.              – Sara Coleridge (1802–52)

Miles Hearn

2 thoughts on ““Mummy, what are they doing?” May 2021

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Ha! “Some kind of sparrow!” I thought to myself. It’s a start. (If not a Redstart). What a difference between the American Redstart male and female! As for the title–it seemed poignant and plaintive to me, at first, and I feared it would be a baby bird witnessing a scene of older birds killing each other! And then–I felt stupid. And I was amused, and thought–“What a great answer, for a child, if the more specific answer is considered “age inappropriate” (or too complicated to explain)!
    Thanks again for the wonderful pictures of wonderful birds, Miles!

    Reply

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