Warblers, Teal and Cormorants: August 2021

I’ve been hearing that the warblers have begun their southbound migration and headed out to Humber Bay to have a look.

There was considerable activity in some shrubs which included Gnatcatchers, Flycatchers and Warblers.

Here are three warblers;

Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow Warbler (female)
Yellow Warbler (female)
Yellow Warbler (female)
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

The Green-winged Teal is half the size of a Mallard. At about 14 inches in length it rivals the Bufflehead as the smallest North American duck. They love to search for food in shallow water and often walk about in the mud.

Green-winged Teal (female)
Green-winged Teals (female)
Green-winged Teal (female)
Green-winged Teal (female)
Green-winged Teal (female)

Now that Cormorants are out of their nesting areas, they are starting to spread all along the lakeshore. It is difficult to imagine that, in the 1950’s, they had almost disappeared here due to DDT poisoning. By the middle of November or so, all will have migrated south.

Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant (juvenile)
Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorant

Other birds:

Mallards
Great Black-backed Gull (juvenile)
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Canada Geese
Great Egret
Herring Gull (juvenile)
Wood Duck (female)
Rock Pigeon
Wood Duck (female)
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Rock Pigeon
Ring-billed Gull
Great Egret
American Robin
Wood Duck (female)
Mallard
Wood Duck (female)
Eastern Kingbird
Mallards
Great Blue Heron
Eastern Kingbird
Wood Duck (female)
Eastern Kingbirds
Great Blue Heron

MYSTERY BIRD

The all-black bill identifies this as a Trumpeter Swan.

Trumpeter Swan

SWAN QUOTE

“His own image; no longer a dark, gray bird, ugly and disagreeable to look at, but a graceful and beautiful swan. To be born in a duck’s nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird, if it is hatched from a swan’s egg.” ― Hans Christian Andersen, the Ugly Duckling.

Miles Hearn

4 thoughts on “Warblers, Teal and Cormorants: August 2021

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Ha! You got me! Where is the yellow tag?
    How sad I feel that so many birds are beginning to leave. Such wonderful pictures–as usual!
    Thanks, Miles!

    Reply
  2. Evelyn

    Thank you, These are amazing, looking forward to the walks! I just purchased a book on birds and will look them up.

    Reply
  3. barbara

    These images are a pleasure in so many ways: title below allows me to test/hone my ID skills, detail shots emphasise “seeing” vs “looking” (like today’s kingbird with a mouthful), and the sheer photographic art of beautiful composition, depth of focus, colour, etc are a joy to the eye & soul. Very belatedly, many thanks for sharing your skills and talents.

    Reply

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