The bird is on the wing and isn't that a pretty thing

Andy H. guided us on a couple days of spring birdwatching in different habitats, and I saw many of these species, like the Eastern bluebird on the left,  for the very first time. Exciting! 

I am just learning how to differentiate different types of birds, so it was highly informative to be with someone who could mark differences within types (i.e. all the different warblers). Eye rings, marking on wings, beak colouration, flight pattern, and birdsong all contribute to making each bird unique.

The photos in this post are not mine - but we did see lots of birders with cameras and very long lenses.

These were all different habitats, which attract different types of birds: Thickson's Woods (woodland); Lynde Shores (marsh on one side and lake on the other); and Calden Alvar. Lots of different wildflowers and native plants to admire as well. It's great to get outdoors and birding is a good excuse.

first time sightings "Lifers" = L

Thickson's Woods 

(May 9)

Black throated green warbler (L)

Redstart warbler (L)

Ruby-crowned kinglet (L)

Chickadee

Red winged blackbird

Seagull

Pileated or Northern Flicker (heard) 

Cardinal

White throated sparrow

White crowned sparrow

Catbird

Northern flicker

Merganser

Ringed gull

Downy woodpecker

Goldfinch

Woodthrush (L)

Purple finch

Lynde Shores 

(May 9)

Wild turkey

Blue Jay

Cowbird

Grackle

House sparrow

Coot

Swans (Mute and trumpeter)

Red winged blackbird

Goose / gosling

Virginia Rail (L)

Killdeer (on nest)

Cardinal

Golden wing warbler

Carden Alvar

(May 21)

Red-wing blackbirds

Kingbird (L)

Bobolink (L)

Common Snipe (L)

Tree swallow

Barn swallow

Oriole

Merlin

Grackle

Yellow warbler

Common yellow throat (warbler) (L)

Golden wing warbler (L)

Black and white warbler

Blue Jay

Brown Thrasher / mimic (L)

Robin

Eastern bluebird (L)

Phoebe

Osprey

Canada geese

Crows

Marsh wren (L)

Common snipe