Chickadee Photo Art » Birds of Manitoba

Winter Bird Feeding Station – Redpolls

Sharon — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:00:50 +0000

Winter feeding can attract a variety of beautiful birds that remain with us year round. Nuthatches, chickadees, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, jays, redpolls and sparrows to name a few. The next few posts will feature photos of this year’s visitors to the feeders. Black oil sunflower and suets seem to be the food of choice for those named above except the sparrows prefer a millet mixture if given the choice. I’ll start with the beautiful little redpolls.

Enjoy!

Sharon

Snowy Owl

Sharon — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:05 +0000

We are fortunate to have these beautiful arctic birds visit our area each winter. The Snowy Owls can often be spotted sitting on the tops of hydro poles, signs along side our highways or outbuildings. These owls are diurnal, meaning they are active both day and night. Their preferance for higher perches allows them to scan their hunting territory ( in our case the open prairie fields ) for small rodents or rabbits. They breed in the high arctic where their prey would be lemmings and sometimes ptarmigan. Both parents are fiece defenders of the nest and young owlets. The Snowy Owl featured here is either a female or immature bird as it has fairly extensive black markings. An adult male would be mainly white with fewer dark areas. Their bill is black, their eyes yellow and feet are heavily feathered. Snowy owls can weigh in the 6 pound range and have a wingspan of up to 59 inches which makes it one of our largest species of owls.

This snowy only moved when its head turned around to look the other direction. My neck hurt just watching it !

Enjoy !

~Sharon

Cedar Waxwings

Sharon — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:00:33 +0000

Flocks of these elegant waxwings gather in trees eating the ripened berries. These waxwings were feasting on berries of Mountain Ash and Snowberry.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Common Tern

Sharon — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:00:10 +0000

Common Terns are fun to watch flying over the water in search of food. They can hover in one spot like a helicopter and then turn abruptly diving straight down into the water. Smaller and more delicate looking than gulls I find them to be very attractive birds. These photos were taken in Nopiming Provincial Park.

Below: Common Terns preening on a rock island.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Pine Siskins

Sharon — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:00:13 +0000

Delicate little Manitoba birds that can be attracted to feeders. They seem to love thistle and black oil sunflower. These photos were taken in the Whiteshell area.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Swainson’s Hawk

Sharon — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:00:59 +0000

I came across this pair of Swainson’s Hawks this past spring while driving to my favourite urban creek. Unfortunately, the photo quality lacks somewhat as I was facing into the sun and didn’t want to move around too much and spook the birds. They made a handsome couple though. Found in western North America in open county and agricultural areas.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Reflections

Sharon — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:00:30 +0000

When waters are still I like trying to shoot reflection photos. Below are some of my favourite reflections.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Willet & chicks

Sharon — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:00:27 +0000

On an early July visit to Oak Hammock Marsh I came across these three Willet chicks running down a gravel road. They were not able to fly as yet but the parent Willet was flying overhead keeping watch while I snapped a photo. I’ve only seen Willets a few times but it was especially nice to see the chicks on this visit.

Below: Willet chicks

Below: Adult Willet flying overhead

Below: Willet at Oak Hammock Marsh

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Backyard Birds

Sharon — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 11:00:20 +0000

Today some Manitoba birds commonly found in our urban backyards.

Below: American Robin

Below: Chipping Sparrow

Below: Hermit Thrush

Below: Black Capped Chickadee

Below: White Throated Sparrow

Enjoy!

~Sharon

American Goldfinch

Sharon — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:00:26 +0000

Once again finches – the American Goldfinch during courtship season. So bright and beautiful and I love their “tooeet tooeet” birdsong. Below is an adult breeding male.

Below: Adult breeding female American Goldfinch.

Enjoy!

Sharon