X-Ray
Brilliant sun shines through the wings of a Great Egret, highlighting the bone and multi-layered feather structures.
Chopper 2021
Checking in with Chopper, a red-eared slider that I’ve been documenting for years. Chopper’s shell was damaged by a prop, but has healed up nicely. Here’s Chopper in 2020, 2018, and 2016.
Punk Outfit
A mature black-crowned night heron on Doughnut Island, shortly after finishing the migration north.
Heron Tree
A baker’s dozen of 13 black-crowned night herons perch on the Heron Tree, where the first migratory group always lands every year. Here’s the same tree back in 2011.
Bumper Crop
Four red-eared slider turtles (an invasive species) bunch up on a log in Snug Harbour. 2021 is an absolutely epic year for turtles, with more in the lagoons that I have ever seen before.
Long Pond Baldy
A bald eagle perches on a branch on Long Pond at the start of the 2020/21 winter. Click image to view larger.
Slider Damage 2020
Meet Chopper, a red-eared slider that I’ve been following for years. Chopper had an unfortunate run-in with a propeller, but is healing very nicely. Here’s Chopper back in 2018, and 2016. Click image to view larger.
Gibraltar Snow II
A snowy owl comes in for a pinpoint landing at Gibraltar Point. Click image to view larger.
Gibraltar Snow
A snowy owl perches on a large branch at Gibraltar Point. Click image to view larger.
Black & Tan
Common garter snakes, one melanistic, emerge from their hibernaculum in the early Spring. Click image to view larger.
Beaver Chew
A beaver chews apart a heavy branch from a hole kept open in the lagoon ice. Click image to view larger.
Find The Eagle
When an eagle lands in a tree next to you, you darn well know it. Here a female bald eagle perches in a tree off of the RCYC. Click image to view larger.
Bald Neighbour
A male bald eagle perches above Kathleen and Ali’s house at the corner of Channel and Third.
Bluebird of Happiness
A bluebird lights up Channel Ave. on a cold January day. Thanks to David for the tip.
Bittern Surprise
A very rare surprise: a migrating American bittern attempts to hide in plain sight by standing tall and straight. It’s a very effective camouflage when they’re amongst the reeds, here not so much. This is only the second bittern that I’ve ever seen on the Island.
Meet Molson
Meet Molson, more blandly known as Trumpeter Swan P24. Molson was hatched at Wye Marsh as part of their Trumpeter Swan program two years ago. All the hatchlings were named after breweries, hence the name Molson. Personally, I’m waiting for a flock of microbrews to migrate through at the end of the season.
Droop Wing I & II
A great blue heron droops its wings to cool off on an unseasonably hot October day.
