Round is a Shape
An extremely round First Robin of Spring roots around in the undergrowth of Centre Island, signalling the official start of Spring (equinox notwithstanding).
Cormorant Revealed
The pristine skull of a cormorant gives up its secrets on Ward’s beach. The top half of the bill is hinged just in front of the eyes, and the lower half of the jaw is jointed in almost the same place to help swallow larger prey.
Redtail Leftovers
An unidentified bird skull no larger than a quarter is all that remains of a red-tailed hawk’s dinner on Snake Island.
Leading Edge
Soaring high over Snake Island, a red-tailed hawk shows off the tail feathers that are its namesake.
Approaching Storm
A wounded mute swan sits on the ice pack of the outer harbour, waiting as a winter storm approaches.
Mother’s Eye View
Three blackbird chicks open up, mistaking anything that moves above them for their mother.
Peeking Through
A remote camera catches a blackbird chick waiting for feeding, seen through its mother’s legs.
Tern Return
Common terns check out this season’s nesting options, on the raft in the middle of the trout pond.
Egret Spotlight
A great egret perches on a stump, caught in the spotlight of a late evening sun on Long Pond.
Ducks in a Row
Mallard ducklings prepare to go head to head with the turtles, in the “we can fit more on a log than you” category.
Transitions
A mallard duckling starts to look a bit ratty as its baby fur gives way to adult feathers.
There’s Always One
A mallard duckling tentatively looks back, making sure that mother is still close by.
Overflight
A great horned owl wings its way silently over the RCYC’s south island, displaying the fine patterns in its outstretched feathers. An absolutely awesome bird to see in flight.
Follow the Leader
A mixed formation of ducks fly through the eastern gap, mergansers playing follow-the-leader with a female long-tailed duck (née old squaw).
The Last Cormorant
One of the last cormorants to be found in 2010 swims near Centre Island, caught here in the deliciously low light of November.
Weremerant
A cormorant creates a partial eclipse of the sun by Doughnut Island, momentarily turning day into night in the camera.
Chickadee Isolation
A Chickadee puffs itself up against the cold of winter, searching for food behind the filtration plant.
Cormorant Overload
A huge number of cormorants, seemingly all of the cormorants from the Leslie St. Spit, congregate in the inner harbour. I only had a telephoto lens with me at the time, this photograph really wanted a wideangle: there are literally thousands and thousands of birds in the inner harbour.