Tundra Swans tend to be smaller than Trumpeter Swans. Another distinguishing feature is that yellow patch on their bill close to their eye.

 

Trumpeter Swans

 

Sometimes I wonder if Carolina Wrens ever regret their decision to spend the winter in Canada instead of going somewhere warmer. Like, say, Carolina.

 

A Mallard drake with a head that really can't be pinned down as simply 'green'. There's lots going on here with shades of grey, a variety of glossy greens, and even a hint of blue at the back. Sometimes, when the light hits right, you see more purple than anything.

 

An Eastern Screech Owl looking a bit like me before the first coffee of the day takes hold.

 

Northern Pintails are as much a treat to see in the air as they are in the water or on land.

 

A Northern Cardinal not letting a little thing like a blizzard mess up his good looks/hair.

 

An intimidating Tree Sparrow doing its best Hawk Owl impression. Probably PO'd that I wasn't slinging seed. Either that or the unpleasant weather was making him cranky. See the second photo for the Hawk Owl reference.

 

A Pileated Woodpecker female. Males have a red stripe in their cheek. The Pileated Woodpecker pecks holes so wide and deep they can cause small trees to break in half. It takes a big 'pecker to do that - these ones are 16 to 19 inches long. For comparison, the Downy Woodpecker measures about 6 inches.

 

A Canvasback doing his best wooing trick. This used to be my technique, too, until that thing with my neck flared up. Happy Valentines.❤️❤️❤️

 

A Northern Pintail hen under the watchful eye (literally) of her honey. Swipe for a couple of other views of her wonderful feather patterns.

 

My brown-eyed girl.

 

This Winter Wren was by far the peppiest thing I saw yesterday.

 

A drowsy Northern Saw-whet Owl doing some light maintenance/napping.

 

Had a nice escort along the trail from a couple of swans and their friends this afternoon.

 

A Northern Cardinal basking in the pre-storm glow.

 

Mallards in flight.

LaSalle Park Marina, Burlington, ON.
 

A Red Squirrel with its fringes all aglow.

 

Hooded Mergansers.

 

A Lincoln's Sparrow wading through the snow and keeping my stretch of first time birds going.

 

An American Wigeon. He was my first one that wasn't a black speck way out in a lake...so happy to finally see that beautiful face up close.

Dundas, ON
 

A Northern Shrike (aka the butcher bird) scanning the field for a prime cut of vole. This fierce little predator preys on small birds and mammals and often impales its catch on thorns or barbed wire for later consumption. This is the first time I've seen one of these beauties.

 

A Rednecked Grebe. (non-breeding adult / immature)

 

A Canvasback close-up.

 

Me: I love snow days! Cardinal: What you talkin' about, Willis?

 

A Green-winged Teal.

 

A White-breasted Nuthatch posing prettily after successfully extracting a nugget from the bark.

 

The late day sun had disappeared from the backyard when a herd of White-tailed deer showed up. But it was still shining brightly enough on yonder hill to provide a nice glowing backdrop for this lovely doe.

 

Long-eared Owl. . Probably could've got an unobstructed view if I'd waited around or crept closer but, with owls (and most wildlife), it's best to be quick about it and keep your distance. This is a heavily cropped image.

 

Hooded Merganser, outstanding on its submerged log.