Hello! Welcome back to our slice of nature here in our Toronto backyard.
It’s been a slow moving spring but the birds assure us that the weather is changing and slowly getting warmer. First sign weeks ago was this Chipping Sparrow who spent a few days with us.
I was finally able to put some of the baths out again, not having to worry about freezing. This American Robin was happy about that.
A few days later we got a new backyard bird species being this Pine Warbler who stopped in for a drink. Water sources are vital to any backyard birds.
Then there was a lull. We had a week plus long cold and wet spell. It’s still not seasonal but we are getting there. The Baltimore Orioles arrived in the first week of May.
We don’t spend as much on bird seed through the summer but grape jelly and oranges are weekly purchases.
Another species of Oriole arrived this week, Orchard Oriole, and they are backyard bird species #73. One of two males that has been coming in.
A female has been present too!
We hope they decide to spend the summer with us.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks paid us a visit as well. Two males and one female. Most spring migrations we get a brief visit from this bird species.
The male.
The female. She may not be as flashy but she’s still pretty.
Our first Hummingbird arrived this week. No photos yet.
We are also enjoying a handful of both White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows singing much of the day away in the yard.
Spring migration is an exciting time. Birds are seemingly everywhere.
Black-throated Green Warblers are singing as they stop in the area.
Yellow Warblers are finally back.
Great Egrets too.
Nice to see the Wood Ducks again.
Early May has had some oddities as northern Owl species, Saw-whet and Long-eareds are still being seen in some parks. Enjoy them while they are here, but from a respectable distance of course. May 2018 we were still seeing a Snowy Owl.
Long-eared Owl.
Screech Owls are residents of Toronto and if you listen to the other birds angry calls, you might just spot one.
It’s been a few months since we last posted. We hope you haven’t forgotten about us. See you in June!
Thanks! 🙂
Spring sure is, eh? So much to see with the returning migrants, and then come the nests. Oh boy!
Aw, thanks Gilda. We missed June but with good reason as you hopefully will see in our blog post on July 10th.
missed you and rob’s interesting encounters
Beautiful photos, Rob! This definitely is an exciting time for bird sightings.
and what wonderful pictures..
very nice posting and interesting to hear which birds are around in that part of province.