Totally captivated in 2007 by the live camera feed of the Hornby Island nesting Bald Eagles in B.C., I was drawn into birding and have never looked back. Thus begins my account of what I'm fortunate enough to discover each day and perhaps capture with my camera.



Unless otherwise stated, all images were taken by and are the property of Janice Melendez

Species Counts:

2014 Final Year List: 255; 2015 Year List a/o June 5, 2015: 235; Life List: 327

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Scarborough Morning with John


We began the day with a brief stop-over at a private home again with the hopes of seeing young Cooper's Hawks that have fledged nearby but once again we dipped on them, so we continued on to Rosetta McClain Gardens. This is a beautiful little gem of a park overlooking the lake that bridezillas no doubt get in serious catfights over at this time of year as a back-drop for their wedding portraits.

The stunning flowers provided a colourful background for butterflies, starting with a Silver-spotted Skipper:








Monarchs were common, but Red Admirals certainly outnumbered them in the sunshine:


 



















And before I leave the insect world for now, as a follow-up on Monday's MDOTD (=Mystery Dragonfly of The Day), my experts tell me it's definitely a Meadowhawk, perhaps even a female Ruby Meadowhawk, but this can only be determined for sure by examining its genitalia. I DON'T THINK SO, not by me, anyway, I've already drawn the line by refusing to even own, let alone carry a BUTTERFLY NET:






On the birding front at Rosetta it was dismal, though, other than Black-capped Chickadees, a White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robins, Starlings, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Cardinals, and a young Song Sparrow doing a cover version of his dad's song.

On a whim, before dropping John off, we stopped by at the Cooper's Hawk abode yet again. The friendly home-owner, Joe, came out to chat, inviting us to sit on his deck with him and wait for the hawks to make an appearance, which this single young one finally did in a forested area next door, yippee, at last, IT'S A BIRD for the day!!!!







It stayed here on the branch preening itself for ten minutes, so slooowly I turned. Step by step, inch by inch, nyuk nyuk nyuk, moving a bit closer each time, it paid me no heed:








John and I had feared we were jinxing ourselves, but this proved that third time's the charm, so we called it a Day!






1 comment:

Ann Brokelman said...

Great gads Janice you are turning to the dark side of birding with those butterflies. But well worth it. Love the cooper hawk.