Rondeau Ric

Mainly nature with a few oddities thrown in for a change.

[rimcarthur]

House finch by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: One of the male house finches that show up in the yard on a regular basis. Haemorhous mexicanus The total House Finch population across North America is staggering. Scientists estimate between 267 million and 1.4 billion individuals. source- Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

[rimcarthur]

My, what big eyes you have. by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: Taken back in May 2016. Previously called a Solitary vireo now it's the blue headed vireo. Usually the are difficult to see but this one popped up right in front of me. Vireo solitarius The Blue-headed Vireo is the easternmost form in the "Solitary Vireo" complex. Formerly considered one species, three species now are recognized. In appearance it is the most brightly colored of the three. source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-headed_Vireo/id

[rimcarthur]

The juggler by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: We had a pair of cedar waxwings come into the yard today. Didn't realize any berries were ready. He/she tossed the berries up and in. Bombycilla cedrorum Many birds that eat a lot of fruit separate out the seeds and regurgitate them, but the Cedar Waxwing lets them pass right through. Scientists have used this trait to estimate how fast waxwings can digest fruits. source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/lifehistory--

[rimcarthur]

Red-bellied woodpecker. by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: Even though it has red on its head it is not a red headed woodpecker. You can see the pinkish blush that gives the red-bellied its name. Melanerpes carolinus. For birds that nest in cavities, nest holes are precious turf. Red-bellied Woodpeckers have been known to take over the nests of other birds, including the much smaller (and endangered) Red-cockaded Woodpecker. But more often they’re victims to the aggressive European Starling. As many as half of all Red-bellied Woodpecker nests in some areas get invaded by starlings. source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/id

[rimcarthur]

You said "Come on in the water's fine.". Liar. by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: Caspian tern on the shore at Rondeau Provincial Park. 2015 Hydroprogne caspia As large as a big gull, the Caspian Tern is the largest tern in the world. Its large coral red bill makes it one of the most easily identified terns throughout its worldwide range.

[rimcarthur]

Cat in the pond by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: We have several nesting pairs in the immediate area of our yard. They regularly come in to eat the grapes and grape jelly that we put out for the orioles. Dumetella carolinensis The Gray Catbird belongs to the genus Dumetella, which means “small thicket.” And that’s exactly where you should go look for this little skulker. source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

[rimcarthur]

Chasing his shadow. by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: Barn swallow at Rondeau Provincial Park. Hirundo rustica Although the killing of egrets is often cited for inspiring the U.S. conservation movement, it was the millinery (hat-making) trade’s impact on Barn Swallows that prompted naturalist George Bird Grinnell’s 1886 Forest & Stream editorial decrying the waste of bird life. His essay led to the founding of the first Audubon Society. source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

[rimcarthur]

Blanding's turtle by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: Came wandering through the yard last week. A first for the yard. Emydoidea blandingii Females of this species do not mature until at least age 14, and individuals can live to be over 75 years old! In late May or early June, the female excavates a nest in a sunny area with good drainage and lays up to 22 eggs in a single clutch. Hatchlings three to four centimetres in length emerge in the fall. The gender of the offspring depends on the incubation temperature of the eggs. source - Ontario Nature.

[rimcarthur]

Feeding junior. by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: Adult Downy woodpecker feeding young suet at Rondeau Provincial Park. June 21/16 Picoides pubescens The Downy Woodpecker eats foods that larger woodpeckers cannot reach, such as insects living on or in the stems of weeds. You may see them hammering at goldenrod galls to extract the fly larvae inside. source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

[rimcarthur]

Common loon seen from the pontoon boat in Rondeau Bay. by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: Gavia immer Loons are agile swimmers, but they move pretty fast in the air, too. Migrating loons have been clocked flying at speeds more than 70 mph. source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

[rimcarthur]

I swear these deer flies are getting bigger every year. by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: Fawn at Rondeau.

[rimcarthur]

Changing of the gaurd by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: A pair of nesting red headed woodpeckers trade places at the nest hole. Melanerpes erythrocephalus The Red-headed Woodpecker has many nicknames, including half-a-shirt, shirt-tail bird, jellycoat, flag bird, and the flying checker-board.

[rimcarthur]

Incoming!! by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: This crow was screaming at the last crazy flier and was paying attention to what was coming up behind him. After this pass he left. I wonder why? Small birds regularly mob/harass nest predators. They are quite fearless and take on jays,crows and even hawks.

[rimcarthur]

Backfield in motion by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: Five yard penalty, replay the down. For non football people who are old enough - "Backfield in motion, yeah, I'm gonna have to penalize you Backfield in motion, baby, You know that's against the rules." For everybody it is an incredibly fast shake/twist by this yellow warbler resulting in a still head and a shaky tail. Setophaga petechia

[rimcarthur]

Yellow warbler nest by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: Tucked away under some leaves in a bush. Setophaga petechia The oldest-known Yellow Warbler was a female, and was at least 11 years old when she was recaught and rereleased during banding operations in New York. source- Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

[rimcarthur]

Townsend's warbler. by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: Life bird in the yard, shakey photo but it has the field marks Setophaga townsendi A bird of the Pacific Northwest, the Townsend's Warbler nests in coniferous forests from Alaska to Oregon. Sometimes a female Townsend's Warbler will partially construct a nest in one tree, then move all the materials to another tree and finish the nest there. (There's a joke in there somewhere but I'm not touching it.)

[rimcarthur]

Careful, they are lurking in the grass. by Ric McArthur Via Flickr: We came across this blandings turtle while on a bike ride on Marsh Trail at Rondeau Provincial Park. Emydoidea blandingii .Blanding's turtles have a very domed, smooth black carapace (upper shell) with small, irregular tan or yellow flecking. These markings may be absent or faded in some individuals. The most distinctive characteristic of this species is the bright yellow chin and throat. The hinged plastron (lower shell) is yellow with a large dark blotch in the corner of each scute (enlarged scale on the shell), but may be almost entirely black. In adults, the carapace is up to 28 centimetres in length. source - Ontario Nature.