Some Birds of the Vermilon River. A Post to WBW.

Tree Sparrow

 I was initially going to call this post "favourites of mine", but I soon realized that all the animals or birds that I see become favourites of mine. I suppose I glory in nature. I was also going to call it " Sparrows of the Vermilon", but I hold that one until the wild sunflowers, smaller than the domestic variety, in my garden go to seed. They're growing now and will soon be ready. When they're ready, I bait the whole area with seeds and see what shows up. Last year I got a great collection of sparrows, and I hope it works again this year. So that explains my current title.

Having said that here is a selection of sparrows.

Tree Sparrow.

Tree Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow.

Whit-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow Signing his Heart Out.

Male Goldfinch.

The Dark-eyed Junco should be with the sparrows as he is actually a sparrow. They've left me now and moved further north to the boreal forest.

Dark-eyed Junco

As I said earlier I have seen more Yellow-rumped Warblers this year, and this fellow is perservering in a wind storm, singing nevertheless.

Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Male Purple Finch.

Robin

I never tire of the Robin who wakes Boom & I in the morning. I think this fellow looks especially majestic.

Add caption

Certainly this Grackle looks slightly mad.

 The Buffleheads below are new to me. They're named "Bufflehead" Because the male's head is reminiscent of a buffalo head.


 I put this post together in the new dashboard format that Blogger/Google is so proud of. It then disappears and I have to go to the old format, post a blank, and call up this post and delete the blank. Isn't Google a marvel??



A Post to WBW @ http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com.

Female Bufflehead.

Male Bufflehead.

A Continuation of A Hike on The West Bank of The Vermilon River. A Post to Sky Watch Friday.

Fair Skies.

I'm sure the weather here is much like the weather else wheres . More rain than sun which inhibits hiking but suits the forest with what looks like a strong berry year. That means lots of photo opportunities. In the third photo I thought I might get lucky and see a sun dog, but unfortunately no.




Still Fair



Trying for a Sun dog



River Wetland


Much of this post is a continuation of a hike along the west bank on the abandoned RR bed. This is an easy hike with lots to see. With berries starting to come on you have to be attentive to bears, and as I said earlier to the river. Just because I talk affectionately of it doesn't mean it isn't dangerous.

The Vermilon creates its own system of wetlands which can be enhanced by the beavers. That's not the case here but the trail runs through one of the wetlands so you're surrounded by a secondary river channel on one side and on the other, the wetland shown here.


Blue Flags on the Far Bank






The blue Flags are on the opposite river bank. The river widens and then narrows quickly to form the rapids. If you were in a canoe, you would want to know this.

The rapids are mainly on this side of the island, but veer round the little island. In a canoe you would stick to the gentle rapids on the island side; land on the far shore, and portage over the old bridge abutments. The water chute between the bridge abutments is too fast to try going through in your canoe. But with high water the current is too strong to try a landing on the far side of the island. I think the current would just sweep you into the chute.


Beginning of Rapids.




The River goes round a small Island




Male Ebony Jewel



Thanks for all the help in identifying these guys. They're beauties aren't they.

If someone wants to try the moth or the dragonfly, great, and thanks in advance.


Female Ebony Jewel.




Unknown Moth.




Dragonfly.




Male Redwinged Blackbird.






All the shots of the Redwinged Blackbirds were taken in the wetland shown above, except the close up.



Female Redwinged Blackbird.




Close Up Female Redwinged Blackbird.




Cedar Waxwing.




Cedar Waxwings.





With the ripening berries the Cedar Waxwings are gathering. I swear these guys will pose for you.


A Pair of Waxwings.




Song Sparrow




I'm not seeing as many song sparrows as usual, but that's because the tree canopy is so thick and they just disappear into it, because I can sure hear them.


Male Goldfinch




Profile of Male Goldfinch.






The Goldfinch are easy to spot because they're so bright. The chipmunk below stuck around for a few photos which is a surprise because he's on almost every one's lunch list.


Chipmunk.



Fox with lunch

The trail starts off on a RR maintenance road which has a large bend in it, as I came around the it so did this guy, with dinner in his mouth. If this is the fox from my river scene he's a much better hunter now.



 If you want to see his earlier escapades click on  http://vermilonriverwildlife.blogspot.com/2011/04/life-and-death-on-vermilon-post.html or go to the April posts and watch him hunt the geese.

Apost to Sky Watch Fridat @ http://skyley.blogspot.com/ and Camera Critters @ http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/ and Scenic Sunday @ http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/