Four birds from afar

A few days in Canada and alas no dragonflies to be seen due to a late spring but even though we were mostly in cities there were quite a few birds to see on the journeys and indeed in cities. One of the most exciting for me was this goose- it is the lesser snow goose of the white morph variety, and we saw several hundred on the St Lawrence in Quebec. The rust colouring on its head and chest is due to iron in the earth/mud as it feeds. Locals told me they come each year on their south to north spring migration and feed up for just a couple of days on their passage from Mexico and the Southern USA up towards the High Arctic regions. So for once my timing was just right. Not to be confused with snowbirds who are human Canadians who head south to Florida for the winter months!

Near to a pond whilst on a dragonfly hunt I saw this pretty bird- its the Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula, and is a large icterid. This strangely named bird is found across Canada east of the Rockies.

We saw many of these thrush sized American Robins (Turdus migratorius)- they have the most amazing song and are not at all shy. They were at one time hunted for meat but are now protected. Most do not overwinter in Canada choosing instead to spend the cold months in the warmth of Florida or Mexico.

Startling in flight with the flash of red are these red-winged blackbirds.(Agelaius phoeniceus) We saw many of them which is not surprising as they are reported to breed from Alaska down to Florida and to be the most studied North American bird.