3 chicks with dad

All 3 chicks are alive and well.  They have had  lot of changes in their lives over the past couple of weeks.

Right leg orange, left leg yellow

When the chicks were a couple of weeks old,  they received identification leg bands.   All three have the same colour combination- orange on right leg and yellow on left leg.   Then they each have a silver band with its own unique ID number.

Dad brooding chick

Another big change is that they are being looked after by just the dad now.   Mom left when they were about a week and a half old.  We thought she had taken off for Florida but she has been seen at Darlington beach to the west of here.  She also returned to Presqu’ile last Wednesday but was chased off by the dad, who is claiming sole custody of the chicks at this point.

Chick getting ready to fly

Dad has a lot on his plate, as the chicks are starting to take short flights up and down the beach, and running all over the place.

Watching for flying predators

When he perceives a threat, dad calls in his distinctive “piping” call, and rushes to collect the babies near him.

Can you find 3 Plovers in this picture?

Last Saturday evening I was babysitting the plovers, and everything started out pretty quietly.  All 4 family members were resting on the beach.

Preening

A little preening, a little wing stretching and flapping, but pretty mellow.

Ahhh – nice stretch

Look at those beautiful primary feathers.

nap time

Two of the chicks stayed together, pretty sleepy. Sometimes it’s really hard to find all 3, they are so well hidden.

Perfect spot for a nap

There’s number 3.   I love this scene.  What perfect camouflage.

AH there you are

stepping out

While dad and the other chicks slept, one of the chicks ran down to the water’s edge and started to feed.    It stayed down there for about 40 minutes on its own.   This was the first time I had seen one of the chicks at the water- they usually stayed further up on the beach.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Dad did not seem too concerned.

I’m awake!

Eventually around 8:00 pm dad and the other two chicks woke up and joined the first chick down at the water’s edge.

Sundown on Presqu’lie Beach

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the 4 Piping Plovers were still feeding at the water’s edge.   In another week or so the chicks will be flying well enough to go wherever they like.   Then at some point in August, our Piping Plover family will begin to head for their winter home in Florida.

Presqu’ile Piping Plover Chick

With help from the Park staff and over 50 volunteers, the Piping Plovers have had a very successful nesting season here in Brighton.

Next May when migration is in full swing, we will all be keeping our eyes open for newly arrived Piping Plovers. Especially three young adults with an orange band on the left leg, and yellow band on the right leg.   Bon voyage little chicks!   Hope to see you in the spring.

If you are like me and can’t get enough about Piping Plovers, Check out these links:

-Watch this cute video by Anja showing the chicks at a couple of weeks old!  They are so funny!   Anja has done a great job capturing them as they scoot all over the place. More videos of the plovers on her Youtube channel: Brighton Events

-Hear an interview with Presqu’ile’s David Bree and Elizabeth Steadman on CBC Radio Morning:

– Revisit Protecting Piping Plovers :  my blog from when they were just a few days old.

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Good Morning Presqu’ile!   Oh how I love you!

There are so many reasons to love Presqu’ile Park, no matter when you visit.You can show up early on a hazy fall morning, and observe as Presqu’ile’s beaches and offshore islands start to come alive with sound and activity.

Migrating shorebirds start to wake up, and begin their daily search for food.

If you sit or lie down very still, the shorebirds will walk right past you as they are feeding.   It is endlessly entertaining to watch them.

A fall drive around the park may reveal a Ruffed Grouse, foraging at the side of the road for breakfast.  Look at those gorgeous feather patterns!

As seasons change and the weather turns colder, the park becomes very quiet.    I think winter is when Presqu’ile really shows its magic.

Little by little the lake freezes over.   Depending on the wind and the waves, the lakeshore looks different every time I visit in the winter, and each time is spectacular.Presqu’ile is famous for its ice volcanoes.   When the wind is just right, water from the waves will spray up through these holes in the ice.  I like them best at sunset, when they are lit up like some alien landscape.   Snowy owls love to use the offshore islands to hunt. Even in the dead of winter there is so much beauty to be found at Presqu’ile.Spring comes to Presqu’ile, and with it, the busiest time of year.A walk along the boardwalk in Jobes Woods reveals little sprouts of green, and some unexpected company.Look who’s watching you now!Early spring also brings the arrival of waterfowl, who are great show-offs for their potential mates.   What characters. As the ice moves out of Presqu’ile Bay, huge “rafts” of waterfowl can be seen feeding along the ice edge.Spring also brings bugs- lots of them!   But isn’t that perfect timing? The migratory birds are on their way back north.

Lots and lots and lots of them!.   How exciting to be at the park when the trees and bushes are just full of colourful birds singing and eating and flying about.  I am very grateful to have met some very experienced and knowledgeable birders at the park, who can help me learn about all these birds, their names, and their habits.     The diversity of species at Presqu’ile is amazing!

One day I got stuck out in a thunderstorm down by the lighthouse so went into the duck viewing shelter to get out of the rain.   In the tree next to me were so many different kinds of little birds I could barely keep track of them.   Above is a little Yellow Warbler shaking off the rain.Oh, and “fallouts!”   A fallout is when weather or wind conditions cause many thousands of birds to come to the same area all at once.   I will never forget being at Owen Point early on a May morning this year, and experiencing a fallout of shorebirds.   They were everywhere the eye could see, in flocks in the hundreds, soaring around, and feeding on the beaches.

I think I took over 1000 photographs that day!    It was so great because the Ontario Field Ornithologists Young Birders were at Owen Point that morning too, and this enthusiastic group of young people got to experience this spectacle as well. I don’t think any of us will ever forget it.

Did I mention you could see a fox at Presqu’ile?   And if that’s not enough for you…How about watching a fox walk down the road and then having a deer cross right in front of it, say “Good Morning” and carry on.   Is this the Bambi movie? I don’t know.    Presqu’ile is so cool.On the first hot hazy days of the year, the momma snapping turtles will come out of the mud and start to lay their eggs at the side of the roads.     A couple of years I have been down there on just the right day and seen 4 or 5 of these beauties all in the same trip.  I love their long sharp claws!Of course, Presqu’ile is for recreation too!   Walter loves to swim and run on the rocky beach.    The sandy beach is for the shorebirds, and of course all the campers and day trippers that flock to Presqu’ile in the summer.No matter when I visit, Presqu’ile always has something beautiful to offer.    I’m never disappointed.

Presqu’ile Provincial Park is located on the north shore of Lake Ontario, just south of Brighton.   Check it out!

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Curious little Barred Owl, Late October, 2014

I first came across this young Barred Owl at the end of October deep in the woods at Presqu’ile Park.

Young Barred Owl on its own, November 2014

Even after young Barred Owls leave their nest, their parents continue to feed them for many weeks.    The challenge comes late in the fall, when the young owls are left on their own to hunt, and to find a new territory for themselves.

Over the last few months I have seen the little owl a couple of times sitting on its own in a tree at the edge of the forest.   Though I often came across the adult owls in the park, I rarely saw the little one, so I always wondered how it was doing.

Today.  Hunting.   Look at that concentration!

Well, today I found out the young owl is doing just fine surviving its first winter.   I spotted it hunting in a field full of small trees and wet swampy ground, perfect for finding voles, its main prey.

Gotcha! Caught a vole for breakfast.

The young owl’s hunting skills are incredible.   It focussed intently on a spot in front of it on the ground, then silently flew down and grabbed a vole through the snow with its talons.   Sticks and weeds precluded photos, but I got to watch it!  I was down and sitting  on the ground to take these photos.  I guess it doesn’t matter that I went to my doctor’s appointment with wet jeans.

Taking off to another perch

After fiddling a bit with the vole, the owl flew to another perch, the vole hanging out of its mouth.

Down the hatch!

It then proceeded to swallow it whole.   That’s how owls eat their prey- whole.   My friend has seen them eat snakes whole.   That would be quite the sight!

Well fed indeed.

There is no doubt that my little friend is doing very well its first winter on its own.   What a great day it was today!

The post Baby Barred Owl’s First Winter appeared first on Leslie Abram Photography.

Good morning!

It’s amazing to see the difference one month can make.   Winter is a wonderful time to visit.   The peace and quiet has afforded me some terrific opportunities to sit tight and observe the Snowy Owl going about her business.

Ahhh!

In the calm of the morning, with the golden light of the rising sun, Gull Island can be quite lovely.   These days, the crossing to the island is barely ankle deep, and is covered in a thin coat of ice that gauges how much you had for breakfast that morning by how often you break through.

Looking good!

I love to watch her preen her feathers, since it allows me to see her feathery feet and long sharp talons.

I see you.

This young female was keeping a close eye on her surroundings, and seemed to have her eye on the large rafts of Long-Tailed Ducks out on Lake Ontario.

A hunting she will go…

Off she went, and took a long slow flight over the ducks in a big arc.   I don’t think she caught one this time.

No owls here…

Driving out of the park, there was another owl sitting sleeping up in a dead tree!   I have never seen a Snowy Owl anywhere near there before.   They seem to be everywhere this year!

The big snooze

A large seasonal  southerly movement of a large number of  birds is called an “irruption.”   I just learned yesterday that if the birds repeat this the following year, it is called an “echo.”   From what I have read, this year is an “echo” year for Snowy Owls.

Ya, I like it here!

Time will tell whether the Snowy Owls populations ultimately benefit from this huge seasonal migration.    One thing I do know is there is plenty for them to eat at Presqu’ile, with all the waterfowl that congregate there in the winter months, and the voles and mice that live in the park too.

I feel so fortunate that I can visit and watch these majestic birds of prey.  Keep your eyes open- they are popping up everywhere in our area right now!

The post Snowy Owl Morning appeared first on Leslie Abram Photography.

Last Sunday was my first day out at the park after having been away travelling for 3 weeks.   I hadn’t been to Gull Island since early November, so thought I would check for the Snowy Owls that had been reported there.   Sure enough, this young female was staring me down upon my arrival to the island.

Who’s There?

I got to watch her hunt and preen herself.  She was pretty sleepy and relaxed.

Missed a spot

This owl can be identified as a young female by her heavy dark barring.

Looking Good

For these shots I had my camera set up on a tripod and I was sitting on the ground, to try to make my profile as small as possible.

The Stick

This owl then flew to the famous Gull Island stick, upon which owls have been perching for years.   It is one of the highest vantage points on this otherwise treeless island, so I guess they like the view.  This stick is one of the stars of my photo library.

In the forest

On Tuesday I returned to the park, and  found this beautiful Barred Owl in the Woods.   She was quite active, flying from perch to perch and hunting.   Even though the trees are bare this time of year, I love the patterns and colours of the lichen on the tree bark.

Talons

I rarely capture the talons of the Barred Owl in a photo, as they tend to be tucked in under the belly feathers, but in this shot the sharp long talons are showing nicely.

Far away

On Wednesday I took my daughter to the park, and we saw this little owl tucked way back in the woods.   Even though we were quite far away for a photograph, we still had a good look at the owl and enjoyed watching it resting and looking around.

Angel

Early Friday morning I went back to Gull Island to see if I could find the Snowy Owl.  It was great fun to watch her, as she was really busy flying out over the lake and hunting for Long-Tailed Ducks.   I did not see her catch one but she sure was trying.

Wings

Her wingspan is huge- around a meter and a half!

I spy

I did feel like I was being watched as she flew by…

Siesta

I decided to look for the Barred Owl as well, and found this beauty resting in the woods peacefully.   Note the blood on its beak. Must have had a good meal the night before.

Hunting

After a couple of minutes the owl woke up, upon hearing sounds on the forest floor below.

Off

Barred Owls, like many owls, use the “sit and wait” strategy when hunting.   They don’t sit way high up in trees, but fairly close to the ground  ( 2 – 3 meters)  where they wait for movement , then take off to hunt.

Sebastapol Island

Today is Saturday, and my son and I went to Presqu’ile.  We started off by seeing the Snowy resting and preening out on a tiny island in Popham Bay called Sebastapol island.  Far away, but still really cool.

More siesta time

We then quite easily found this Barred Owl in a nice clear spot resting.  Adorable!  A wonderful way to  round off a great week of owling at Presqu’ile.

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Welcome to Gull Island.

Gull Island in November

This windy, treeless little island in Lake Ontario sits just off the south shore of Presqu’ile Provincial Park, in Brighton, Ontario.  It is a haven for wildlife.   Discovering who is there during  different seasons of the year is what makes Gull Island fascinating.

Gull Island, March 2014

In March, thousands of gulls and terns return to Gull Island to breed and nest.   Gull Island is closed to human visitors from March through September to protect these massive  colonies of breeding birds.  Last March there was still a significant snow cover on the island, and the lake was still frozen,  but the gulls returned and noisily staked out their territories nonetheless.

Caspian Terns in Love

Caspian Terns, the largest terns in the world,  nest on Gull Island.   Gazing out towards Gull Island, I found the tern’s courtship activities so fascinating I didn’t realize two of them were dive bombing me from above until it was too late.   I bid a hasty retreat!  When I looked up information about these terns when I got home I learned that they have gouged people’s faces by diving at them. Oops…

Hudsonian Godwit

Sanderling

In spring and fall, shorebirds feed on the algae beds around Gull Island.  They are often so intent on eating that close up views are easily possible. This fall, I saw my first Hudsonian Godwit, as well as some beautiful Sanderlings, and many more.  The rare and elusive Purple Sandpiper shows up on Gull Island in the late fall most years.   No photo here, as I have yet to see one.   For more on shorebirds, see my previous post: Spectacular Shorebirds 

My One and Only Ever Short Eared Owl

In early November, Short-Eared Owls may stop by to feed on the voles that live on the island.  This is the only sighting of a Short-Eared Owl I have ever made.   It was in November, three years ago, on my first crossing to Gull Island.   I thought wearing rubber boots would be sufficient to wade out there, but was dead wrong, as the wind and the waves filled my boots up with water within seconds.   Not to worry, I just dumped out my boots, saw this beautiful owl, then went to the tea room at the annual “Christmas at Presqu’ile” craft show and devoured warm rum cake and coffee.

Unidentified Wading Bird

Getting to Gull Island is part of the fun!   In the early autumn you can just roll up your pants and wade across.   Bringing a change of shoes is always a good idea.

January

In the winter when the lake freezes, the crossing to Gull Island looks more like Antarctica.  Wading?  Unwise.

Ice Volcanoes

Ice “volcanoes” form on Lake Ontario, caused by wave action and heaving ice.   On windy days, the water sprays right up through these volcanoes and into the air.  I have seen foxes and coyotes running around near these ice volcanoes as I cross over to the island.  So far they have given me a wide berth.

New Year’s Day, 2014

Spectacular scenery, but wear your ice cleats!

Queen of the Island

So now let me introduce you to the real stars of Gull Island, as far as I am concerned, the Snowy Owls!

Off to Go Hunting

These beautiful hunters consistently show up each year to spend the winter around the offshore islands at Presqu’ile.   There are voles to hunt, as well as abundant waterfowl.

Long Tailed Ducks Ride the Waves

Long-Tailed Ducks are common in the open waters near Gull Island.   I have seen Snowy Owls dive down to the water to try to catch them.

Snowy Owl with Prey

Last winter I saw Snowy Owls with Common Mergansers they had captured on 3 separate occasions.

Really?

Sometimes, when I am standing warm and dry on the mainland, I look out at Gull Island and ponder “Should I, or shouldn’t I?”   The answer is always  “YES-GO!”

Gull Island is full of surprises.  It would be terrible to miss out!

The post Welcome to Gull Island appeared first on Leslie Abram Photography.

Spectacular shorebirds!   You bet.   To know them is to love them.  These little birds are superstars.

Sandpipers

Take a look at the gorgeous feather patterns and impressive bills on these shorebirds.

Hudsonian Godwit Portrait

Sanderling on Lake Ontario Shore

American Golden Plover

Every spring and fall, shorebirds make their epic migratory journey to their arctic breeding grounds, then back to their wintering grounds in South America.   Along the way they make some important stops to rest and refuel.

“Man, I’m tired…”

Lucky for me, one of their important stopover points is Presqu’ile Provincial Park, just minutes from my house.

Early morning at the shore

Once everyone wakes up, things can get really busy at the lakeshore, as these little birds eat, bathe, preen, and joust for territory.

On Guard!

“Bring it on!”

Shorebirds can often be found in mixed species groups.   The different shapes and lengths of their bills allow them to feed at various depths of water at the shoreline.

“I like your bill too.”    Whimbrel and Hudsonian Godwit

“Where to next?”

Sandpipers and a Short-billed Dowitcher (Which has a very long bill…)

The incredible thing about these mixed groups of birds is how they can all fly as one flock.   Watching them twist and turn through the air as one unit is a true wonder of nature.

Flight

As these little birds are often preyed upon by raptors, it is important that they be able to stick together and move quickly.   I have seen Northern Harriers, Merlins, and a Peregrine Falcon trying to catch one for a meal, usually by trying to separate one bird from the flock.

Coming in for a landing

Settling In

Once they perceive that danger is past, they will fly back into shore and begin to feed again.

The Rare Hudsonian Godwit

It’s really worth taking a visit to the shore, and seeing who is around.    Fall shorebird migration takes place between now and late November, or whenever the algae beds freeze up.

To check out which birds have been visiting Presqu’ile Park this week, see Fred Helleiner’s Presqu’ile Bird Report, published faithfully every Thursday.

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