The Flycatchers of the Mount Royal Cemetery

This year I was fortunate enough to see five different species of flycatcher in the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal.  

One of them was a rarity - the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.  

Here is a photographic record of them all.

Eastern Kingbird

Great-crested Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher (most likely)

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Eastern Phoebe

Cute Little Moths

This summer has been wonderful for sightings of a type of moth that I find very cute and appealing.

There are several species that flit from flower to flower during the day and I have been lucky enough to find four of them. 

These are fast moving, small insects who usually mimic either hummingbirds, bees, or wasps.  It has been quite a challenge to catch them in flight or as they hover and sip nectar.

Nessus Sphinx Moth

Squash Vine Borer Moth

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

Snowberry Clearwing Moth

Snowberry Clearwing attacking Hummingbird Clearwing

I noticed that Snowberry moths will chase each other in territorial clashes but are much more aggressive with Hummingbird moths, often making physical contact.

Next time you think you've seen a hummingbird or a bee at a flower, take a closer look!

Bathing Beauties

Probably due to weather conditions and strong southerly winds, many of the migrating warblers moved into the Montreal area in May and stayed longer than usual.  Large numbers stopped over in the Botanical Gardens to rest, bathe and feed.

Luckily for me, I found a secluded area with a small stream which attracted quite a variety of bathers.  

Here is a selection of some of the residents and visitors (warblers) who frequented the stream and gave me the opportunity to witness their enjoyment of a cool bath!

Cardinal (female)

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

American Goldfinch

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Magnolia Warbler (immature or female)

Chestnut-sided Warbler

American Redstart

Baltimore Oriole

Tennessee Warbler

Unusual wildlife in the Mount Royal Cemetery

During my frequent trips to the Mount Royal Cemetery to photograph the wildlife, I have come across some very unusual creatures.  These are all examples of atypical colouration of familiar species of birds and mammals.


Squirrels:

Mottled gray and white Squirrel

White/blond Squirrel

Squirrel with striped underside

Reddish brown Squirrel

Normal Gray Squirrel (for comparison)

Groundhog (Woodchuck):

Black Groundhog

Normal Groundhog (for comparison)

Raccoon:

Maskless Raccoon

Normal Raccoon (for comparison)

Birds (leucistic):

Robin (leucistic)

Normal Robin (for comparison)

White-throated Sparrow (leucistic)

Normal White-throated Sparrow (for comparison)

Another Owl - And A Rare One

After having wonderful owl sightings recently (see previous blog post), these last few days have been just as exciting.  

First of all, the Snowy Owl was seen again at the same location (but a different lamp standard) and then a rare owl was found on a nearby golf course!  This particular owl, a Short-eared Owl, has been frequenting it since December.  

I receive email alerts for rare bird sightings and finally I managed to get out there to actively search for this owl.  Although it involved climbing a snow bank to get over a fence, slog through nearly knee deep snow and edge along treacherous icy patches, it was certainly worth it!  I even managed to have some "alone time" with the owl (sans other photographers) just as the sun came out to show off the beauty of this bird.  And look at those incredible eyes!

Interestingly, the Short-eared Owl seems to like to perch on the outer parts of branches (which is wonderful for photographers), whereas the Long-eared Owl (see below) tends to roost among dense foliage and close to the tree's trunk.  I was very lucky to get this shot several years ago and only found the owl by being tipped off by a lone crow which was circling the tree and calling loudly.

Three Owls Within A Week

Winter may not be the most comfortable time to be out birding but it can be very fruitful, especially when it comes to owls.

Ironically, I was just returning from a favourite nature park (where there were no unusual sightings) when on the road home, a huge Snowy Owl was perched on a lamp standard at the side of the highway!  It required some dodgy maneuvers but I was able finally to get close enough to get some shots.  Based on the pure white plumage, the bird was a mature male.

Then, a few days later, I went up to the Mount Royal Cemetery and with the help of fellow photographers, found two Eastern Screech Owls.  One was high up in the cavity of a tree and seemed sound asleep until a crow flew too close and in a flash he ducked inside the cavity (to emerge a little while later).

The most exciting sighting was that of the mate to this owl who was only about eight feet off the ground on the side of a jagged part of a tree trunk.  I walked through deep snow to get close enough for several great shots (and a couple of shaky videos (I was too excited)).  

An interesting fact about these small owls is that, when nervous, they stretch themselves as tall as possible and raise their "ear" tufts which is an attempt at camouflage.  You can see this in the following photograph.

A few seconds later it was more calm (as below).

With any luck, there will be little owlets this spring!