Photography by R. James Frith

Nice morning at Point Pelee

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 02:37:06 +0000

We had a nice 3 hour walk at Point Pelee this morning. Not a lot of activity but a few highlights. It was nice to see the Eastern Screech Owl again. And we also saw out first Eastern Bluebirds and Northern Flicker of the year. We weren’t able to locate any Great-horned Owls but managed to see two Bald Eagles.

We made two trips to Hillman Marsh trying to decide what a strange gull with a black belly was. On our second trip with the scope and longer lens we decided that it was just a Ring-billed Gull that had managed to get into some black oil or something. Made for an interesting day. :)

Team Canada Sledge Hockey

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:24:38 +0000

I shot photos for Team Canada Sledge Hockey Development team vs USA this weekend in Amherstburg Ontario. Great athletes in an exciting sport. Canada won both of the games that I attended! (Photos used with permission)

In the Sun (Eastern Screech Owl)

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:26:25 +0000

It was fairly cold when we found this Eastern Screech Owl tucked back into a hole in this tree. We walked a bit further and when we came back the sun was shining and it had moved further out of the hole. I guess it enjoyed the warmth of the sun as much as we did.

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Snow Bunting

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:17:35 +0000

As you drive along the roads in winter you will often see flocks of small birds along the sides of the road on along the edges of fields. These flocks show a lot of white when they fly and are often a mixed flock of Horned Larks and Snow Buntings. They generally will not let you approach very close but when you do you’ll find that they are actually a very colorful bird.

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Eastern Screech Owl

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:01:38 +0000

Came across this owl at Point Pelee National Park a few days ago. It’s always fun when a bird is not that interested in you. I don’t think that he opened his eyes all the time I was there.

Carolina Wren

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:16:33 +0000

Had the chance to see a couple of Carolina Wrens at the old brickyard in Essex. It’s really something to hear them sing.

ECFNC Owl Prowl

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:16:56 +0000

Had a great time at the Owl Prowl with the Essex County Field Naturalists Club this afternoon at Holiday Beach. We were rewarded with a nice view of a Long-eared Owl. Please click on the Galleries menu item above to view this image in full size and better quality on my Flickr profile.

Still Editing Great Gray Owl Photos

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:47:29 +0000

I am still going through the photos I shot of the Great Gray Owl in Essex County, Southwestern Ontario. It is such a different experience to photograph a bird that is so unconcerned about people being around. For many of there images, we took a guess at where the owl might perch next as it moved along the ditch bank. We would walk up the road to that point and wait. After a while the owl would leave it’s present perch and fly right to where we were standing waiting. It’s something to have a bird that size simple take off and fly right by you to perch on a wire over your head. One of the difficulties we had was to be far enough away when the owl moved towards us so that we could still fit it in the frame.

In this shot, the Great Gray Owl returned to it’s perch from going after a mouse. It had a leaf caught on it’s claw which it soon removed.

(please click on the “Galleries” menu item above to view a full size and better quality images on my Flickr profile)

Great Gray Owl in action

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:32:11 +0000

Had a great couple of hours this afternoon photographing the Great Great Owl. It is so amazing to watch this bird sit by the side of the road and then dive down into the grass to catch a mouse. The Great Gray Owl gave a magnificent show as it moved along the road side hunting for mice.

Please click on the “Galleries” link above to see these images in full size and better quality.

More of the Great Gray

admin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 03:43:41 +0000

I had an opportunity the couple of days to once more see the Great Gray Owl. I am surprised at it’s tolerance of people. It has been said however that they are really not happy about having people around but rather they are concerned with conserving energy.

At one point some Blue Jays discovered the owl and started harassing it. A couple of times a Blue Jay actually dive-bombed the owl striking it in the back of the head. Eventually the owl moved to another tree which I imagine was what the Blue Jays wanted.

(For better quality images please click on the Gallery menu item above to visit my Flickr profile.)