I spotted this bird and its flockmate at the edge of a wood while out birding last month. Spent a few minutes getting a look through the bins, then as so often happens the pair bounded off across the field the moment I got the sketchbook out. Another ten minutes hiking from one side of the field to the other, each time getting just within a comfortable viewing distance before they drew me back in the other direction.
Watercolour, pastel and coloured pencil.

After taking in the final day of the Bateman exhibit in Kleinburg last weekend, I took a drive out to Reesor pond in Markham for a reported Ross’s Goose. I eventually spotted the bird wandering in and out of view near an island of six Snow Geese in a sea of several hundred Canadas.

Reports of Sandhill Cranes, Evening Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwings sent me on a last-minute trip up the Bruce this weekend. I found numerous flocks of Bohemians, but no sign of grosbeaks or cranes. Checking the rarity lists after I got home, I was notified of a flock of over 250 Sandhills just south of Hepworth — birds I would have found if only I hadn’t taken a detour around this specific part of Hwy 6 to check the back roads for cranes! I have such rotten luck with Sandhills.

Not a wide variety of waterfowl at Neibauer Marsh this morning, but definitely the largest number of Ring-necked Ducks I’ve ever seen in the ponds.

In the afternoon, I headed to the Guelph Arboretum for migrants. The Arb had been completely overrun with flocks of American Robins, who were busy gorging themselves on the ripening buckthorn.