Snoy Egret

Snowy Egret

This is my first siting of a Snowy Egret.  The Snowy Egret is Similar to the Little Egret.  This is not a regular visitor to Cape Breton, but in the last few years there have been quite a few sitings of Egrets in the area. 

The Snowy Egret feeds on aquatic prey, from invertebrates, such as insects, shrimp, and prawns, to small fish, amphibians, and snakes.  When foraging, it uses a wide variety of behaviors, including wing - flicking, foot-stirring, and foot-probing to get its prey moving, making it easier to capture.

They nest in colonies, often with other waders, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. Their flat, shallow nests are made of sticks and lined with fine twigs and rushes. Three to four greenish-blue, oval eggs are incubated by both adults. The young leave the nest in 20 to 25 days and hop about on branches near the nest before finally departing.

Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker

Recently I had a new visitor to my backyard. Didn't visit the seed feeders but made a dash for the suet. I was in the window and scared him so he flew off to a near by tree. My husband has seen him in the suet really early in the mornings. I was quite excited that afternoon when I seen him in the trees at the front of the house when heading out for a walk and even tho I did get a photo...it wasn't like the next visits shoot.

There are two types of Northern Flickers.  The Red Shafted form and the Yellow Shafted form.  This is a Yellow Shafted form.  The biggest difference in the two kinds is the color of the shaft (mustache, or cheek line) and the color of the underwings.  The Red shafted are red ... but the Yellow Shafted are black shafted in the males  and the underwings are yellow.  We only have the Yellow Shafted Northern Flicker in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.  They are 12 - 13 in (31 - 33cm) in length, weight about 4oz (125g) and have a wing span of about 19 -21in (48 - 53cm). They have a lifespan of about 9 years.

The Nothern Flicker nests in tree cavities,where parents take turn incabating eggs.  They will generally have 6-8 eggs.  Unlike other woodpeckers flickers can be found foraging for ants on the ground.

I am using the Canon 50D. (F9 1/125 ISO 250 canon lens 75- 300 @300mm). All photos are shot from my living room window.

The first photo, along with the last three, is as shot, no cropping.  He came very close and I was able to get some good shots.  ENJOY!