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Sunday, March 20, 2011

Mountain Bluebirds

I've had a bout of Spring Fever or something - whatever it is, I've been easily distracted by any bright, shiny object, as it were.  

Friday morning I went out on a birding drive.  The melt was on and bits of bare ground and stubble were showing in the fields - well, in some places, others, not so much.


Mountain Bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) have been flocking through my area.   


Pleasant little birds with very long wings.  They tend to hover a bit before dropping down to the ground to pick up seeds or insects - more seeds than anything at this early stage of Spring. 


There were about 60-65 birds in this flock.  Expect they are long-gone North by now.


Definitely a favourite Spring bird, and usually the first migrating species to show up here.  Bless'em!

3 comments:

  1. The arrival of Mountain Bluebirds in Fort Providence NT was a highlight of the Spring for me. There was always snow on the ground and the blue against the white was stunning.

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  2. Hi Clare, I agree; that bluebird blue against the white snow is incredibly beautiful especially after a long, drab/dark Winter. Seeing Mtn Bluebirds is such a joy. What migratory birds breed in up there in Arctic Bay? - I'll be watching for your blog updates.

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  3. As far as passerines go we have Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Horned Lark, Northern Wheatear, and American Pipit (migratory there is also our resident songbird, the Raven).

    We have a lot of other migrant breeders as well, loons, gulls, shorebirds, Peregrine, etc.

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