A RARE BIRD

After seeing the recently posted photo on the MNS website, I decided to give the Harlequin Duck a try this evening. After a little searching of the exposed rock at Whitemouth Falls (the rapids at the mouth of the Whitemouth River near Seven Sisters Falls), I picked it out, resting at the water's edge on the upstream side of the falls, towards the western shore. Moult is well advanced, but the bird is still clearly identifiable as an adult male. A distant, dark bird in deep shadow is not a great photographic subject, but I got a couple of shots that give some idea of its current plumage, and will try again soon for some well-lit morning shots! Meanwhile, I'll post a couple of this evening's efforts in my manitobabirds album. (50 N 96 W)

A FLYING VISIT

To photograph hummingbirds properly, you need a powerful flash set up in a well-controlled situation at a feeder. The last thing to do is try grabbing shots of a hummer zipping around a flowerbed. Nevertheless, I couldn't resist when this bird showed up at one of our window boxes on a windy afternoon last week. It is a female or young male, difficult to distinguish because both lack the bright red throat. Only two shots were possible before it zoomed away, one dead loss and this one, showing how it blended into the greenery while hovering at a Trailing Verbena bloom. There is often a peak of hummingbird activity in late August, with the last birds typically departing around 10th of September, so keep those feeders stocked for another month!

FEEDING TIME

This picture needs little description. I apologize to any gardeners who may find it offensive. Some time ago I published a photo of a red squirrel in our oak tree, and Nancy Bremner wrote to point out that you could tell it was a nursing mother. This one also shows a nursing mother, but the clues are a little less subtle. The poor doe was almost knocked off her feet as the fawns galloped in to feed. I hope for her sake they're almost weaned, especially because she is still recovering from a leg injury.