Bird Watching in Aurora [0010]: Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Kingbirds [Tyrannus tyrannus] are definitely back at the Arboretum, access from St. John's sideroad and Industrial Parkway. I couldn't believe to see many of them flying around. I usually see one or two, but this time I saw at least 6-7 birds in different locations while walking the Arboretum trail.

Not to mention other birds I saw today. At the pond, the McKenzie Marsh I saw Trumpeter Swan [Cygnus buccinator], our local Canada Goose [Branta canadensis], Mallard, or Wild duck [Anas platyrhynchos], Belted Kingfisher [Megaceryle alcyon] - definitely adult male, Barn Swallow [Hirundo rustica], and Red-winged Blackbird [Agelaius phoeniceus]. Few more - always nice to hear and see everywhere are the Mourning Dove [Zenaida macroura], American Robin [Turdus migratorius], European Starling [Sturnus vulgaris] and House Sparrow [Passer domesticus].

If I saw the Great Blue Heron, Night Heron, Cormorant, Killdear, Caspian Tern, Gull, Cedar Waxwing, Blue Jay, Red Cardinal, Savannah Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, American Gold Finch, Yellow Warbler and the Osprey - that would have been my almost complete collection of birds in the marsh today. However, I wonder what happened to the Cormorants? I don't see them anymore. Sometimes I used to see 10-12 at once sitting and drying up on the sun. Never mind the Osprey, going on the second year, no word on him. He used to sit on the back tree on the North side of the McKenzie Marsh.

And now back to the featured bird. The Eastern Kingbirds has a unique flying pattern. I recognized them by their hovering movement. I recall once photographing their nest where the parents would hover over our heads. It was after that incident I read that they can also attack if their nest is in danger. So be careful.

Well, it all ended with seeing few Cedar Waxwings [Bombycilla cedrorum] after all, just before the Optimist Park. What a nice not even anticipated birding day in Aurora that was.

About the photo. Note the nice blurry background, as it was windy today. In this case the wind was the artist to paint this background for the Eastern Kingbird. I cannot take all the credit, nature always has a lot to do with all the images I capture everyday.