stonechat

IMO, Corn Bunting is usually much plainer, grayer.

An Unexpected ‘Indian’ Language in the Middle East Delighted and motivated by the positive response to my recent article, Greek, the Asian and African Language, my mind has been occupied by an eagerness to share another example of historical l…

My website offering for February is a labour of love about ancient peoples, migrations and languages popping up where we today might not expect them. It's a biography of an old Indo-European language that met with success in the Middle East, with some help from horses.
dannybate.com/2026/02/01/a...

Northern Pintail, a duck, gray above with brown head, long thin white neck. In flight over the snowy background.

Grey wagtail, a small bird, grey above, with yellow breast and undertail, long tail. Perched on the rocks in a stream.

This day in my birding history. It was a nice walk along the warm creek coming out of the sewage lagoons. Lots of birds staying there for this reason.

Northern Pintail (my first sighting), Grey Wagtail
January 30, 2013 🪶

That crest!

Oh, wow!

I know, although not sure about spelling: Gutierres? I also remember Kofi Anan and Boutros Boutros Ghali (I did google this spelling)!

In some past years I have been hearing Great Horned Owl hooting outside soon after midnight on January 1.

Always a welcome sighting! In the past few years I usually saw them in a certain park in Winnipeg on January 1, but not today.

I am sorry, but this looks like a Carolina wren, or another wren species, depending on the location.

If I am not mistaken, English Sparrow usually refers to the (Old World) House Sparrow, and this is definitely not it.

A Bald Eagle: a large eagle, brown overall with white head and massive yellow hooked beak; sitting on top of a conifer tree.

This day in my birding history 🪶

Amazingly square-shouldered Bald Eagle.

Jan 1, 2020; Manitoba

Downy Woodpecker for me. The only one so far.

Awesome!

In Oct2024 I started a photo project: a picture from the same spot on my walk to work every morning for a year. A week after I finished, I caught this golden view. Nothing is ever “the same”, so enjoy every moment (the project continues)
#ArtAdventCalendar #Photography #GoodMorningFromSaskatoon

Amazing colours in this picture!

(Photo taken with a telephoto lens from a distance and cropped, no disturbance to the owl).

Barred Owl - an owl with round head, vertically streaked breast, sitting on the edge of a cavity in a tree trunk. (Photo taken with a telephoto lens from a distance and cropped, no disturbance to the owl).

Some bird sightings feel better than even adding a new species to your list. I have mostly heard Barred Owls before, and only saw it once, very briefly. But finally I have found one, and had a chance to take a good look!

Manitoba, Dec 2025 🪶

Awesome shot! My dream is to see this bird! I've only heard them.

Oh god, one of the birds I want to see the most! They are so surreal in appearance!

Amazing photos!

Coincidentally I tried to find a Barred Owl today in a park where it has been reported, but no luck.

Such a beauty!

Pileated Woodpecker - a large woodpecker, black back and wings, white stripe on the face, red cap and crest, long bill; on a tree trunk.

This day in (my) birding history 🪶

Pileated Woodpecker
Winnipeg, MB; 3 Dec 2016

This sounds like a Polish word (and indeed such word exists). Especially the font on the second image gives it some modern Polish vibes.

Amazing birds! Although I have been startled by them occasionally. Including when I met one for the first time in my life in a rather gloomy forest.

Eurasian Jay, a corvid bird, cream-coloured overall with black and white on wings and a blue pattern; perched on a tree branch.

This day in (my) birding history.

Eurasian Jay, Nov 25, 2007
(That's literally near the start of my birding journey 🪶).

I never saw ruffs in full breeding plumage, but I saw them on fall migration. At that time they are plain overall, but still surprisingly variable. Birders in that part of the world say: if you cannot figure out which shorebird it is, it's a Ruff.

Pine Grosbeak - a large finch, mostly intensely red, with black wings with white edges, with massive beak, feeding on berries.

Had a chance today to observe two male Pine Grosbeaks feeding on berries. They were pretty close to me, undisturbed, and rather quiet. Only occasionally I heard their very faint, tenter voice. 🪶
Winnipeg, MB Nov 2025

There were many reports recently, this is why I went looking for them.

Congrats on finding yours!

I just saw a couple of Northern Cardinals in Winnipeg on Saturday :) (Bunn's Creek Park)

File permissions? I remember forgetting to make a file executable, and having to change that.

American Three-toed Woodpecker: a woodpecker with black and white stripes, on a tree trunk with some bark scaling.

If I had a nemesis bird it would be American Three-toed Woodpecker. I have been chasing it in Manitoba for years. Now, I go to Saskatchewan, to Prince Albert, just barely enter the forest, hear tapping, see an Am. Three-toed Woodpecker 🪶

Other highlights: Black-backed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee.