Favourite Music Featuring Birds

My Ten Favourite Pieces of Music

Featuring Birds

1. The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

2. The Swan in The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens.

3. On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring by Frederick Delius.

4. The overture to The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra) by Giochino Rossini.

5. The 6th Symphony, The Pastoral, by Ludwig Von Beethoven. In the cadenza at the end of the work the nightingale, the quail and the cuckoo are featured.

6. The Swan of Tuonela by Jean Sibelius.

7. The Birds (Gli Uccelli) by Otterino Respighi.

8. The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi. In the "Summer" movement a portion is dedicated to the cuckoo, the turtle dove and the finch.

9. Birdsong (Le Chant des Oiseaux) by Clément Janequin.

10. (There'll be bluebirds over) The White Cliffs of Dover sung by Vera Lynn.

Mallard

Mallard, Anas platyrynchos

10 July 2011

This male is in eclipse plumage having been flightless for a period of weeks. Mallards, unlike most species, undergo a complete moult of flight feathers at one time and form "bachelor clubs" of flightless males. This picture, taken at Humber Bay Park East in Toronto, ON shows the characteristic head colour of the male growing back and replacing the female type colouration which prevailed during the flightless period.

Western Osprey

Western Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

12 July 2011

Ospreys have made a fine comeback after many years of being under severe threat from the insidious effects of organochlorine pesticides and other noxious chemicals. This pair is nesting along the Grand Valley Trail in Bloomingdale, ON. One picture shows nesting material being delivered to an already occupied nest; it is perhaps part of ongoing pair-bonding activity to keep the nest constantly refurbished. The second picture shows a large fish being delivered to the sitting partner.

Common Tern

Common Tern, Sterna hirundo

The graceful choreography of a Common Tern as it slices through the air while patrolling above the water in search of fish. Port Credit Waterfront, Mississauga, ON. 10 July 2011

Muskrat

Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus

We observed this individual on 19 June 2011 at the Mill Race Trail, St. Jacobs, ON. It swam ashore and chewed vigorously at the stream side vegetation until it had this substantial mouthful; then it re-entered the water and swam to the opposite bank where it disappeared under the water, presumably to its den.

Eastern Garter Snake

Eastern Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

This attractive snake is common in our area, but is seldom seen. This one was predominantly concealed and slithered away quickly. It was viewed on the Health Valley Trail in Waterloo on 5 July 2011.

Midland Painted Turtle

Midland Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta marginata

Two individuals basking in the sun on the Health Valley Trail, Waterloo on 15 July 2011.