Photo: Ryan Porteous. A singing male Scarlet Tanager along PR 302. Atlas code = S (singing) = possible breeding

Photo: Linda Curtis. One of two Merlin eggs found at the bottom of the tree they were nesting in (one intact and the other broken). The nest was located in a spruce tree on an island on Lake Wanipigow (Region 5 - 15TS96). The nest, probably an old crows nest, had collapsed sometime around the first week of July and the parents had left the island by the end of July. Atlas code = NE (nest with eggs) - confirmed breeding.

Photo: Christian Artuso. A male Orchard Oriole carries food to his nest near Pierson on July 30th 2010. He was actually first heard singing with food in his mouth, which alerted me to his presence at some distance, and then seen flying in with food items. Jo Swartz first caught sight of the female after that and we watched her fly in to feed at the nest. The Atlas code = CF (carrying food) is of course surpassed by the code NY (nest with young) as in previous photo.

Photo: Christian Artuso. A female Orchard Oriole feeds young in her nest, hidden in Shubert Chokecherry, near Pierson on July 30th 2010. She has just delivered a grasshopper-like insect and the young were audible but not visible in the deep nest. Atlas code = NY (nest with young) - confirmed breeding. Note that this nest was found by following the male (see next photo).

Photo: Christian Artuso. A young Gray Catbird that has been begging for food and seemingly ignored by the parent in attendance. Due to this bird's clumsy flight and habit of following their parents, I chose to use the code FY (fledged young), which is confirmed breeding. Care needs to be taken not to use this code for young birds that could have flown in from another square.

Photo: Christian Artuso. A male Lazuli Bunting that has been singing on a territory along a creek east of Lyleton since May. Photographed here on July 30, 2010. Atlas code = T (territory) - probable breeding.

Photo: Christian Artuso. A Northern Mockingbird gathers nesting material near Pierson on July 30, 2010. Normally this behaviour could be given the code NB (nest building), which is confirmed breeding; however, given the lateness in the season and the relatively small chance of this bird having a partner, I chose to use the "N" code; which lowers the evidence to probable breeding.

Photo: Christian Artuso. A Snowy Egret, or possibly two, has been present a Whitewater Lake since June. However, in the absence of any display like behaviour or documentation of full nuptial plumes we are currently treating this record as only Atlas code H (habitat) - possible breeding. If anyone can improve on this code, please get in touch!

Photo: Christian Artuso. An Upland Sandpiper juvenile near Whitewater Lake on July 31, 2010. Atlas code = FY (fledged young) - confirmed breeding.