Lots of Turtles

It was a beautiful day Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - 7c to 20c, sunny.  I took a few photos of turtles out sunning on logs and I saw my first butterfly of the season, Red Admiral.

Eastern Meadowlark

Many Painted Turtles.

Painted Turtle

Red Admiral

Another nice day at the Coves, Wednesday, April 10, 2024   7c to 15c, partly cloudy.  I saw another Red Admiral and some first wild flowers.  Again, there were a lot of turtles sunning themselves.

Siberian Squill

Red-eared Slider

Medium size Snapping Turtle

Wood Duck (male)

Wood Duck (female)

Recent April Findings

I was able to see a rare Red-necked Grebe and a Common Loon at Pond Mills Ponds, Apr 2/24.  It was far out at the other end of the pond in a windy, drizzly day so photos are not clear.

Common Loon

At the Coves, April 5, 2024, I saw my first of the year Osprey.

At Uplands Wetland today, I saw my first of the year Tree Swallow!  There were also 3 female Common Mergansers, 3 Green-winged Teal and some Killdeers.

Tree Swallow

Green-winged Teal (male)

Killdeer

Aylmer Wildlife Management Area - 2024

 March 25, 2024 - Aylmer Wildlife Management Area (AWMA)

For years, I have always seen thousands of Tundra Swans resting at AWMA during the annual Spring Tundra Swan Migration.  This year was different.  There was only 147 Tundra Swans seen...the lowest number I have ever seen for many, many years.  Is it because of the mild winter?  

Birds I saw were 147 Tundra Swans, Canada Geese, Mallards, Ring-necked Ducks, Green-winged Teals, Gadwalls, American Wigeon, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gulls, American Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Common Grackles, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, and American Crows.