Springbank Venture

The leaves are starting to come out from the larger trees now. 

Birds were active this morning.....

Turkey Vulture, Tree Swallow, Mallard, Canada Geese, Wood Ducks, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cardinal, Mourning Dove, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Wren and American Goldfinch.

American Goldfinch

White Trillium

Mayapple

White Trout Lily 

Magnolia Tree

Mount Pleasant Cemetery with trees in blossom.

 

Killaly Meadows

Searching for Woodcocks in the Killaly Meadows ESA - April 26, 2017

Walked along the north branch of the Thames River.  I did not see the Woodcock (FOY) courtship display but heard them. It was dusk and getting dark at the time.  I love the sound of Woodcocks...an explosive nasal beent. 

Osprey

The Osprey has a nest high up on the light stands at a baseball field.

North Branch of Thames River

Other birds I saw - Osprey (FOY) Red-tailed Hawk, Robin, Grackle, Tree Swallow (FOY), Song Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker (FOY), Red-bellied Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Mallard, Canada Geese, Mourning Dove, Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Ring-billed Gull, Yellow Warbler (FOY)  and Wild Turkey.

Activity in Park

Springbank Park, London, Ontario

It was 16 degrees this morning and sunny.  I saw my first warbler this spring - Yellow-Rumped Warbler (FOY).  (no picture)

Song Sparrow

Groundhog

Red-bellied Woodpecker 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Spring Stroll

I took a morning walk at Springbank Park, London, Ontario.  It was a nice sunny day, high of 13.  I didn't see anything new from what I saw last week.   Lots of Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Flicker, Robin, Grackle, Mallard, and Canada Geese.

Song Sparrow

Yellow Trout Lily

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Woodland Walk

April 12, 2017, Springbank Park, London, Ontario

I decided to go for a walk this morning.  It was cloudy, high of 5, cool with a little drizzle.  Being a very dull morning, it was hard focusing the camera.  The hawks were busy building a nest.

Carolina Wren

Cooper's Hawk

Hawk Cliff

April 8, 2017 -  Elgin County

Hawk Cliff - A lot of erosion has changed the cliffs over the years.  In the 1980's, part of the cliff where I use to stand on for hawk watching has fallen into the lake.  A big chunk of it!  There was a cliff and to the right was an area of grasses and wildflowers.  There was no fence...it was a lovely place.  There would be song birds and butterflies there.  There is a fence there now.  To me, it looks run down and trampled on.  People that are there are not birders, they bring their dogs in.  It's very sad.  So very different from years ago.

Lake Erie

Lake Erie

Hawk Cliff erosion

Phoebe Surprise!

April 5, 2017 - Springbank Park, London, Ontario

Went for a morning walk.  It was high of 7, partly cloudy.  I saw Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles, Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Mallard, Canada Geese, Crow, Turkey Vulture, Cardinal, Flicker and Goldfinch.

Eastern Phoebe

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Cardinal

Horned Lark

Saturday, April 1, 2017 - Eight Mile Rd, NW London, Ontario

I took these pictures of the Horned Larks.  It was a nice sunny day, high of 10.  They were on the dirt road looking for food.  They like seeds and insects.

Horned Lark

Horned Lark

Horned Lark