Happenings Last Week - January 23 & 24 and Today January 28

Springbank Park - London, Ontario

It's a bitterly cold day today, windchill -26c, cloudy with light snow.
I didn't stay out birding too long.....not many birds to be seen.  An immature Bald Eagle flew by, there were Mallards, Canada Geese, a Common Merganser and a Common Goldeneye.  I was looking for the drake Wood Duck and still could not find it.  This is my fourth attempt.  I didn't take any photos today.     

Last Week
Springbank Park - Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Today it was pouring rain.  Looking for a drake Wood Duck with no luck.

Springbank Park - Thursday, January 24, 2019

Greenway Park - Thursday, January 24, 2019 

There were a lot of Common Goldeneyes.  I was trying to take photos of them through branches, etc.  

Springbank Action

Springbank Park, London, Ontario

I thought I would go to Springbank on this chilly morning to see what I can find.  First, I spotted this Red-tailed Hawk.  After a few minutes, it flew to the opposite side of the parking lot.  This is when I noticed it had something in his talons.  I thought it looked like a squirrel...a really big squirrel as I just saw the tail at that point.
I got closer to the hawk again and couldn't figure out what he had.  I realized then it's way to big for a squirrel.  Looking closer....it was a skunk!

Lots of Canada Geese and Mallards.  Also, there were Hooded Mergansers and Common Goldeneyes.

Hooded Mergansers

There were a nice variety of birds today.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

White-breasted Nuthatch

Downy Woodpecker

Dark-eyed Junco and Northern Cardinal

Birding in Greenway

Greenway Park-Thames River - London, Ontario

I decided to do some birding at Greenway Park this afternoon.  It was cold, high -4c, feels like -9c and overcast.  There were lots Mallards and Canada Geese along the river bank and in the water....too many to count.

Mourning Dove

I saw 4 robins eating berries in the shrubbery along the river. 

American Robin

American Robin

There were a few Common Mergansers around and Hooded Mergansers.

Common Mergansers

5 Hooded Mergansers in front

Photo below shows one Common Merganser in the front with Canada Geese and Mallards in the background.

The Buffleheads were busy diving so had to take this photo fast.  They are under the water for a bit and pop up somewhere else.

Bufflehead

These poor Great Blue Herons looked cold.

This one was so tucked in...could hardly see his head.

While I was watching the herons, four White-tailed Deer were sauntering through the water to the other side.

The Coves, ESA

It was another overcast day.  I decided to go to the Coves this afternoon.  I saw two Great Blue Herons, some Canada Geese and Mallards.   I just managed to get photos of the Great Blue Heron today.

A Red-tailed Hawk flew over.  Also saw Cardinals, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Juncos and a Ring-billed Gull. 

Thursday, January 3, 2019, I went to Greenway Park to see if I can find some duck species.  It was cold, -2c. There were lots of Mallards along the bank of the river.  The Thames is very high and fast moving right now.  It was nice to see some Common Goldeneyes moving around and diving for food.  
I went to the spot were I usually see Robins.  I saw one down by the water. 

Common Merganser  (male)

There were 2 Great Blue Herons which was nice to see.  I also saw some Canada Geese and heard a Carolina Wren.

New Year's Day Bird Walk 2019

New Year's Day Bird Walk (Nature London) - Greenway Park

It was -1 feeling like -7.  There was a NW wind so it was cold.  With the rain yesterday, we have no snow.  My first bird for 2019 is the Mallard.

We walked along the Thames River to see what we can find.  The river is very high and fast moving.  

What I saw: Muscovy Ducks (Domestic Type), Mallards, Mallards (Domestic Type), Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Blue Heron, Ring-billed Gull, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinches, and Dark-eyed Juncos.

Great Blue Heron

Muscovy Duck (Domestic Type)

Muscovy Duck (Domestic Type)

Mallards