Susan's Birding and Nature Blog

Sunday, 31 May 2020

Observations - May 25-30, 2020

May 25, 2020 - Westminster Ponds

I got out early today as it was going to be a hot, humid day.  The morning was getting pretty warm already.  The temperature went up to 29c, feeling like 38c.  Not my type of weather.

Midland Painted Turtle

I always enjoy watching the swallows.

Tree Swallows

Baltimore Oriole

View of the ponds.




Red-winged Blackbird

Eastern Phoebe


May 27, 2020 - Hyde Park

The Osprey flew down to the water and came back up with something.  Later the Osprey was getting harassed by Red-winged Blackbirds.


Northern Rough-winged Swallows

Great-crested Flycatcher

Dame's Rocket


Eastern Kingbird

Yellow Warbler

May 30, 2020 - The Coves

It was a nice cooler day today which was nice from the few hot, humid days.  The trees and bushes are full of leaves now a difference from just a week ago.  A lot of the warblers are gone and birds are nesting.


Downy Woodpecker

Catbird

Here is a photo of the Coves swamp.  There are Yellow Iris in the swamp.



Red-winged Blackbird  (female)


Yellow Warbler

I was watching a Great Blue Heron fishing. This is another Heron from the photo above.







Rose-breasted Grosbeak

I saw a group of 10 male Wood Ducks.  Beautiful ducks.





Sunday, 24 May 2020

Last Week's Birds and Wildlife

 May 18, 2020

I decided to go to The Coves this morning as the rain stopped for awhile.  But half way through my walk, it started to rain.  It was a steady rain for the rest of my walk.  I saw a few warblers - Yellow Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and a female Black-throated Blue Warbler as they were down low in the bushes.  I took a lot of photos of the Black-throated Blue Warbler.  Only a couple turned out - blurry ones.

Black-throated Blue Warbler (female)


I was taking a photo of the Spotted Sandpiper when a Cardinal came in view.





May 19, 2020 

Tuesday morning I went to Hyde Park to see what was around.  It was 14c and there was a gusty E wind.  I heard a Willow Flycatcher and noticed it below in the bushes and then it came out on an open branch.  Blurry photo.

Willow Flycatcher

Song Sparrow

A Common Yellowthroat was nice to see.  The only other warbler I saw that day were Yellow Warblers.  

Common Yellowthroat


May 20, 2020

I went to Westminster Ponds on this sunny morning,  I saw lots of Swainson's Thrushes around...also a Palm Warbler, Magnolia Warbler and many Yellow Warblers.


Swainson's Thrush


Lots of Barn and Tree Swallows.

Barn Swallow

Tree Swallow

Palm Warbler

After Westminster, I stopped at Civic Gardens, Springbank Park.  Again, lots of Swainson's Thrushes.  There were Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Yellow Warblers, Catbirds and saw a beautiful Scarlet Tanager.

Swainson's Thrush

FOY Scarlet Tanager





May 21, 2020

Gibbons Park - I was walking along a slough area and saw these fish swimming around in the shallow water.  They were huge at least 2ft long!

Carp

Carp

I then saw a very large Snapping Turtle..it had to be about 18 in long.

Snapping Turtle

Then I saw another one, walking along the bottom of the pond in the shallow part.  It was just as big!




May 22, 2020 

Kilally Meadows.  Many nice birds this morning....Yellow Warblers, American Redstarts, Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, American Goldfinches, Gray Catbirds, Song and Field Sparrows.  The ospreys have a nest on top of the light standard at the baseball field next to the parking lot.



Osprey

Gray Catbird

May 23, 2020

This day in The Coves the first warbler I saw was a Wilson's Warbler.  I have not seen one for awhile.  It's very challenging taking photos of warblers.  Lots of Gray Catbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, Downy Woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens,  Yellow Warblers, Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Song Sparrows, a Turkey Vulture to name a few.

Wilson's Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Great Blue Heron

American Toad



White-tailed Deer

Midland Painted Turtle

Midland Painted Turtle

The Red-tailed Hawk was being harassed by Grackles and along came a Crow that harassed the hawk too. 







Looking forward to this coming week to see what I can find.