Some Little Birding mid-October

I went to Westminster Ponds this morning to see what was around.  I didn't see many birds.  I have not seen any northern ducks yet.  It's a huge pond and there was only three Canada Geese and 6 Mallards, a Great Blue Heron and a Kingfisher.  There were small flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds and American Goldfinches around.  We've had so much rain and a lot of overcast skies these past weeks.  So I don't have much to report these days.

The tree colours were beautiful.  Here are some photos below.  

With the overcast weather my bird photos are not good.  I can't seem to get it right.  

Fall Birding

Last week I went to the Hyde Park area.  It was a warm and humid week.  We had rain and most days were overcast.  I found the mosquitoes were really bad and were biting.  I didn't have much problems with mosqutioes all summer until last week.  I think because everything is wet and it was humid.

Some photos I took were distant shots so not very clear.  

Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron

Red-winged Blackbird

Birds I saw were Canada Geese, Mallards, Great Blue Herons, Turkey Vultures, Cooper's Hawk, Kestrel, Killeers, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinal, Belted Kingfisher, American Robins, Catbird, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, American Goldfinches, White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Song Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, House Finches, lots of Mourning Doves and Starlings.

Killdeers on the rocks

American Robin

Starlings

Poor distant photos. 

American Kestrel

Cooper's Hawk

Colours along Thames River

The colours are really looking nice right now.

I saw this Painted Turtle at the Coves, October 11, 2021.  I think it's the latest date I've seen a turtle sunning on a log.  Weather is very warm today, high of 22, feels like 26c, and sunny.

Late September and Early October Birding

Uplands North Wetland

Yesterday, I walked around the wetlands to see what was around.  There was a nice movement of Turkeys Vultures flying over.  A lot of Killdeers and one Greater Yellowlegs.

Greater Yellowlegs

Small flocks of Yellow-rumped Warblers were flying around.  The photo below is the best I could get.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Way back in the swamp, I found one American Wigeon preening.

American Wigeon

I spotted this Wilson's Snipe on a small mud flat.  The sun was harsh and it was well hidden.  I took a quick photo and decided to go around the corner for a better look.  At that time, 3 people were walking by with dogs and I waited for them to go by first (water on the walkway).  The walkway is not too wide.  Then I went across the overflowed water....got my shoes a bit wet.  By the time I got around the corner I could not find it.  I spent the rest of the time trying to look for it but could not.  The photo below is the only one I got against the harsh morning sun.

Wilson's Snipe

I also saw lots of Blue Jays, Red-winged Blackbirds. Green-winged Teal, Red-tailed Hawk and American Crows.  It was a nice day, 20c and sunny.

Westminster Ponds

Last week at the Ponds...another nice day 15c, sunny.  Photos again are not good as I was taking them with the sun in front of me.  It was a nice surprise to see an American Coot.  

American Coot

American Coot

Flocks of American Goldfinches were feeding on Goldenrod seeds.

American Goldfinches

Eastern Phoebe

I also saw this Phoebe, lots of Blue Jays, Mallards, Canada Geese, Great Blue Heron, Downy Woodpecker, American Robins, Song Sparrows and Mourning Doves.