Aylmer Wildlife Management Area - 2022

March 21, 2022 - It was a beautiful sunny day to go see the migrating Tundra Swans today.  The rest of the week calls for rain/snow.  The count for the day was 852.  There were also Canada Geese, Mallards, Ring-necked ducks, and Ruddy ducks.  Other birds I saw White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, American Goldfinches, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, American Robins and Mourning Doves.  It's always so nice to see the Swans and I love hearing them.

Mid-March Findings

This week, I saw more signs of Spring with a couple of warm days.  Song Sparrows, Cardinals and Red-winged Blackbirds were singing.  The snow is gradually melting but ponds still have a layer of ice.

Song Sparrow

 

I saw my first of year Turkey Vulture.

Also, first of year Tundra Swans.  I heard them first and saw two very long V formations and a smaller one fly over.  I estimated there were 115.  I love hearing them.  

American Crows have been vocal lately.

This one day, there were 4 Great Blue Herons together.

I've been visiting some ponds in Hyde Park, here is another Great Blue Heron.  

 

Bufflehead

I saw this Gadwall which was nice.  I don't see them very often.

The weather does not look good next week...showing rain almost every day.  Hopefully, I can get out birding a few times.

Some March Meandering

Greenway, March 1, 2022 - It was a cool, overcast day.  I went to Greenway to see the ducks.  I love seeing the Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers and Bufflehead.  The Common Mergansers are so white they really stand out...beautiful!  Some of the ice on the river has melted.  I saw a nice variety of birds...American Black Duck, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, American Robins, Great-Blue Heron, Northern Cardinals (singing), Carolina Wren, Blue Jays and a Song Sparrow.

Bufflehead

Common Mergansers

Hooded Mergansers

Gibbons Park, March 2, 2022 -  I saw my first Red-winged Blackbird (FOY).  It was so nice to see!  I checked out the Great Horned Owl.  It was a little milder today...some of the snow is starting to melt.  There were American Robins, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadees, Northern Cardinals (singing) and Blue Jays.

Terrible photo of Red-winged Blackbird.

Great Horned Owl

Coves, March 3, 2022 - It was quiet at the Coves today.  The ponds are still frozen.  I saw four Great-Blue Herons in a tree together.  Some are still sleeping.

Greenway again March 5, 2022.  Lots of Common Mergansers.  I counted 21.  So beautiful to watch.  There were some Hooded Mergansers, American Black Duck, lots of Mallards and Canada Geese.