Crazy Blustery and Brisk Days

A very cold day yesterday (April 27) feeling like -9c, light flurries and a strong NW wind.  It was hard walking against the strong wind finding birds low for protection.  It was really nice to see a Yellow Warbler.  I've also seen a Yellow-rumped Warbler.  I was watching a Turkey Vulture flying low trying to control itself in the wind.  Tree Swallows were low over the water flying against the wind as if they were flying still.  I also saw Killdeers, Red-winged Blackbirds, lots of American Robins on the ground and Northern Flickers.

Song Sparrow

Today (April 28), was a cool 6c but sunny which was nice!  I decided to go to the Coves.  I didn't see any Warblers but I saw FOY Catbirds and FOY Spotted Sandpiper.  The Blue-winged Teals are still hanging around.  I also saw 3 Great Blue Herons, Song Sparrows, Barn Swallows, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, American Goldfinches, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinals, and a White-breasted Nuthatch.

Recent Outings - April 18-23, 2022

I have been dealing with camera problems for awhile so my photos are not too great.  

Around the London area, signs of Spring is coming slowly.  At the wetland, I saw Canada Geese, Mallards, Bufflehead, Blue-winged Teal, Tree Swallows, Belted Kingfisher, Ring-necked Ducks, Turkey Vulture, Red-winged Blackbird, and Song Sparrows.

Blue-winged Teal

Brown-headed Cowbird

I started to see a few Tree Swallows flying around at Westminster Ponds.

Far away shots of an American Coot and a Pied-billed Grebe.  

American Coot

Pied-billed Grebe

Tree Swallow

I went to Greenway to see how the Ospreys are doing.  One Osprey came flying in with a long, large branch for the nest.  So they are still working on nest building.

Red-tailed Hawk

It's wonderful to see Killdeers are back.

This is the first wild flower I've seen this Spring.  

Siberian Squill

Mid-April Outings

I'm still birding around London ponds and areas.  At the London Airport, I got an Eastern Meadowlark.  I love hearing them.  I'm behind in adding photos to the blog the last 2 weeks.  Here are some of them.    

Great Blue Heron

It was nice to see the Ospreys back.

Osprey

Blue-winged Teal

A pair of Ospreys are back at Greenway Park.

FOY - Yellow-rumped Warbler

Searching Ponds

Since the beginning of April, I've been going around to different ponds in London.  A pond in southeast London had some Hooded Mergansers, Bufflehead, a Pied-billed Grebe.  The area around the pond, I saw Killdeers, Turkey Vultures, Song Sparrows, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Red-Winged Blackbirds. 

Hooded Merganser

Bufflehead

Turkey Vulture

At Greenway. the Common Mergansers are still around.  Also some Wood Ducks.

Common Mergansers

Wood Duck

I checked out Westminster Ponds one day.  A Red-necked Grebe was reported there.  The grebe was way out at the other end of the pond at one point.  It was diving and eventually came closer.  I have seen a Red-necked Grebe but it was a long time ago.  It was nice to see this beautiful bird. 

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I noticed a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers.  It was a very dull day, so my photos are dark.

Song Sparrow

Northern Flicker

Start of April - Looking for Ducks

Not too many sunny days lately.  Still cool temperatures with some strong winds one day.  A few days, we had some light snow on the ground.

I went to a few places close by....Greenway Park and Hyde Park.

I'm mainly looking for ducks.  At Greenway, there were Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Wood Ducks, American Black Ducks, Mallards, 2 Pied-billed Grebes.  

Poor photo of the Pied-billed Grebes.

Wood Duck

Wood Duck

Lots of Song Sparrows along the river singing.

Another poor photo - Hooded Mergansers.

A wetland north of London, I found 9 Blue-winged Teals.  A nice looking duck.

Red-tailed Hawk

I managed to get a photo of the Vesper Sparrow.  It kept moving around.