Thames River - Ducks

This past week, I walked along Thames River to see what was around.  I like searching for ducks.  Here are some photos.

Mallards

Common Goldeneyes

Common Goldeneyes

American Black Duck

American Black Duck

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle (juvenile)

Bald Eagle (juvenile)

Hooded Mergansers

The Long-tailed Duck is rare in Middlesex County.

Long-tailed Duck

Common Goldeneye

Common Mergansers

Common Merganser

Common Merganser (female)

Common Goldeneyes

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Mergansers

Canada Geese

Canada Geese

Red-tailed Hawk

Common Mergansers

Common Goldeneyes

American Robin

London CBC, December 17, 2022

London Christmas Bird Count (CBC), December 17, 2022

Weather   -2c, feels like -8c, overcast, light snowflerries, SW winds 22km/h, gusting 33km/h, dusting of snow on ground

Time  8:00am to 12:30pm - 4 1/2 hours

Distance - 8.4 km

Species: 28  (I saw 26)

Participants - 4

We started at the Greenway Park parking lot across from the soccer fields.  It was 8:00am, sunrise 7:50am.  It started slow as the birds were not up and around yet.  Saw some Mallards flyover.  

Some of the birds we saw, Canada Geese, Mallards, Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers. lots of Ring-billed Gulls at the water or flying above in flocks.  Two Herring Gulls, two Great Blue Herons, Belted Kingfishers, an immature Bald Eagle flying over and two Red-tailed Hawks.  It was nice to see 5 Golden-crowned Kinglets, American Goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, American Tree Sparrows, Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadees, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, and nice to see a Brown Creeper.  Mourning Doves, American Crows, House Sparrows and Starlings.  

This was our highlight of the day.  We were watching 2 Red-tailed Hawks and one flew up to a tree with something.  Some thought it was a squirrel at first.  The hawk then flew to another tree close by and leaving this animal hanging up in the tree keeping a close eye on it.  An Opossum! 

 I thought opossums hibernate but apparently not.

Some Recent Mid-December Birding

The weather has been 0c to 5c and overcast.  Have not seen the sun for awhile.  We have no snow to just a dusting on the ground.

I enjoy looking at the Mergansers at the Thames River.  They are beautiful ducks.  Common Mergansers below.

At the Coves, I usually find Great Blue Herons.  

I came upon these two male Mallards.  They were fighting when I started taking some photos, this was about 2 min.  I left and they were still at it.

Again at the Thames River, this day 27 Hooded Mergansers were around.  Another beautiful duck.  They were continuously diving for fish.

Bufflehead

Belted Kingfisher

Saturday, December 17, 2022 is the London Christmas Bird Count.  The CBC has been going since 1909 in London.  I will be birding with another couple for the day.  Looking forward to it.

Late November Birding

I did some birding close to home this week. The days have been overcast, around 3c and damp.  

I saw two Killdeers at Greenway.  This is the latest I've seen Killdeers in Middlesex County.  

There were 5 Robins in a tree together.  The only Robins I've seen this week.

At the Coves, two Hooded Mergansers were swimming around.  The water was all ice last week but more open water this week.

Two Great Blue Herons were resting in a tree at the Coves.  

The two Great Blue Herons in the tree below.

Mallards

Final Note:  November 28, 29 and 30 as I was birding these white moths were flying around.  I've never seen moths this time of year.  The temperature these 3 days were from 3c to 8c, overcast.

White to beige coloured moths??