London CBC, December 16, 2023

 London Christmas Bird Count (CBC), December 16, 2023

Weather   2c to 6c, overcast, E winds 19km/h, no snow on ground

Time  7:45am to 12:15pm - 4 1/2 hours

Distance - 6.9 km

Species: 27  

Participants - 4

We started at the Greenway Park parking lot past the off leash dog parks to the lookout area.  It was 7:45am, sunrise 7:50am.  It was a quiet start as the birds were not up and about yet.  We were hoping to hear Great Horned Owls but with no luck.  At the river, Ring-billed Gulls were flying around and saw one Herring Gull.  Lots of Mallards and Canada Geese in the water at the lookout area to Wonderland Rd bridge.  A Bald Eagle flew over to the west.  At the lookout area, the usual resident birds were there.  The white Domestic Goose, Domestic Mallards and 2 Cayuga Ducks. 

We continued walking along the river going East.  

Some of the birds we saw, Canada Geese (close to 500 in total), Mallards (200), Common Mergansers (6 females), Hooded Mergansers (a male and female), one Great Blue Heron, another Bald Eagle flying over and a Red-tailed Hawk.  It was nice to see 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, American Goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Black-capped Chickadees, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, a Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches, 3 Carolina Wrens, Mourning Doves, American Crows, Blue Jays, House Sparrows and Starlings.  There were up to 20 American Robins.

Like last year, we saw an opossum but it was dead on the ground under heavy bush.  Maybe a hawk dropped it.

  

Early November Birding

I have been out and about checking ponds and parks lately.  So far it has been a mild November.  

American Goldfinch

Bald Eagle

It is strange to see a dragonfly mid November.

Autumn Meadowlark

Birding and Enjoying the Fall Colours

 October 22, 2023 - Fanshawe CA

I decided to go to Fanshawe Conservation Area as I have not been there for awhile.  I saw a lot of variety of birds...here are some of the species....Dark-eyed Juncos, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Red-winged Blackbirds, House Finches, White-crowned Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Common Grackle, and Turkey Vultures. 

At the pond, Canada Geese, Mallards, Hooded Mergansers, American Coots, Great Blue Heron, and a Pied-billed Grebe.

American Coots

Mallards

Common Crow

Hooded Merganser

Here are some of the colours at Fanshawe Lake.

October 25, 2023 Coves

It was a nice warm today but overcast.  There were a lot of American Robins, Cedar Waxwings in the berry bushes.  Red-winged Blackbirds and Song Sparrows were singing.  

I watched a Great Blue Heron battling with a huge fish.  

Some of the colours at the Coves.

October 28, 2023 - Airport

It was an overcast drizzly day.  I saw some Red-winged Blackbirds, American Goldfinches, Mourning Doves and it was nice to see a Kestrel.  I took this photo from inside the car.

Birding Here and There

Last week, I went to a drainage pond at Wonderland Rd S.  The pond was half drained and construction workers with the large diggers were cleaning out the pond.  They trucked away lots of sludge.  Even with the noise and activity going on, some birds were staying around the shallow part of the pond.  I saw three Great Blue Herons, two Great Egrets, Ring-billed Gulls, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and Killdeers.  The photos are not great as I was further back because of the construction.  

I haven't been to Springbank Park for awhile so Tuesday, October 17, I walked along the river.  I saw the usual birds but also saw a Eastern Phoebe, Belted Kingfisher, Double-crested Cormorants, Golden-crowned Kinglets and Dark-eyed Juncos.  I love Juncos...they are so cute.

Eastern Phoebe

Belted Kingfisher

Double-crested Cormorant

In Hyde Park, I saw my first of the year, Canvasback.  Also saw a Lesser Scaup.

Canvasback

Lesser Scaup

Saturday, I went to Uplands Wetland.  It was windy, 9c and a heavy drizzle was coming down.  Lots of Mallards, a Great Blue Heron, Green-winged Teals, a Double-crested Cormorant in a tree, White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, American Goldfinch, American Robin and a Great Egret.  

Its getting very late for Great Egret migration.  

Mid-October Birding

I saw a lot of species of birds at Kilally totalling 36.  Some birds I saw were Swainson's Thrush, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Carolina Wren, Catbird, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, White-throated Sparrows, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Turkey Vultures, Black-capped Chickadee, Eastern Towhee (2), and White-breasted Nuthatch. 

Black capped Chickadee

Cedar Waxwing

American Robin

Common Grackle

Swainson's Thrush

On Oct 12, 2023 at Greenway, I saw a lot of the same birds as yesterday at Kilally.  

Song Sparrow

The Osprey was very high up so this is the best photo I can get.  It's getting late for Osprey migration.

Osprey

At Uplands Wetland (Oct 15), the Great Egret is still hanging around.  It was very windy today.  The egret flew up to an old tree trunk hanging on for dear life.  I also saw a Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Green-winged Teals, Ring-billed Gulls, Red-winged Blackbirds, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Cedar Waxwings, Downy Woodpecker,  American Goldfinches, Turkey Vultures (8), and American Robins.  Lots of Canada Geese and Mallards.  

Great Egret

Green-winged Teal

Double-crested Cormorant

Here are some colours from the Coves.