Recent Outings - March 25-29, 2023

I did some birding at the Coves, London Airport and Fanshawe CA this week.  It sure is nice to see migrants coming through.  The Turkey Vultures are really coming through now.  It's wonderful to see them.

At the Coves, I saw 5 Great Blue Herons.  Here are some photos.

There were also some Hooded Mergansers and Common Mergansers. 

Song Sparrow

This Red-tailed Hawk was on a fence at the airport.  Other birds were Eastern Meadowlark, Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbirds, Dark-eyed Juncos and American Robins.

American Tree Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Turkey Vulture

At the Fanshawe CA area, there were 2 Horned Grebes which were nice to see.

Aylmer Wildlife Management Area - March 22, 2023

It was an overcast day with a temperature about 7c.  I figured there was about 1,500 Tundra Swans at the ponds (adults and immatures), and lots of Canada Geese.  At the back of the ponds, there were Mallards, Hooded Mergansers and a Great Blue Heron. There were other duck species but too far away to ID.  

The Ross's Goose is similar to the Snow Goose but has a more rounded head and a stubby bill.  They breed in Arctic Canada, Baffin Island and west of Hudson Bay.  Ross's Geese migrate central North America to south USA and Mexico.  They are rare in Ontario.

Ross's Goose

I saw some other birds while I was at Aylmer - Great Blue Heron, Killdeers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, Downy Woodpecker, Dark-eyed Juncos, Black-capped Chickadees, Common Grackles, American Robins and House Sparrow.  I saw one House Sparrow carrying nesting material.

Common Loon - Lifer

Monday, March 20, 2023 - I went to Westminster Ponds today as there was a Common Loon reported there through the weekend.  I finally found it in the middle of the pond. The loon was fishing so it was moving closer to me.  I took a lot of photos and hoped for the best to see how they turn out.  At least, one can tell it's a loon. :)

Mid-March Findings

Birding around London area.  I went to a wetland north London to see what I can find.  It has been cold and overcast with lots of snow on the ground.  I saw a couple of Turkey Vultures, Red-winged Blackbirds, Northern Cardinals (singing), American Robins, Dark-eyed Juncos, Black-capped Chickadees.  

Turkey Vulture

Cooper's Hawk

Showing the Cooper's Hawk claws.

Greenway Park - March 14, 2023 - It was a cool day with light snow.  Starting to see more Spring birds - Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, American Robin, Killdeer, Wood Ducks.  I also saw a Great-blue Heron, Dark-eyed Juncos, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Song Sparrows, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, and Black-capped Chickadees.

Common Merganser with Canada Goose

Wood Ducks

American Kestrel

Fanshawe CA - walked the Tamarack Trail - Downy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robins, Northern Cardinals, Black-capped Chickadees, Dark-eyes Juncos, Blue Jays, Canada Geese, American Crows and Mallards...still lots of snow on the ground.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Downy Woodpecker

American Red Squirrel

Birding Going Into March

On February 27, 2023, I went to the Coves to see what was around.  It was a chilly morning and overcast.  I saw a total of 5 Great Blue Herons.  The photo below shows 3 of them. The other one was at other side of the tree to the right so could not get him in the photo but captured a photo of three of them together trying to keep warm.  

There are 2 local Red-tailed Hawks in the area.  They are a pair flying around and one landed in a tree above me.

There were lots of woodpeckers around - Downy Woodpeckers and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Also White-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, Carolina Wren, House Finches, Song Sparrows and American Tree Sparrows.

It was a beautiful day March 2, 2023 at Greenway Park...sunny, high of 3c.  The Morning Doves were enjoying the warmth of the sun. 

The Redhead is still hanging around with the Mallards at Thames River.  There were lots of gulls - Ring-billed Gulls and one Herring Gull.  Common Mergansers were swimming and diving and Buffleheads.  

It's wonderful to hear Cardinals singing.