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.

More Birding at Wetlands

The first week of October 2023, I visited the wetlands in the area.  We had a short heat wave that week.

Great Egret

Pectoral Sandpiper

Greater Yellowlegs

Great Blue Heron

Yellow rumped Warbler

There were construction at the drainage storm water pond at Wonderland Rd S.  They are draining the water to clean the pond and do some drainage work.  Half the pond was drained and was excellent for shorebirds dropping by on the mudflats.  Lots of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeers, a Green Heron, and two Great Egrets.

Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs

Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs

Great Egrets

At Upland Wetland Pond, lots of blackbirds were there in the trees.  Red-winged Blackbirds, Rusty Blackbirds, Grackles, Brown-headed Blackbirds and Starlings.

The Great Egret is still hanging around.

Great Egret

American Coot

Great Blue Heron

Green winged Teals

Green Heron

Lesser Yellowlegs

Many Turkey Vultures were migrating through the first week of October.