Winter Birding - February 2025

 February 10-15, 2025, Greenway Park and Springbank Park

I was only out for two days this week as we had some snowy days.  

I went to the parks and walked along Thames River to see what I can find.  I really enjoy looking at the ducks.  Common Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Mallards and Canada Geese.

Common Goldeneye

The Northern Pintails have been around for a few days.  I managed to find them.  Two males and one female.  They are not common here.

The male Ring-necked Duck is still around

 

On this day, I saw 9 Great Blue Herons in the trees.

Again, the Bald Eagles were flying around and resting in trees ....a joy to watch..

I saw some Hooded Mergansers.  I always just see a few at a time.  They are never here in big numbers.

The Red-breasted Merganser is more of a rare find here.  This female below was busy diving.

Looking for Rare and Uncommon birds around Thames River

This past week I have been birding at Greenway Park and Springbank Park.  There has been some rare and uncommon birds around the area. Some of the birds I have been trying to get are Snow Goose, Red-breasted Merganser, Redhead, Ruddy Duck, Pied-bill Grebe, Horned Grebe, Ring-necked Duck, Green-winged Teal and Canvasback.  

January, I got the Redhead and Green-winged Teals.

I was able to get the Ring-necked Duck which have been round for a few weeks..

This is all I got for the Ruddy Duck. It was sleeping, floating around in the water.  

Ruddy Duck

Some Great-Blue Herons.  I saw up to 9 together in -16c degree weather and snowing.

Great Blue Heron

Red-breasted Merganser...one male and female. 

Red-breasted Merganser (male)

Red-breasted Merganser (female)

The Snow Goose has been hanging out with the Canada Geese this past few weeks.

Snow Goose

I have been seeing a few Bald Eagles in the park...seen up to 9 in the trees...matures and juveniles. I remember birding in 1970s and1980s. I never saw a Bald Eagle.  They were declining from years before and in the 1970s DDT was a problem as the Bald Eagle declined more.  It was a real worry... I can remember at that time. Today, about 50 years later, I am really enjoying watching these beautiful  birds of prey along the Thames River...I never thought I would see this in my lifetime.