Winter Birding in December 2025

 December 14, 2025

I have been out birding.  I'm seeing all the regular birds the last few weeks.  Winter is here as we have a lot of snow now, ponds are frozen over and the Thames River is starting to freeze in some sections.  The ducks I've seen lately are Mallards, Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, Buffleheads and American Black Ducks.

Red-tailed Hawk

American Robins finding a little opening in the frozen pond for a drink.

Hooded Merganser

Bald Eagle

Hundreds of Mallards and Canada Geese in the parks.  Someone was feeding them corn.

Common Merganser

This was this morning, December 14, really cold, feeling like -22c and heavy snow squalls.  These poor Robins.

Mid-November Birding 2025

I have seen a few new winter ducks lately.  Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Bufflehead, and Common Goldeneye.  Not in big numbers though.  The London area has had some heavy snowfalls...heavy, wet snow lately.

Hooded Merganser

Bald Eagle

Hooded Merganser

Buffleheads

Beautiful Colours in October

Colours in Hyde Park

Cedar Waxwings taken at the Coves

Cedar Waxwings

These photos were taken this morning (Oct 22) - overcast and light rain.

American Goldfinches

Bald Eagle

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. 

Very Cold Days in January 2025

 January 30, 2025

All the ponds in the area are frozen right now.  The only open water is the Thames River.  I was out birding in temperatures that feel like -28c.  We had more snow too.   Here are some birds I saw the last few weeks.

Redhead

American Robin

Common Mergansers (females)

Bufflehead

Green-winged Teal

Red tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle (immature)

Bald Eagle

Common Goldeneyes

Great Blue Heron