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

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.

The Last Week of August 2023

Last week, I went to a couple of ponds. The whole time I was at Uplands Wetland, this Great Egret was feeding.  I was on the bridge so close to it.  It just ignored me and keep feeding.

I also saw 3 Great Blue Herons, Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawk, Song Sparrows, House Finches, Northern Flicker, American Robin, and Mourning Doves.  

Double-crested Cormorant

Midland Painted Turtles

I went to the airport hoping to find the Northern Mockingbird.  I could not find it.  The Eastern Meadowlarks were gone too.  There was an Osprey, Ring-billed Gulls, lots of Mourning Doves on the wires, and the American Kestrel (a blurry photo below).

American Kestrel

At another pond east of Fanshawe Rd, there were flocks of Cedar Waxwings.  

Cedar Waxwings

First Week of November 2022

I was out birding for a couple of days this past week.  The weather has been unseasonably warm with some fog several mornings. Greenway Park and Westminster Ponds were the places I visited.  I have been enjoying finding sparrows and finches - Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, House Finches, American Goldfinches and Purple Finches.  Also Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Hairy Woodpeckers.   There has been a steady migration of American Robins through the week.

Great Blue Heron

Wood Ducks

Lots of Cedar Waxwings

Cedar Waxwings

Common Merganser - female

Double-crested Cormorant

Green-winged Teal

American Black Duck

White-breasted Nuthatch

Great Blue Heron

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Mourning Dove

Looking at the weather for next week, looks like another pleasant week for birding!

Birding at Area Ponds

Last week, I went to some local areas. At Uplands Wetland, there were lots of birds moving this morning under overcast skies.  Along with the Canada Geese and Mallards, there were 3 Green-winged Teals.  Lots of American Robins, American Goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, a couple of Red-tailed Hawks, Red-winged Blackbirds, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Black-capped Chickadees.  

Red-tailed Hawk

This Cooper's Hawk stopped by for a few seconds.  I managed to get a couple of photos before it took off.  

Cooper's Hawk

Green-winged Teal
 with a female Mallard to the right.

At Canterbury Park (November 4), a large migration of American Crows were flying over this morning.  I counted 360 Crows streaming westward.  They were quite high.  I stopped counting to continue birding as they were still flying overhead.  There were lots of Starlings in the trees mixed with American Robins and Blue Jays.  I also saw a flyover Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Canada Geese, Mallards, American Goldfinches and a American Tree Sparrow.

On November 6, I went to the Coves.  It was a cool start -2c but warmed up nicely to 9c.  Again, this morning. American Crows were streaming West which I counted up to 106.  As I was birding, the Crows were flying overhead in smaller groups.  I saw my first of the season 3 Hooded Mergansers which was nice. 

A large flock of Cedar Waxwings (35) were in the trees flying down to bushes to eat berries.     

The Hooded Mergansers (not a good photo) were at the opposite side under over-hanging branches. 

Mallards