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. 

Brief Walk in Hyde Park

Hyde Park Drainage Pond, London, Ontario

I stopped in Hyde Park to see what I can find briefly.  There were some Ruddy Ducks resting, Canada Geese, Mallards, Ring-billed Gull, Great Blue Heron, and heard a Cardinal.  It was 11c, sunny and cool but pleasant.

Mallards

 Still the odd butterfly around.

Sulphur

Strathroy Sewage Lagoons

I went to Strathroy Sewage Lagoons this afternoon to see what was around.  It was 16c and overcast.  There were some nice flowering shrubs along the ponds.  Lots of Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows flying over the ponds for bugs.  I saw some Canada Geese, Ruddy Ducks, Killdeers flying around and two Spotted Sandpipers along the edge. There were 6 Turkey Vultures circling around above.  
I saw some damselflies.  They were low in the long grass.  Could not get any pictures - saw blue and red ones. 

Strathroy Lagoons

Red-winged Blackbird - female

Red-winged Blackbird

Tree Swallow

Tree Swallow

Spotted Sandpiper

Yellow Warbler

Ruddy Ducks

I also went to the Strathroy Wetlands Marsh Walk near Strathroy Conservation Area - The Sydenham River flows from east to west through Strathroy and forms part of a Provincially Significant Wetland.
Here are some photos....a small part of the wetland.

Diving Ducks

Hyde Park Drainage Pond, Hyde Park Rd, London, Ontario

It is a cool morning, 4c, sunny, winds light-westerly...had our first heavy frost this morning. 
There was a few Canada Geese, Mallards and a couple of  Bufflehead.  They were resting and diving for food.  They are cute little ducks.  I also saw Ring-billed Gulls and Blue Jays.

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

The ducks were at the other side of the pond...so quite far away.  The duck below was separate from the Buffleheads, Ruddy Duck.

Ruddy Duck

A couple of White-tailed Deer wandering across the field.