Susan's Birding and Nature Blog: Swainson's Thrush

Monday, 16 October 2023

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.

Sunday, 24 May 2020

Last Week's Birds and Wildlife

May 18, 2020

I decided to go to The Coves this morning as the rain stopped for awhile. But half way through my walk, it started to rain. It was a steady rain for the rest of my walk. I saw a few warblers - Yellow Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and a female Black-throated Blue Warbler as they were down low in the bushes. I took a lot of photos of the Black-throated Blue Warbler. Only a couple turned out - blurry ones.

Black-throated Blue Warbler (female)

I was taking a photo of the Spotted Sandpiper when a Cardinal came in view.

May 19, 2020

Tuesday morning I went to Hyde Park to see what was around. It was 14c and there was a gusty E wind. I heard a Willow Flycatcher and noticed it below in the bushes and then it came out on an open branch. Blurry photo.

Willow Flycatcher

Song Sparrow

A Common Yellowthroat was nice to see. The only other warbler I saw that day were Yellow Warblers.

Common Yellowthroat

May 20, 2020

I went to Westminster Ponds on this sunny morning, I saw lots of Swainson's Thrushes around...also a Palm Warbler, Magnolia Warbler and many Yellow Warblers.

Swainson's Thrush

Lots of Barn and Tree Swallows.

Barn Swallow

Tree Swallow

Palm Warbler

After Westminster, I stopped at Civic Gardens, Springbank Park. Again, lots of Swainson's Thrushes. There were Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Yellow Warblers, Catbirds and saw a beautiful Scarlet Tanager.

Swainson's Thrush

FOY Scarlet Tanager

May 21, 2020

Gibbons Park - I was walking along a slough area and saw these fish swimming around in the shallow water. They were huge at least 2ft long!

Carp

I then saw a very large Snapping Turtle..it had to be about 18 in long.

Snapping Turtle

Then I saw another one, walking along the bottom of the pond in the shallow part. It was just as big!

May 22, 2020

Kilally Meadows. Many nice birds this morning....Yellow Warblers, American Redstarts, Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, American Goldfinches, Gray Catbirds, Song and Field Sparrows. The ospreys have a nest on top of the light standard at the baseball field next to the parking lot.

Osprey

Gray Catbird

May 23, 2020

This day in The Coves the first warbler I saw was a Wilson's Warbler. I have not seen one for awhile. It's very challenging taking photos of warblers. Lots of Gray Catbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, Downy Woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens, Yellow Warblers, Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Song Sparrows, a Turkey Vulture to name a few.