Birding at Wetlands

Week of September 17, 2023

I have been visiting area ponds and wetlands.  I got some nice variety of birds lately.  Lots of Canada Geese, Mallards, Turkey Vultures have been going through in numbers, lots of Blue Jays, American Crow, Belted Kingfisher, Red-winged Blackbirds, American Robins, Northern Cardinals, American Goldfinches, Song Sparrows, Cedar Waxwings, Common Grackles, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpecker, Mourning Doves, and Black-capped Chickadees.

On this day, I saw a Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Killdeers, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Green-winged Teals, Northern Pintail, Rusty Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbird, Eastern Phoebe, Palm Warbler, and Yellow-rumped Warblers.  

Great Blue Heron

Green-winged Teals

Green-winged Teal

Belted Kingfisher

The Wilson's Snipe was a nice surprise.  I rarely see them.

Wilson's Snipe

Solitary Sandpiper

Rusty Blackbirds

Northern Pintail

Today, I saw a Red Admiral, a Monarch, Cabbage Whites and some Sulphurs.

I'm still seeing turtles and frogs sunning themselves.

Sandpiper Surprise

I thought I would go to Greenway Park, November 23, 2022 for a walk along Thames River.  The weather was nice 7c and sunny.  A lot of Canada Geese and Mallards around. 

A very large Canada Goose

It was nice to see some Common Mergansers and Hooded Mergansers.  

Common Merganser

Hooded Mergansers

While looking at the ducks, I scanned the other side of the river along the bank.  I noticed something small moving and realized it was a Spotted Sandpiper.  I've never seen a Spotted Sandpiper this late in the season.  It was moving around and feeding like crazy.  I tried my best to take some photos along the river bank where the Spotted Sandpiper was moving along.  

Spotted Sandpiper

Not far from the Spotted Sandpiper, I saw something else.  It was a Wilson's Snipe!  I've never seen a Wilson's Snipe this late in the season.  They both blended very well with a background of leaves, branches and rocks.  I did get some photos but not great.

Wilson's Snipe

There was also a couple of Killdeers.

Late September and Early October Birding

Uplands North Wetland

Yesterday, I walked around the wetlands to see what was around.  There was a nice movement of Turkeys Vultures flying over.  A lot of Killdeers and one Greater Yellowlegs.

Greater Yellowlegs

Small flocks of Yellow-rumped Warblers were flying around.  The photo below is the best I could get.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Way back in the swamp, I found one American Wigeon preening.

American Wigeon

I spotted this Wilson's Snipe on a small mud flat.  The sun was harsh and it was well hidden.  I took a quick photo and decided to go around the corner for a better look.  At that time, 3 people were walking by with dogs and I waited for them to go by first (water on the walkway).  The walkway is not too wide.  Then I went across the overflowed water....got my shoes a bit wet.  By the time I got around the corner I could not find it.  I spent the rest of the time trying to look for it but could not.  The photo below is the only one I got against the harsh morning sun.

Wilson's Snipe

I also saw lots of Blue Jays, Red-winged Blackbirds. Green-winged Teal, Red-tailed Hawk and American Crows.  It was a nice day, 20c and sunny.

Westminster Ponds

Last week at the Ponds...another nice day 15c, sunny.  Photos again are not good as I was taking them with the sun in front of me.  It was a nice surprise to see an American Coot.  

American Coot

American Coot

Flocks of American Goldfinches were feeding on Goldenrod seeds.

American Goldfinches

Eastern Phoebe

I also saw this Phoebe, lots of Blue Jays, Mallards, Canada Geese, Great Blue Heron, Downy Woodpecker, American Robins, Song Sparrows and Mourning Doves.

Oak Hammock Marsh

September 11, 2017 - Winnipeg, Manitoba

The Winnipeg area was in a heat wave - temps above 30, sunny. 


Oak Hammock Marsh Wildlife Management Area north of Winnipeg, Manitoba joint project of Ducks Unlimited Canada and Government of Manitoba.

I saw 2 Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Gray Catbird, Greater Yellowlegs, Wilson's Snipe, Red-winged Blackbird, Canada Geese, Bank Swallows, Crows, Coots and Mallard.  

Gray Catbird

Restored wetland of 3600 hectares.  The marsh supports as many as 299 species of birds, hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects.

The pictures I took from above are from the rooftop of the building observation deck.

American Coot

Lots of Canada Geese

I took a walk around the marsh.  There are many walking trails.

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk?

Prairie Grasses

Richardson's Ground Squirrel

Richardson's Ground Squirrel

Greater Yellowlegs

Clouded Sulphur

Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre

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Wilson's Snipe

Greater Yellowlegs

Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre is a very nice looking building. Below are stain glass windows overlooking the marsh.  There are exhibits, displays, a scenic cafe, a gift shop, theatres, and meeting rooms.