Findings in April 2025

I have been birding around the Coves, Hyde Park and Westminster Ponds lately.  I'm seeing a nice variety of birds as birds are returning.  I have seen Turkey Vultures and Eastern Phoebes recently.  We had one day last week that was warm and sunny but other days have been cooler with rain and even freezing rain/sleet.  Here are some of the birds I saw.  

Wood Duck

Northern Flicker

Ring-necked Duck

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

American Robin

Great Blue Heron

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe

Turkey Vulture

American Kestrel

Killdeer

Pied-billed Grebe

American Coot

This Red-tailed Hawk came flying in and landed on a light standard looking around.  Then it took off right over me to the ground in a field.  I was taking photos of it when it took off.  It is rare for me to get flight photos.

June Birding - Very Warm and Dry Conditions

Continuing from mid-May and into June, we've had no rain.  It is getting so dry that some small ponds I go to are dried up.  It's not good hearing about the wildfires across north Canada.

For the start of June, I have been out birding at a few spots.  Out in open fields, I love hearing the Eastern Meadowlark.  Also seeing Song Sparrows, Killdeers, Mourning Doves, Red-tailed Hawks, Ospreys, American Robins, American Goldfinches, Savannah Sparrows and Grasshopper Sparrow.

Grasshopper Sparrows are very tiny sparrows....one would see them out in fields. grasslands and prairies.  They have been in steep decline in some areas due to habitat loss.

Grasshopper Sparrow

Northern Mockingbird

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Song Sparrow

Mallard family

Female Wood Duck and ducklings

In the butterfly category, I saw my FOY Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Eastern Giant Swallowtail.  The last few days while birding, I have not seen any butterflies (not even Cabbage Whites) anywhere.  Also, have not seen any dragonflies.  I'm getting concerned about this.  Maybe it's still too early, I don't know.   

It is very, very dry...we need rain!

Visiting Local Parks

February 1, 2022 - Gibbons Park - A sunny day today feeling like -9C.  It sure is nice to see Robins in February.  I never get tired of them.  There was a flock of 16 along the river.   I also saw Downy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadees, Mourning Doves, Bald Eagle and lots of Canada Geese and Mallards.  

Hooded Merganser (female)

Mallards

I checked out the Great Horned Owl in her nest.

February  2, 2022 - Thames River - east end of Springbank Park - Today, it started with light rain.  I walked east to the Guy Lombardo Bridge to see what was around.  There were some Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, Mallards and Canada Geese. Most of my photos were blurry.  After I finished my walk, it started to snow.

Common Goldeneyes

February 5, 2022 - Springbank Park - There was a Wood Duck reported at the park so I went to see if I can find it.  I finally did!

I came across a fir tree loaded with Mourning Doves trying to keep warm.  There were at least 20 or more in there.  It was -18c, freezing cold.

I saw some Robins, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, Downy Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadees, Red-bellied Woodpeckers,  In the river, Canada Geese, Mallards, Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, and Black Ducks.

Findings End of May 2021

I got a Northern Mockingbird last year for the first time.  It was nice to see it again.  It's so lovely listening to the vocals.  They are excellent mimics.

Northern Mockingbird

Chipping Sparrow

The Eastern Meadowlark is another bird I love to hear.

Eastern Meadowlark

This bird...the Grasshopper Sparrow is a new lifer for me.

Grasshopper Sparrow

Here are some of the other birds I saw through the week.

Red-tailed Hawk

Song Sparrow

Right now, there are lots of ducklings around.  For this Mallard, I counted 10 babies.

Mallard

For the Wood Duck, I counted 9 babies.  The female tends to the young.

Wood Duck

Recent Outings

 April 21, 2021

I have been out birding this past weekend and this week.  The weather was nice but it turned cold...had snow on the ground this morning.  It snowed off and on today.  So far, I've had no luck finding bird migrants.

Here is a short post showing the variety of birds I saw in the woods and at ponds.

Blue Jay

Turkey Vultures

Northern Flickers

I also saw Common Grackles, Robins, Cardinals, Goldfinches, Cedar Waxwings, Ospreys, Red-tailed Hawks, Song Sparrows, Killdeers, Canada Geese, Belted Kingfisher, Crows, Mourning Doves, and Mallards.

Ring-necked Ducks

Pied-billed Grebe

Brown-headed Cowbird

Wood Ducks (male and female)

Wood Duck

Downy Woodpecker

Red-winged Blackbird  (female)