Susan's Birding and Nature Blog

Sunday, 7 November 2021

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


Wednesday, 27 October 2021

Some Little Birding mid-October

I went to Westminster Ponds this morning to see what was around.  I didn't see many birds.  I have not seen any northern ducks yet.  It's a huge pond and there was only three Canada Geese and 6 Mallards, a Great Blue Heron and a Kingfisher.  There were small flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds and American Goldfinches around.  We've had so much rain and a lot of overcast skies these past weeks.  So I don't have much to report these days.

The tree colours were beautiful.  Here are some photos below.  








With the overcast weather my bird photos are not good.  I can't seem to get it right.  

Sunday, 17 October 2021

Fall Birding

Last week I went to the Hyde Park area.  It was a warm and humid week.  We had rain and most days were overcast.  I found the mosquitoes were really bad and were biting.  I didn't have much problems with mosqutioes all summer until last week.  I think because everything is wet and it was humid.

Some photos I took were distant shots so not very clear.  

Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron

Red-winged Blackbird

Birds I saw were Canada Geese, Mallards, Great Blue Herons, Turkey Vultures, Cooper's Hawk, Kestrel, Killeers, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinal, Belted Kingfisher, American Robins, Catbird, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, American Goldfinches, White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Song Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, House Finches, lots of Mourning Doves and Starlings.

Killdeers on the rocks

American Robin

Starlings

Poor distant photos. 

American Kestrel

Cooper's Hawk