Sunday, September 17, 2017

Tuesday Rambles with David - Dundas and Burlington

12 September 2017

     There were just four of us for our regular Tuesday ramble. Mary was away in Newfoundland, Carol is working this month and Jim and Francine had other plans - so Franc, Judy, Miriam and I decided on a day out in the Hamilton/Burlington area. And a tremendous day it turned out to be.
     Since it was not out of our way we made a brief stop at Hespeler Mill Pond. Here we saw our first Green-winged Teal ( Anas crecca) of the season, albeit only two females.


     There was a nice mix of shorebirds present, but nothing unusual. Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) was probably the most common sandpiper, feeding vigorously on the rich choice of food in this area.


     Our next stop was at the DesJardins Canal in Dundas where there is always a good chance to see Black-crowned Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) in September.


     We were not disappointed. Several adults and juveniles were present, easily seen and perfectly positioned for photography.





     Many Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) were fishing very successfully, a testament to the rich feeding ground the canal has become. Individuals were seen in every gradation of plumage imaginable.


     Numerous Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) also took advantage of the bounty and we watched this individual fly over, brake suddenly, turn and dive into the water. The sequence of its successful dive is captured below.








     The loud rattle of Belted Kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon) was frequently heard. Sometimes they perched quietly.....


     But they too dined on fish du jour.



     It was quite a mouthful and the fish was smacked around for a while on the branch before this female attempted to swallow it.
     There was a dead Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) in the water and we could not figure out how it could have died in this position. It was only when Franc examined his photographs that it became apparent that the unfortunate bird had become entangled in fishing line. It must have been a very slow and agonizing death.


       I am sure that there are responsible fishers but one would think that all the publicity in recent years would prevent this kind of thing from happening. It is not only errant line that is an issue, but lead sinkers are still a problem, causing lead poisoning in dabbling ducks, geese and swans when ingested. In areas where we know people fish regularly garbage is always a problem too. There seems to be no end to the junk left behind, including styrofoam containers for worms, which blow into the water and all over the landscape. The world will end before this stuff degrades.
     One can only hope that people who fish and have a conscience will try to impress on others that they should pursue their pastime in a fashion that takes into account their duty as citizens. Fishing line is lethal to wildlife and should NEVER be left behind. Perhaps organizations like the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters can impress the concept of social responsibility on their members.
     A couple of Great Egrets (Ardea alba) worked the canal and this individual presented an image of grace and symmetry as it flew by.


     This Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) is either a juvenile male, or an adult male transitioning from eclipse plumage back into definitive plumage.



     Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) are frequently encoutered at DesJardins from late fall through winter, but it was unusual to see this subadult in September.



     Our next stop was at LaSalle Park and Marina in Burlington, usually a veritable hot spot for birds, but a little subdued today. It was great to see a family of Mute Swans (Cygnus olor), however.



     Eastern Chipmunks (Tamias striatus) are very accustomed to humans bearing food and it was rare that we did not have two or three of these delightful little creatures around our feet.



     Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is the most abundant passerine along the woodland trail at any time of year. The chestnut flanks of this individual contrast wonderfully with the dead leaf to which it is clinging.



     A spider hanging on a thread of silk is not to missed.




     Our final destination was Paletta Park in Burlington, where we were rewarded with close encounters with migrant wood warblers and other species. It was a fascinating and very agreeable end to our day.
     A Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) feeding on Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is not a bad way to start a walk.



     American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) was the warbler most commonly seen; all were females.




     Several Magnolia Warblers (Setophaga magnolia) were also seen as they flitted around incessantly, gleaning every caterpillar and bug that crossed their path.



     As far as I recall this was the only Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) that I saw in the mixed foraging flock.


     Blue-grey Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) is a tiny, nervous little bird, and it was Miriam's sharp eyes that first detected it.



     In this quite remarkable photograph Franc captures the bird zooming after an insect.



     We saw both Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) and (even better) Grey-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus), with the Grey-cheeked remaining immobile for a few minutes permitting us to get a series of decent pictures.






     Vireos were travelling with the warblers and this Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) was vying for its share of the available food.




     Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) was the most common woodpecker seen.



     A Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) was curiously sticking close to a group of Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) resting on the shore. At times it was right in the centre of them; fortunately it came out for this photograph.



     Just before leaving we observed our last warbler of the day, a Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia), behaving very much like a nuthatch.



     This had been a stellar day of birding, with opportunities to study many species at close range, to note the contrasts in different phases of plumage, to focus on foraging techniques, to examine the relationship between vegetation and birds - and simply to enjoy a wide range of different species.
     It goes without saying that it is always a joy to have Miriam at my side and to benefit from her acute hearing and to see birds that she focuses on more quickly than most; to be with Judy who delights in everything avian and is especially enraptured by warblers; and to have the irrepressible Franc, bon vivant, master photographer and plain good guy to make every day special.

All species at Hespeler Mill Pond:  Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Wood Duck, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Blue Jay.  Total: 13

All species at DesJardins Canal: Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Ring-billed Gull, Belted Kingfisher, American Crow, American Goldfinch.  Total: 14

All species at LaSalle Park: Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Trumpeter Swan, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Accipiter sp., Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Cape May Warbler, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, House Sparrow Total:  18

All species at Paletta Park: Canada Goose, Mallard, Spotted Sandpiper, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-capped Chickadee, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Grey Catbird, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch. Total: 20
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

21 comments:

  1. The fourth photo down really looks like this bird was posing professionally for your shot - a pose you might see on a fashion magazine cover. ;-) You sure captured some lovely shots today - the lighting is perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, David

    Lots of beautiful shows you.
    Beautiful species of birds and ducks.

    Groettie from Patricia.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Another great selection David. There's a female American Redstart causing a big stir in the UK at the moment.........

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful series of photos and great to catch the birds fishing and eating. Fishing lines as you say are lethal, poor bird must have had a very slow death. I love the Chipmunk, very cute. Hope you have a good week Diane

    ReplyDelete
  5. What surprised me that you are kidding so many kinds of lenses.
    Beautiful birds are sitting there.
    You also photographed them very nicely David.
    Greetings Tinie

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gee, what a post!
    Your BC night herons is identical to ours, a lovely species to photograph!
    Congrats to Franc for his pics, I love the Kingfisher... Could you me a few specimens??!!!
    Abrazos and hugs to share with Miriam :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your absentees certainly missed an outstanding 'Ramble with David' David! What a wonderful selection of birds, so beautifully illustrated by Franc's excellent work. I'm particualrly impressed by him capturing that Blue-grey Gnatcatcher. The Ring-billed Gull sequence is pretty special too!

    So sorry to hear about the heron and the garbage left by fishermen. In some areas they're just as bad over here. I remember seeing a pheasant up in a tree at a fishing pond that was surrounded by their junk. It had managed to put its bill though a large bit of plastic so that it could neither open its bill or see where it was going. Sadly it was high up in a spindly tree so there was no chance of helping it. I believe that lead shot for weights is now illegal over here. Fishing line is still a problem, but it's the anglers' food and drink containers that seem to be the worst items.

    With love to you both - - - Richard

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Richard: lead sinkers are banned in many jurisdictions here, but it is not universal, so there are always some people using them.

      Delete
  8. It really was a stellar day! I'm sure your other friends are sorry they missed this one! Especially love the hummer and the action shots of the gulls. And the Kingfisher (quite envious)....i'm so terribly sorry about the heron... people.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Very nice post - although the fishing line incident is both annoying and rather predictable. The amount of fishing line I collect and remove from rivers is not good.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

    ReplyDelete
  10. Well done to Miram for helping spot soo many different birds!!! Beautifully photographed too.
    The carelessnes of some anglers has dire consequences for wildlife, so sad.
    Loved to see the cute little chipmunk along with all of it's feathered friends!
    Thank you for sharing these wonderful images and have a fantastic week :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. The night heron are stupendous and the kingfishers are caught my mind, thanks David.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The bird entangled in fishing line, and thinking of careless people in general, almost depressed me, but then there were all those beautiful birds and the cute chipmunk. We don't have them, chipmunks, and I think gardeners can be happy about it.
    Wonderful photos, as always.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Splendid pictures David ! All these birds are superb.
    In France, fishermen also harm birds. I am very sad and I'm angry with them !
    Bye David

    ReplyDelete
  14. A stellar day indeed and a splendid education for me to see all these amazing birds. Your photos are exemplary David. Thank you so much for sharing them. Fishing line and lead sinkers, how awful! I hope these thoughtless people will learn one day.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi David,
    marvelous photos of all these beautiful birds in their natural background. So lovely !
    Best regards, Synnöve

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi David, what a marvelous day you had, some really wonderful images Franc, the Night Heron is a stunner and the Kingfisher likewise. Super post, wish I had been with you. All the best to you both, John

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow !!!!! What a great beautiful pictures and varia to birds.
    I see her passing the most beautiful birds and I really became a little bit jealous of it! Beautiful woodpecker, great pictures of the Kwak and the young quack !! In addition, a fishy beautiful seagull and also the kingfisher is fantastic. The beautiful big Egret and the Hooded Mergansers make me start coloring greener !!! By seeing all those little little birds I became really dark green !!!
    Fantastic post and so beautiful. My compliments for these beautiful images.
    Dear greetings, Helma

    PS Your reaction to the ice birds on my blog was real genius :-))))))))

    ReplyDelete

  18. It is seen that it was a great day of observation, with numerous species seen and photographed. A pity about the heron dead by a line of fishing, where I live is not uncommon to see birds injured for that reason, it is also common to see garbage where fishermen concur, with the aggravating fact that there is no campaign to protect birds and almost none at present on waste, I estimate that the problem is greater here, but we must fight to reverse it.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow, amazing day of birding. Awesome variety and great photos. I get upset to see the fishing line left behind. Happy birding, great post. Happy Friday, have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hola David, enhorabuena por tan maravillosa entrada, no falta de nada. Me encanta ver como las personas y sobremanera los niños disfrutan de la naturaleza, las fotos son espectaculares. Me encantan las Salamandras rabilargas y es una suerte encontrar tres, yo lo mas que vi fue dos en época de celo. Un abrazo. Feliz otoño.

    ReplyDelete

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that the land on which we are situated are the lands traditionally used by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral People. We also acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws, and philosophies of the Indigenous Peoples with whom we share this land today. We are all treaty people with a responsibility to honour all our relations.

Followers