Tuesday Rambles with David - The Linear Trail, Cambridge, ON

05 June 2018

     For the first time in a long time our entire group of eight was together and it was good to see Mary back with us.

     This is not the most productive time of the year for birding, but for the careful observer there is still a lot of high quality activity, and careful observation reveals many secrets. Eight pairs of eyes and ears makes possible what for a single observer might well go undetected.

     A breeding pair of Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) is always an exciting find and, if I am not mistaken, it was Franc's sharp eyes that first noticed the male flying to a well concealed nest.

     The pendant nest of this species is a wonder to behold. I recently saw a nest in a spruce tree, the first time I have ever seen it in a coniferous tree, but this one was in a deciduous tree as is usually the case.

     The female was incubating inside the nest and the male was feeding her.

     He was an attentive partner and delivered food consistently while we watched.

     If we get back down to the Linear Trail in the next couple of weeks I am sure we will see both parents feeding their hungry chicks.
     Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), formerly rare in Waterloo Region, is becoming more and more common as it is able to tolerate our recent milder winters. This individual is perhaps about to deliver food to its young.

     The Grand and Speed Rivers meet at the trail and considerable activity is featured along this riparian zone. Sand Martins, aka Bank Swallows (Riparia riparia) were actively hawking for insects above the river.

     And this American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) scanned the water for anything that looked good enough to eat.

     I have several times seen Common Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) perched at the water's edge ready to pounce on minnows or tadpoles and I presume that this individual was feeding in that fashion.

     Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) were also taking advantage of the insect swarms above the river to do a little flycatching of their own.

     A Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) singing from an elevated perch is a standard feature of spring in southern Ontario.

     Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) is a splendid addition to our avifauna when neotropical migrants return and this year they are either more numerous than usual or we have just been lucky locating them.

     Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is our most common picid, easily located, always entertaining, delightful in every way - kind of like seeing your favourite cousin - or Carol Gorenc; you have seen her many times before but familiarity never dims the pleasure.

     A Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a flash of colour, sometimes a crescendo of sound, a model of cheekiness and always a bird to make you thankful that it lives among us.

     Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) inhabits dense thickets and jumbled hedgerows, chortling its musical song, with the characteristic catlike mew at the end. Now that it is nesting it is somewhat more secretive, but with a little persistence can still be located.

     This young Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) was perhaps waiting for its surrogate parent to come along and feed it.

     Doves have been used since time immemorial as a symbol of peace and this Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) seemed to fit the mould. 

     I am sure it was happy to see us all reunited. 
     To my fellow ramblers, Miriam, Franc, Carol, Jim, Francine, Judy and Mary - thanks for your company. It is always a pleasure.