Tuesday Ramble with David, The Mill Race, St. Jacobs, ON

05 March 2019

     For the first time in I can't remember all eight members of our group were together for a walk along the Mill Race. It was cold, crisp, wintry and delightful, and we all knew that hot coffee at the Eco Café would be our reward at the end of the trail, before heading back in the reverse direction to our vehicles.

     Miriam, as usual, acted as photographer and took this picture of our entourage sidling ahead.

     From the moment you start out on this trail, Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) are constant companions, and it is rarely that several cheerful, vocal little sprites are not within a metre or two. It is one of the signal delights of walking this trail. Many children I am sure get their first insight into nature from such encounters.

     Francine captured this whimsical picture of a Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) looking as though it had reached the top of an obstacle after a long struggle, relief showing clearly on its face!

     The following image of a Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubsescens) is not the best picture ever of the bird, but I find the colour and arrangement of the lichens on the bark very appealing. Doubtless tasty morsels were concealed - and the woodpecker was bent on finding her share!

     White-breasted Nuthatches (Sitta carolinensis) are not as common as chickadees, but they are almost equally as bold and certainly no less delightful.

     The same might be said of their Red-breasted cousins (Sitta canadensis).

     Regular readers may remember that we found a Barred Owl (Strix varia) on this walk in December and we were thrilled to rediscover it, roosting quietly in a tree, seeming unconcerned by the gang of gobsmacked humans below it.

     A quick survey of our group confirmed that it had been a while since anyone had seen a Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) so it was with unalloyed pleasure that we came across a small party of them feeding on berry-laden bushes. It is a staggering burst of beauty to encounter these birds in the dead of winter, going about their business, having come though another cold and challenging period, to breed again and perpetuate their kind.

     If your dopamine levels have not by now become elevated better check your pulse for signs of life!

     Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) were abundant; at times we had three males in view at the same time, and many of these hormone-charged birds were singing lustily from the tops of trees.

       For the most part the females seemed to ignore them; every young human swain is familiar with that reaction! Soon that will change, however, when the urge to breed overtakes everything else.

     This male Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) seemed pretty serious about its nest cavity, no doubt hoping that an ardent female would find it the perfect home in which to raise a family.

  

     North American sparrows present a minefield of identification problems for the inexperienced birder, but all are well satisfied when they are able to appreciate the subtle beauty of American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) and identify it with confidence.

     The Conestogo River meandered by, largely frozen, but with the odd patch of open water where the currents flowed rapidly.

     Often in the winter, the river is host to Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser) but none were to be found today.

     A Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) was perched quietly in a tree alongside the path. I doubt that most people even noticed it was there.

     The picture of the Downy Woodpecker above is intended to display the backdrop of lichens. This one is to depict the beauty of the bird.

     Having had the benefit of hot coffee and a tea biscuit at the Eco Café we funneled back onto the trail and walked towards the parking lot at the other end.

     But how could we resist one last look at our friend, the Barred Owl.

     Here is a true celebrity if ever you saw one. We all had a brief encounter with greatness today!