A Return Visit

03 September 2019

     I had enjoyed such a great day with Kayla that I decided that we would return to the Hamilton/Burlington area for our Tuesday walk. Pleasingly, everyone was able to attend so for the first time in a while the eight of us (Franc, Carol, Jim, Francine, Judy, Mary, Miriam and I) were together.

     We began our day at the DesJardins Canal where a very obliging juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) was perched quite close to our parked cars and showed no sign of timidity resulting from our presence.

     A female Mallard (Anas platyrynchos) was equally unconcerned.

     We walked down to the end of the road to a point where we had seen an adult Black-crowned Night Heron as we arrived and it was still in the same position, seemingly on its favourite perch, for it was there for Kayla and me two days earlier.

     There was a juvenile on the shore below the adult, but for the most part it was concealed in the vegetation, making for this interesting shot.

     Several Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) with stoic outlook and prehistoric mien were loafing on the rocks.

     In  total contrast to the bulk of the night herons and the cormorants was this tiny Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea), present still, but soon to be but a fond memory until it returns again next spring.

     At the DesJardins Canal there are several floating islands which are towed out from the bank in the spring. If my memory is not deceiving me the initial objective was to provide a nesting substrate for terns, but to the best of my knowledge no terns were ever attracted to these small areas. 

     They have become vegetated and are well used by other species so all is not lost.

     A male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) was regaining its dazzling attire after undergoing eclipse moult.

     In no time at all this handsome fellow will make your jaw drop!

     Mallards too have almost completed their annual moult and this male is evolving into its stunning "regular" plumage.

     Adjacent to the canal is the Urquart Butterfly Garden, fittingly named for Fred Urquart, the legendary Canadian entomologist who made the Monarch (Danaus plexippus) his life's work (some might say obsession), and was responsible for discovering that Monarchs migrate to Mexico, (an astonishing distance for a butterfly), to spend the winter there.

     Fred would have been pleased to see this beauty.

     And I suspect that an American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) would have pleased him no less.

     The elder trees have produced a bumper crop of berries and I think that several of us had memories of elderberry pies, hot and delicious, and consumed in childhood without regard for calories!

     A Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) trilled joyfully to us the whole time but never deigned to show himself. House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) were not so reticent.

      We moved on to Grindstone Creek where a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) stalked its prey with infinite patience. Beware a careless frog that ventured too close!

    
     We ran into Joel Marshall here, ever vigilant, camera at the ready for the that perfect shot. Western Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) were plying their trade with dazzling precision and Joel has permitted me to use a couple of his pictures.

     Leading right off from Grindstone Creek is the Hendrie Valley Sanctuary and even though we have been in the area on several occasions we have never ventured into the sanctuary.

     Today was the day to rectify that omission and we set off in good spirits, happy to be exploring new ground.
      Our feet were barely ten metres along the path when a little posse of Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) decided to accompany us, no doubt well familiar with humans who often provide sunflower seed and other treats. Alas we had no provisions for the birds, but they cheerily kept us company, even landing confidingly on our hands, food or not.

     The chickadees will remain with us all winter and share the cold temperatures, snow and icy winds, but the Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) below will not tarry much longer and will soon be vacating southern Ontario.

      Downy Woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens) will stay here too and will often be found in mixed flocks with Black-capped Chickadees and other hardy species.

     While stretching out a hand for the friendly chickadees Jim had the thrill of a Downy Woodpecker landing on his outstretched palm, an event not previously experienced and quite unprecedented. It appears that the woodpeckers have emulated the behaviour of the chickadees. Not to be outdone I tried it myself and was instantly successful in attracting a Downy Woodpecker onto my hand.

     It is clear that we will have to return in the winter with lots of sunflower seeds to repay these birds for their trust in us.
     American Robins (Turdus migratorius) and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) were feeding on berries, primarily from invasive Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica).

    A Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) is a great favourite of Francine's, but this migrant may be the last one she sees until next spring.

     Many juvenile Wood Ducks were observed and we were delighted to have evidence of this year's breeding success. 

    The green vegetation is known as Duckweed (Genus: Lemna) and as the name implies it is eagerly sought after by waterfowl, for whom it represents high protein nourishment.
     Mallards were no less anxious to enjoy the feast.

     Perhaps the picture above gives a whole new interpretation of the expression "having all your ducks in a row!"
     Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) have been noticeably absent for a few weeks, presumably related to moult, but are now showing up again, often in large numbers. This is a gregarious species and flocks may include many thousands of individuals all roosting together in marshes and forests.

     This Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is probably a resident bird, although there is some migration in this species.

     A couple of Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) had found their way into the Hendrie Valley Sanctuary.

     We saw several Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), a resident species and wondered whether this will be the next bird to feed from the hand. Perhaps this female will remember us!

     Just before returning to the starting point of our walk three Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) were foraging in shallow standing water.

     As we made our way to the vehicles we spotted this juvenile Green Heron (Butorides virescens) against a berm, perfectly positioned for a picture.

     We checked at Woodland Cemetery for the Eastern Screech Owls (Megascops asio) which are known to be present in the winter, but there was no sign of them in early September.
     Moving over to LaSalle Park and Marina, we found not a whole lot of activity, but it was a good place to sit by the water and have lunch, with a few amenable Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) to keep us company.

     A Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) scampered up and down, bobbing all the time in the manner of a teeter-totter, finally flying away on stiff, rapidly flapping wings.

     At Paletta Park there was a nice movement of migratory warblers, but flitting around in dense foliage, impossible to photograph.
     Miriam did, however, capture these images of an active nest of White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis).

     Next Tuesday will be a walk for at most three of us (Franc and Carol, Jim and Francine, and Miriam all being away) so weather permitting perhaps Judy, Mary and I will have an outing somewhere. With each passing week we will see more birds heading south, so we have to maximize our chances while we may.