The Past Few Days

11 May 2020
Our Backyard

     One might be forgiven for going off the deep end when you see what we awoke to.

     Snow on 11 May is a cruel joke to say the least. This was not just a light dusting, mark you, it was a serious amount of snow. Cold, wet, white, unkind snow.  One does not expect to see the oranges set out for Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) have a topping of white.
     American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) are with us all year, and seemed unfazed by the strange weather.

     There are some who might be inclined to say it looks pretty. Count me not among them! It is very pretty in January, delightful even; in May it is an abomination.

     Perhaps these House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) found a ready supply of food especially welcome this morning.

     The first Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus), a male, to visit our yard this spring, must have been equally dismayed at the unreasonableness of it all.

     At least breakfast was laid on for him.
     This was certainly not a morning for coffee on the deck for his human benefactors.

13 May 2020
Killbear Storm Water Management Area

     There are several storm water management ponds in the area, all now grandly named, and there are three that I check regularly. It is quite amazing how these miniscule artificial wetlands become magnets for birds and I have seen a wide range of species on and about them. I shudder to think about the quality of the water but dabbling ducks feed on a regular basis and on all three ponds Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) have raised young this year.
     It was not a bird, however, that attracted my attention this time; it was a flower. There were two tiny stands of Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), a vivid gash of colour against the sombre bank. The one I could get to was a single plant, and the other across the pond seemed barely more.

     How wonderful to see nature reclaim these spaces. I am not sure how this plant is propagated, whether the seeds are wind borne, or carried in on the feathers or feet of a bird, or in the fur of a mammal, but however it is accomplished the result is exhilarating. I was elated to discover this floral gem. 

13 May 2020
Benjamin Park Trail, Waterloo, ON

     It was still cool for the time of year, but bright and sunny, and Miriam and I decided to go for a walk.
     Ruby-crowned Kinglets (Regulus calendula) were hopping around in their trademark frantic way, gleaning insects from branches and leaves.

     As you may see in the picture below many of the trees have still not leafed out and there is more than a vestige of winter in the landscape.

     I was keen to take pictures of the carpet of Trilliums (Trillium grandiflorum) for Marit, but the carpet is more like a series of throw rugs, and some of the flowers are still not open.

     The open blooms are gorgeous, however, and one of the signature pleasures of Ontario woodlands.

     May-apple (Podophylum peltatum) is thrusting through the soil all over the place.

     There were few birds, but we did see both Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) and Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). The Swainson's Thrush was deep in the undergrowth and impossible to photograph, but the Hermit Thrush was a little more visible.

      In the picture below you can see the diagnostic rufous tail which the bird raises every time it alights.

     A lone female Mallard seemed content to poke around in the creek, no doubt finding food aplenty.

14 May 2020
Our Backyard

     This morning was quite remarkable as there was a flurry of birds in constant motion, and it has continued unabated all day so far.
     The account you are about to read involves the scene before 08h:00.
     Apart from the birds a large Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) sat contentedly on the patio. Perhaps it had been in the backyard all night.

     It goes without saying that Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) were in attendance too, devising new ways to drive me crazy no doubt!

     Three Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula), two males and a female, visited the oranges set out for them.

     Common Grackles (Quisculus quiscula) strutted and postured, ever handsome and confident, swaggering ostentatiously and putting rout to any squirrel that approached a little too close.

     A tiny Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) was content to watch the goings on below, descending once in a while to snatch a seed that had been knocked out of the feeders by others.

     Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) are always among the first birds to arrive, sometimes even just before daylight, and this morning was no exception.

     A pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks made sure that they got their share of seed before moving on.

     Two or three American Robins (Turdus migratorius) visit our yard every day, taking advantage of invertebrate prey as well as the ready supply of sunflower hearts knocked to the ground by messy goldfinches.

     Curiously, we have been receiving regular visits from three House Finches, two males and a female. They often arrive together and there seems to be no animosity between the two males. When they have fed they leave together too.

     Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) generally fly in directly, feed, and leave. Even the grackles don't mess with a Blue Jay!

     White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) are still hanging in, fattening up on the way to their northern breeding grounds.

     White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) on the other hand breeds locally, and perhaps the birds in our backyard have already gone as far as they are  about to go.

     American Goldfinch is the undisputed champion of our backyard birds. It visits in large numbers, and it is rare to look outside and not see several of them at the feeders and dotted throughout the trees. They are enchanting little birds and we delight in seeing them ever day.

     When you really stop to think about it, being kept close to home due to Covid-19 is not really so bad after all.

Bird species seen before 08h:00 - Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak.