Sunday, January 30, 2022

Outing to The Mill Race Trail, St. Jacobs, ON

     As part of the ongoing series of outings I have been leading for Waterloo Region Nature we made a midweek visit to the Mill Race Trail, followed by a weekend jaunt, as has become our custom.

26 January 2022

     The ladies of WRN are proving once again that they are a cadre of winter warriors second to none.


Leader: David M. Gascoigne

Members: Miriam Bauman, Jim Burrell, Pauline Copleston, Lisa Den Besten, Beth Hobson, Curtiss MacDonald, Wendy Shaw, Kathy Waybrant, Kath Werner.

Lisa, Wendy, Kath, Pauline, Beth, Curtiss, David - and kneeling, Kathy, Jim

     It was especially pleasing to see my good friend, Jim Burrell, come out and join us. Jim has undergone some major surgery in the past couple of years but is on his way to resuming his normal activities.
     Birding was a little sparse, but as that paragon of wisdom, Curtiss, has said before, it's the fact of getting out and enjoying each other's company that counts most.

     It did not take long before a beautiful female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) came to take a look at us.


     I think she showed us every part of her finery.
     A male was no less anxious to show off to an appreciative audience.

Northern Cardinal by Kathy Waybrant

     We stopped a couple of times to see if we could lure a few Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) to the hand, but even these ebullient characters were in short supply this morning.
    The trail wended onwards.


     Several Downy Woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens) accompanied us as we moved along.


     This male seemed to have returned to a cache of food and was stocking up on a cold winter's day.
     Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) was not as visible as it often is, but this individual revealed itself long enough for a picture.

Photo by Kathy Waybrant

     Once the chatter of chickadees was heard there was no shortage of outstretched hands. 


     A chickadee is a concentrated study in charm and beauty.




     You may see in the first picture above the way it grasps a seed in its feet and chisels away at it until every morsel has gone. 
     Then its time to swoop in for another tidbit from a human ally.


     The Mill Race Trail is an excellent location to see White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) up close.




     The Conestogo River was frozen, so there were no waterfowl present, and the trees cast long shadows on the ice.


     Nature is wonderful in all its seasons, and winter yields a beauty all its own.



     Better to get out and see it for yourself.
     I don't think this snag has much longer to stand erect.


    What the woodpeckers started the wind will soon finish.
     We spotted a mink emerging from its breathing hole, and although it did not reveal itself for long, Kathy managed to get a great picture.

American Mink (Mustela vison) by Kathy Waybrant


     There is interest aplenty for the keen observer. 
     A female Downy Woodpecker was focused on her own affairs.


     Just take another look at the exquisite detail on this chickadee's plumage.


     With makeup and mascara, blush, powder, lipstick and eye liner, with mud bath, beauty salon, spa and manicurist, ladies, you will never look as good!
     The path was basically a narrow section beaten down by many feet, and we were compelled to walk in single file much of the time.


     All we lacked was a rope to hold on to and we would have resembled a class of obedient school children obeying the teacher's orders.

29 January 2022


Leader: David M. Gascoigne

Members: Christine Alexander, Miriam Bauman,  Tracey Rayner, Andrea Smith, Mary Ann Vanden Elzen.

Mary Ann, Tracey, Andrea, David, Christine

     Despite the cold weather there was only one cancellation and one no-show. We enjoyed a very agreeable walk together, though birds were hard to find. Even chickadees were not as prone to visit our hands as they usually are.
     The dam on the Conestogo River looked substantially frozen over, although a little water had enough velocity to continue to flow.


     There is an undeniable beauty about it all.


     A Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) was doubtless more concerned with finding food than contemplating the beauty of the scene.


 
          We plodded along the trail, our boots crunching on the snow. Stealth was not an option!


    When we heard chickadees we immediately poured sunflower seed into our hands and encouraged them to come and get food.


     Andrea was bold enough to try it bare-handed.


     If there is a bird that seems unfazed by cold winters it is Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) and we saw them quite frequently.


     A female Northern Cardinal seemed resigned to another cold day, with a long, dark night ahead.


     White-breasted Nuthatches scampered up and down the bark and seemed to have no difficulty finding tasty morsels.


     The thought occurred to us that a prolonged cold snap such as we are experiencing might be what is needed to kill off some of the destructive insects that have found their way here and are wreaking havoc on our trees.
     American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) seem well adapted to cope.


     This outing was not characterized by large numbers of birds, but it was filled with good cheer and engaging conversation. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

A Snowy Owl for Tracey

     Tracey had never seen a Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) so we arranged that she would come to our house at 14h:00 and we would go for a drive in the hinterland to see if we could find one for her. As it turned out, there would be three, and unusually, all males.
     Along the way we stopped to admire this handsome Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), one of several we saw.


     None of the Snowy Owls we found were especially close, but with a scope we were able to zero in and Tracey was able to see the bird very well. The first was on the ground.


     In the village of Glen Allen there was open water and we saw a few Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser).


     Tracey's second Snowy Owl was even more distant than the first, perched high in a tree from where it could scan the fields in search of prey.



     Best of all, Tracey found the third owl by herself, and although we don't have a picture of it, she felt justifiably proud of spotting it, having quickly learned the techniques of searching for snowies.
     We were very happy that our foray turned out so well.  
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

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

65 comments:

  1. Quel froid!Les photos dans la neige sont magnifiques, de vraies cartes postales. l'arbre tout piqué est très joli, on dirait une sculpture. C'est sympa d'avoir aussi vu un vison. Bonne soirée

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  2. ...lovely images, but the snowy landscape does it for me. Thanks for taking me along on the tour!

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  3. Ooooh. And ahhhh. How I would LOVE to be able to come on one of these excursions with you all.
    And on a related note, I thought of you early this morning. I was in the garden and no fewer than twenty sulphur crested beauties/vandals came to visit (and a similar number of corellas). It was a wonderful sight to see.

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  4. Great that you saw a mink. Kathy did get a good photo. I've never seen a wild mink. And you were lucky to see 3 snowy owls that day. And that handsome red-tailed hawk. Hopefully your cold will warm up a bit. I bet the birds didn't even want to go out of their winter nests that day. It's pretty ingenious all the ways animals make it through the winter. Happy new week. Hugs-Erika

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    1. She is a serious photographer with equipment she knows how to use, and a charming woman in the bargain.

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  5. Querido amigo que frío tan tremendo y aún así disfrutasteis de hermosas aves, sin duda los Búhos me parecen algo maravilloso. Y como bien dices la buena compañía es lo más importante. Un fuerte abrazo para ti y para Míriam.

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  6. Your part of the world is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with us all.



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  7. Lovely posts! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Great to hear from you, Debbie. Hope all is well with you and Jon.

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  8. I guess you found all the good ones, which, of course, always is everything you see. Especially the mink.

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    1. We do see mink from time to time, Joanne, but they are far more elusive than muskrats that we see quite commonly.

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  9. It is always a pleasure exploring with you David!

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    1. And always a pleasure to have you along whoever you may be!

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  10. Thank you both SO Much for your generosity and kindness. I just love getting out into Nature with you! ❤️ Tracey

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  11. With that temperature, I think I stay inside and have a cup of hot chocolate LOL...it's very beautiful though!

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  12. You guys are some hardy folks to be out and about in those temperatures. I particularly loved the little Downies and the White-breasted Nuthatch, but all are terrific pictures as usual.

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    1. Rather that than the skin-searing temperatures you get in Texas in the summer.

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  13. Hello David, fantastic these walks you undertake with so manny enthousiastic people. The birds you see along the way are so beautyful. To see so much snow is something that I mis so much. For years Winter in our region is a memory from time that every year we had snow, sunshine and ice. Nou it is most gray and rain and the sun mostly absent. Yesterday was a day with sun but today we have a storm with rain. So I can truly say that I am a bit jaelous of these weather conditions.

    Warm regards from Belgium,
    Roos

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    1. I had a look with Google Earth where The Mill Race Trail is situated. It gave me an inside view of the surrounding and the river. Most wonderful!
      Roos

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  14. Hello David,
    Wonderful outings and reports. I would love to hand feed a chickadee, they are so cute. The mink is a cute critter. Wonderful sightings and beautiful photos. Congrats on the Snowy Owls sightings. Have a great day and a happy new week!!

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  15. Hi David - what a chilly outing or two - but on a sunny day it is just beautiful to see from a very far distance, though I'd love to join in ... Gorgeous shots and how interesting to see the mink. The snowy owls are a delight, but I love the barred owl in your header - thank you ... delightful read - cheers Hilary

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  16. Oh. You have a cold winter :-o The birds must be freezing.
    The Red-bellied Woodpecker is beautiful. What a back :-) No matter how hard you try, guys, with strength training, solariums and other tricks you will never....!
    Lisbeth
    Are you allowed to meet more than 10 now? Here in Denmark all restrictions are gone.

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    1. The regulations will change overnight and from tomorrow onwards we will permitted to have twenty-five on outdoor gatherings.

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  17. They are all so beautiful David! The snowy Owl is so rare and so special. I must say you have sometimes very low temperatures. Here is have been - 16 as the lowest temperature this winter.
    Hugs and kisses, Marit

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  18. Hi David.

    Enjoyed seeing all the beauty.
    Beautiful are the wife and husband Cardinal.
    Super the Woodpeckers and how nice to see that Mink.
    Fantastic the Snowy Owl.
    Very nice views and observations.

    Greetings from Patricia.

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  19. I would love to join you in one of your amazing excursions given the opportunity.

    Love the photos especially the snowy owl.

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    1. If ever you find yourself in southern Ontario you would be very welcome, Veronica.

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  20. Oh my, that was really cold, but you and your intrepid wanderers were able to enjoy so much beauty. Big hugs, Valerie

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  21. There is still so much to see. Beautiful birds and winter scenery. A wonderful way to bird watch and to enjoy each other's company.

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  22. Love the white-breasted nuthatch photos. I’ve never seen one of them. You are a hardy lot to be out birding in those temperatures, David. The snowy owl I quite a capture!

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    1. If ever you find yourself here, Marie, that's a bird that I could just about guarantee.

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  23. Amazing set of photos but I have no idea how you manage to go out in those temperatures. We have had -5C and that is far too cold for me. I will be happy only when we get back to over 20C!!!
    Love the Snowy Owls and the Mink for me is something special.
    Take care and keep warm mon ami. Diane

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  24. Even though they are extreme by UK standards, I'd rather have your cold temperatures and snow than our wet and windy dull weather, David - although I have to admit that the sun is shining at the moment, but it's still windy. Of course, it would help if we also had such avian delights as you have there. The local birds are so heavily depleted in number compared to just a few years ago.

    I'm delighted to hear that you were able to fulfill Tracey's dreams.

    My very best wishes to you and Miriam - Lindsay sends her regards to you both - - - Richard

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    1. It is especially agreeable to do it for Tracey, Richard. She is truly a delightful person, and is fascinated (and I mean fascinated) with every aspect of nature.

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  25. Interesting sights! I especially liked those woodpeckers. Why do they like to peck wood? Haha.

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  26. Beautiful winter scenes and beautiful captures of the birds. Thanks, David.

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  27. I agree, the company is the most important thing.
    A beautiful report with many wonderful photos.
    The Chickadees are very friendly birds. I remember a few years ago, while I was walking on the promenade, one of them landed on my shoulder, I gently took her and put her on a hedge. After a few moments she was back on the same shoulder. The people around did not believe their eyes. After having cuddled her, I brought her back to the hedge.
    Poor American Mink, I am sad thinking to their destiny.

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  28. The beautiful snowy scenery and congenial company make for wonderful walks. You always see so many different birds. I would love to see a snowy owl.

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  29. I would be so delighted and thrilled to have chickadees eating from my hand! Love seeing all of you and the birds and the scenery, too. :)

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  30. Every photo here is a treasure but I've got to say, those opening cardinals were rocking my world! Gorgeous. I think in some ways, the female is as lovely as the male. They remind me of the song "The Colors of My Life" from "Barnum." PT Barnum sings about all the vibrant and bright; then his wife, Charity, sings about her favorites -- the muted, nature tones:

    Barnus: Are bountiful and bold, The purple glow of indigo, The gleam of green and gold. The splendor of the sunrise, The dazzle of a flame, The glory of a rainbow, I'd ...
    Charity: Are softer than a breeze. The silver gray of eiderdown, The dappled green of trees. The amber of a wheat field, The hazel of a seed, The crystal of a raindrop....

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  31. Nature just lifts the spirits doesn't it.
    Thank you for sharing your walks and your wonderful photographs.

    All the best Jan

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  32. I especially enjoyed seeing the empty, snowy trail, the Snowy Owl, and the mink. I had no idea that minks live here, but they do: mostly in north and east-central Texas. Last weekend I found a beautiful red wasp in my wandering, and smiled to remember your book review. Now that I've read about the mink here, perhaps my day to find one of those will come!

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  33. That mink photo really stands out.

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  34. Spectacular winter scenes and bird photos as well as the mink!

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  35. The mink and the snowy owls - wow! Those are two I've never seen. I can almost feel the frigid air through your beautiful photos.

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  36. Mustela vison it is a very beautiful specimen!

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  37. I love how fluffed up that blue Jay is. Nature’s down jacket, eh? You are brave souls to be out at -22 degrees. I’m glad you were rewarded with some beautiful birds and good conversation.

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  38. Hello dear David,
    my apologies for not showing up and responding. Unfortunately, we have had some losses in the family and circle of friends lately and when I had recovered a bit from that it became so busy at work again. But I'll be back again.

    Question: Did our Christmas card reach you in Canada!! I sent this to you and Miriam on December 6.

    Your header with the owl is fantastic to see and that makes me happy. I also love your beautiful photos with the cardinals. I also see great woodpeckers and other small birds. Your trip with these members also gives a very nice winter with snow images. Beautiful to see. I really enjoyed it. Let me just say that I was jealous again when I saw that beautiful snowy owl!!!
    A big kiss and hug from me,
    Helma

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    1. Hi Helma:
      We did receive your Christmas card and we appreciated it very much. Sorry I neglected to let you know. David xo

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  39. Siempre un placer visitar tu blog, me encanta ver tus reportajes. Abrazos.

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  40. Hello David, :=) What beautiful images of the winter landscape. I loved every moment of my visit. The photography is phenomenal, showing a delightful array of wildlife. I liked the shot of you all in single file,and the group photos.The congenial company in low temperatures,and the joy of sharing, and finding birds for others is heartwarming.
    Take care David.
    Hugs from Portugal.

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  41. Marvelous post, your photos of wildlife and snowy scenery are stunning. Always great to see a group of like-minded people enjoying nature at its best. Looked like a lot of fun! Thanks David!

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  42. Great set of photos. Yes, you have an intrepid group, willing to brave the bitter cold. And then to end with a Snowy Owl photo! What a delight.

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  43. P.S. I don't know if you follow this person's blog, but there are some stunning photos in this blog post:

    https://dommelvos.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-en-rond-de-poel.html

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    1. In fact I do follow his blog. He is an accomplished photographer to be sure.

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  44. Bonjour David.
    Les températures ne sont pas faites pour moi. Observer les oiseaux et les photographier avec de gros manteaux c'est dur ;-)
    Il y a de belles espèces au milieu de cette neige.
    À bientôt David pour de nouvelles observations !
    Bisous

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    1. It is always wonderful to hear from you, Nathalie. I hope that COVID restrictions will be eliminated soon and you will be able to travel again to bring us great reports of your trips, accompanied by your fabulous pictures. Gros bisous de ton ami canadien.

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  45. Hi David,
    Despite of the severe cold you went for a walk with truly winter conditions. Fortunately it was not just the beauty of the landscape you saw, but despite of the cold there was some wildlife as well. Anyway, great trips again.
    Greetings, Kees

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  46. Hello David
    who wouldn't enjoy such an excursion, pure nature.... cold doesn't matter...;-)
    Greetings Frank

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  47. Buenas tardes, amigo David, después de un corto período de descanso ocular por prescripción médica paso a saludarte amigo mío.
    Gran y precioso reportaje nos muestras a pesar de estar a tan baja temperatura. Nada más de ver lo que marca el coche ya tengo frío.
    Tuvo que ser un precioso y magnifico recorrido de todos los participantes en ese evento.
    Un gran abrazo amigo y compadre y os deseo una buena semana.

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  48. Hi David,
    Great report. Cold, cold....very cold!!! ( I can nearly hear the snow under the boots ;-)
    Walking with nice people and see beautiful birds, stunning lanfscape...that's happyness!
    The Snowy Owl at the end is great!
    Happy sunday,
    regards, Maria

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