Bald Eagles, House Sparrow Sex and More!

      Spring this year has been characterized by changeability in the weather, with one day as high as 26 degrees while some mornings we got out of bed to a dusting of snow.

23 April, 2004

     We went to check on "our" Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nest and were delighted to observe two healthy youngsters in the nest.

     The pictures are not the clearest one might hope for but we are shooting from a long way off and the images are cropped.

     The male kept a vigil from nearby. We had hoped to witness a food delivery, but it was not to be.

24 April, 2022

Lakeside Park, Kitchener, ON

     Unrepentent voyeurs that we are, we witnessed a pair of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) in flagrante delicto. Undeterred by our gaze, they went about their business in rapid bursts of activity.

     Satisfaction seemed to exude from both of them as they preened and fluffed following their exertions.

     No doubt a new generation of House Sparrows is in the works.

     A Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) can sometimes look downright regal.

     A Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) seemed intent on mimicking a Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) as it acrobatically probed for food.

     If I have seen a Pine Siskin go down a tree head first before, I don't recall it.

     Myrtle Warbler (Setophaga coronata) is a hardy little bird and is usually the first warbler we see in the spring.

     It seemed that they were everywhere we looked.

     Birds, drawn to them as we are, are only one aspect of spring, and this stand of Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) brought us great joy.

     Does it not make you smile just to look at it?

26 April, 2022

Lakeside Park, Kitchener, ON

     It was back to Lakeside Park for our regular Tuesday "Rambles with David" outing.

     Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus) have returned to southern Ontario, and were not hard to find.

     One pair was already committed to a partnership for the season, and was investigating a potential nest site.

     A little cleaning is necessary before it will be ready for occupancy and the important duty of incubating eggs.

     The paths were quite muddy and slick, easy to slip on so we picked our way downslope as befits a party of pensioners!

     I am quite sure that had one of us slipped we would have tumbled together in one pile, so it is questionable whether our method was effective. I got to hold hands with Carol and Mary though, so what's not to like about that?

     I exepect that this Wooly Blue Violet (Viola sororia) would have giggled if it were able to do so.

     A pair of Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) found the lake exactly to their liking.

     The pattern on the male's bill is nothing short of exquisite.

     Seldom did a Myrtle Warbler fail to entertain us.

     And a Belted Kingfisher (Megacercyle alcyon) scanned for a passing fish on the far side of the lake.

     Here is another Myrtle Warbler to bring pleasure to your day.

     A female Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) looks so different from a male that some early ornithologists thought they were different species.

     Here is a male House Sparrow gathering nesting material.

     Perhaps it is the same one we saw two days earlier having so much fun. Now the hard work begins.

     Even a squirrel has to gather material to make a home for the next generation, soon to be born.

26 April, 2022

Columbia Lake, Waterloo, ON

     There had been a report, supported by pictures, of a Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) at Columbia Lake, a mere five minutes from our house, so we stopped by on the way home. 

     It was bitterly cold with a strong wind imparting a distinct chill to already unfavourable conditions, and we were unable to find the warbler. Perhaps it has moved on - a wise choice!

     We glimpsed a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) through the reeds.....

     ..... but it decided it wanted nothing to do with us.

     A Canada Goose sat resolutely on her nest and we wished her well.

     Miriam had made a delicious ham and potato soup, and baked fresh bread, so we headed for home with that on our minds. It made for a wonderful lunch. Not a bad way to end a morning of birding, I am sure you will agree.