25 April, 2024
RIM Park, Waterloo, ON
Miriam's keen ears detected an Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) almost as soon as we set foot on the trail, and it didn't take long to find the bird.
It's not a great picture, and the bird was quite far off, but it serves to record a significant sighting.
A Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) is a very appealing little bird.
There was a time not so many years ago when a sighting of an Eastern Bluebird (Sialis sialia) was quite remarkable, but now they are present in ever more locations.
Thank goodness for that.
Mining Bees (genus Andrena) were active on newly emerged flowers and blossom.
Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) is indeed a beauty, one of my favourite spring ephemerals.
We spotted Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata) in several locations.
Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) is a splendid addition to a spring walk.
White Fawnlily (Erythronium albidum) no less so.
Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) is shooting up all over in the wet areas of the park and soon the flowers will create a sea of colour. For now we have to be content with green.
Water Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis scorpioides) will soon be in bloom too.
A lone male Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) seemed forlorn on the Grand River, perhaps looking for love in all the wrong places.
A Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) was called loudly from a high snag, no doubt also looking for love.
Bare trees, silhouetted against the sky form a dramatic impression, stark yet beautiful.
I doubt that the local creeks and streams have more fish this year, but we have seen them more frequently than in the past. Perhaps we have simply been more observant.
There appears to be more than one species here, but I am not proficient in fish and the closest I can come is North American Minnows (subfamily Pogonichthyinae).
We saw a Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) several times, coursing up and down the river, and this level of abundance would seem to auger well for a successful breeding attempt with ample food for a large brood.
There is a sizeable herd of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the park, habituated to humans and not at all fearful in their approach.
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) is more abundant this year than I can ever remember.
Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) were common; songbirds beware!
Back at the car we espied the nest of an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) and that seemed like a fitting way to close out our walk.
Until the next time......
How I love walking with you. Thank you both.
ReplyDeleteWe will be sure to go at your pace, Sue. There’s never a hurry on a nature walk.
DeleteIt looks like it was a lovely walk. I bet those yellow Iris will be gorgeous once they bloom-or maybe they are past by this point. And you are right about bluebirds. I think I had only seen one or two until recently, but my mom one told me they were very common when she was a young woman. Have a great start to the new week. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteThey are cavity nesters and suffered from a severe lack of facilities and competition from other species, especially European Starlings, for those nest sites that did exist. Humans erecting nest boxes have really made a difference.
DeleteGreat report and outing. I have not seen a Meadowlark in a long time. Beautiful collection of birds and photos. Take care, have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! The shots of deer are my favourites...and of course bluebird!
ReplyDelete...Trout Lily was fabulous, but lasted such a short time and Red Admirals is more abundant here too.
ReplyDeleteThere’s logic in them being called spring ephemerals.
DeleteTrout lily are wonderful. I used to see a patch of them but after severe flooding, I don't see them now. I'm hoping for a return.
ReplyDeleteIt's always a treasure to walk along with you, and see the birds, plants and flowers. I love seeing deer, too, they mostly come out here in the evening. Have a great week, hugs, xxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteThat is a spectacular park with lots to see. Thank you for the visit, David and Miriam!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen that white lily here. Very striking. It is remarkable how very far behind us this area is. These flowers were blooming here back in mid-April, so it's a full two-month difference.
ReplyDeleteYou will perhaps note the title of the post, "Catching up" and the date of the walk, 25 April.
DeleteAnother wonderful walk in nature. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful series of photos David.
ReplyDeleteThe Eastern Bluebird, Northern Flicker are beautiful.
I also think the trees against the sky are very beautiful.
Nice to experience this walk with you.
Greetings Irma
All the flora and fauna you ever want to see is right here on your blog!
ReplyDeletetoday there is something for everyone. the bee is amazing because it looks like it is so fuzzy and real it would sting me if i touched it. awesome shot of the bee.
ReplyDeletewonderful photos as always. I'm finally recovered enough to get back to reading and commenting gain.
ReplyDeleteVery nice shots of the deer. This is the first time I've seen a mining bee. Nice captures, thanks to you both for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers, birds and trees, David. Erythronium is one of my favorites in spring. Hugs and kisses, Marit
ReplyDeleteWould you like me to send some of the deer over to your garden? Hugs and kisses - David
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteSpring at its very best! YAM xx
Divisar esos animales ,en la Naturaleza, es emocionante.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
That was a nice walk with you ! Thnks for the guiding. Many birds that we don´t have here, that was interesting to know of. All the best,,
ReplyDeleteGreetings Lasse
I am having fun in our forest. The most fun is going out on the back deck at 5 a.m. and using Merlin. I could never spot them all.
ReplyDeleteAll your walks are so lovely, David, with so many fascinating sightings, be it birds, mammals, fish or plants. I wish I could walk with you - so I'm doing it here on my laptop. I have always loved the beauty of bare trees against the sky, when you can see the structure of the tree so much better. I have to admit that I'm not familiar with cowbirds, so I had to do a little research here, and now I understand your warning to the songbirds. But why do they destroy the eggs and young of smaller songbirds? Do they eat them? Or is it just for "pleasure" - like cats trying to catch and kill everything small that moves? After all, cowbirds aren't humans and therefore hopefully lack meanness, egoism, despotism, any kind of unethical behavior, greed... the list goes on, but I better stop here. Hugs - Carola
ReplyDeleteDestroying the eggs or young of the host species eliminates competition for food.
DeleteAnother great walk. I used to see many chipping sparrows.
ReplyDeleteHow are you dear David! how is it going! jaja is this expression right?
ReplyDeletebut let's focus on the important things, wonderful journey through nature you have shared; each bird, flower and insect paints a picture of the biodiversity that inhabits the trail. Love the jumping sparrow to the herd of white tailed deer, it´s incredible beauty! and the variety of lilies and the beauty of the virginia spring add everything very charming.
I can`t fail to mention the kingfisher and the tender ending with the nest of the american robin, closing the day, giving the walk a touch of endless 💗
Have a beautiful night ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀
Very beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteYou have captured the beauty of nature with your photos and information!
I really liked the deer, the little fish, the rare flowers and the Eastern Bluebird (Sialis sialia)!! Thank you so much for the fantastic nature walk!!
Hello David,
ReplyDeletethe mining bee is captured really well, you can see the fine details very well and the lilies look great too, as do the trusting deer...nice trip, great pictures
Greetings Frank
A lovely walk and what you see along the way.
ReplyDeleteNice birding at RIM Park! Lots of birds and pretty wild flowers.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures David ! Birds and others ;)
ReplyDeleteLove hear birdsongs...
Have a shinny day !
Anna
Hi David - that's what I'm doing ... I think ?!?... catching up - lots to do to get there ... but I always enjoy the photos, the information you share ... cheers for now - Hilary
ReplyDeleteBelle balade! Je trouve très joli l'érythrone, le feuillage semble aussi joli que la fleur.
ReplyDeleteBonne journée
If they are deer, people are not aggressive with the fauna.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful sightings. I don't often see deer on your blog -- that was a treat. And well done, Miriam on the meadowlark. Your water is so clear -- those fish must be loving it!
ReplyDeleteMaravilloso paseo, me encanta pasear contigo. Un abrazo.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots and I enjoy seeing the Bluebird.
ReplyDeleteMielenkiintoinen kuvakavalkadi, kiitos David, että jaoit sen kanssamme.
ReplyDeletewonderful. Love your wildlife. So far I have not see the Common Merganser arriving
ReplyDeleteSpring is such a refreshing time with the abundant renewal of life. Your walk was quite beautiful to see.
ReplyDeleteLook at all those little fishies! :)
ReplyDeleteAnother great post with some great photos. As for butterflies we have seen very few this year so far. It is much colder than normal and it seems to never stop raining!! We have had almost all our fruit on the trees destroyed by too much water. The only ones that so far look OK are the quince and the medlar trees which have fruit later than the others. I have never heard of a water forget me not plant before interesting.
ReplyDeleteBisous mon ami Diane
Nice pictures! I always learn something from your posts.
ReplyDeleteKolejna wędrówka z wami i kolejna przyjemność!
ReplyDeleteThese were again very beautiful animal sightings. When we visited Antelope Island in Salt Lake City during our world trip, we heard many, many Meadow Larks, but it was very difficult to see them. Finally, I was able to photograph one. You can see the picture when I get to that point in my travel report. In my current travel report, you can find some representatives of New Zealand's bird world.
ReplyDeleteAll the best, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2024/06/weltreise-2024-5-station-neuseeland.html