LaSalle Park and the DesJardins Canal

      During the recent strike by Canada Post workers (still unresolved) Miriam was entrusting her ETSY shipments to Chit Chat, and we journeyed down to Burlington each week to deliver her packages. It always made sense to combine the practical reason for the journey with a little birding.

04 December, 2024

LaSalle Park and Marina, Burlington, ON

     LaSalle is a place that never disappoints. As soon as we had parked the car, while enjoying hot coffee and a muffin, Gadwalls (Mareca strepera) and a Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) streamed by, forsaking the shelter of the inner harbour for more productive feeding opportunities on Lake Ontario.

     Common Goldeneye is a bird that really proclaims its name.

     American Black Duck (Anas rubipres), a species not always easy to find, is reliable at LaSalle. 

     These two, keeping company with a Mallard (Anas platyrynchos), are rotund and healthy. Friendly humans bringing food no doubt contribute to this state of affairs.

     There does not seem to have been a general arrival of winter ducks, so we were happy to see a lone female Greater Scaup (Aythya marila).

    A raft of Mallards enjoyed a spell on the water.

     Canvasback (Aythya valsinaria) is one species that seems to have already taken up residence in their usual numbers. A female looked exceptionally lovely, I thought.

     Not to be outdone a handsome male cruised into view.

     Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is an exceptionally appealing little duck, the male looking quite different from the female.

Bufflehead ♂

Bufflehead ♀

     I am very fond of gulls, and am sometimes dismayed when they are overlooked at best, or reviled at worst. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) is beautiful, common and worthy of our study and respect.

     For those anxious to learn more about moult, there is no better subject, and in a given flock it is possible to observe every phase the bird passes through.

     We have days to celebrate just about everything, so I think it's well past time for Gull Appreciation Day!

     As long as there is open water a few American Coots (Fulica americana) can generally be found at LaSalle.

     Actually in recent years open water has become the default condition; finding ice is the problem.

     This very attractive duck is a Mallard hybrid, although I remain uncertain as to the other side of its parentage.

    It has associated with its wild congeners for four or five years now and is affectionately called Coco by some.

     Rock Doves (Columba livia) waste no time in letting you know that they are anxious to keep you company - as long as you bring food!

     Okay, you made your point!

     A female Mallard looked content bobbing gently on the waves.

     One can never undervalue the elegance of a Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator).

     Another female Mallard was quietly minding her own business.

     Until she received a visit from one of her domestic relatives, that is.

     I am not sure whether she left in a huff or whether they decided to take a walk together.

      These days, rain often comes sporadically, but often in deluges, and erosion occurs quickly. 

    Some trees, exposed to strong winds or more downpours, may be in danger of toppling.

11 December, 2024

DesJardins Canal, Dundas, ON

     Initially we went to LaSalle Park and Marina, and sat in the car to have our coffee and muffin, but it was raining steadily and we decided to move over to the DesJardins Canal where we hoped better weather would prevail

     It was a good decision; although it was overcast and a little gloomy the rain held off.

     It was not long before we saw a female Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) and scanned for her male companion without success - for the moment.

    A pair of Mallards, by contrast, with pair bond  firmly established shared a perch together.

     A sparkling male Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) completed a trio of waterfowl before we had barely moved from the car.

     Given that there was no snow on the ground, there were splashes of colour here and there.

Genus Buddleja

Genus Barbula

Genus Lobularia

Genus Sedum

     It's always delightful to see Common Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus).

     Beavers have been active!

     It was merganser day on the canal!

     Most Pied-billed Grebes (Podilymbus podiceps) have long since migrated, but this individual decided that staying around was advantageous.

      It was lunch time and we made our way back to the car, accompanied by a male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), perhaps wondering if we had seed for him.

     Several American Tree Sparrows (Spizelloides arborea) hovered around too.

     A Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) flew in from the opposite bank of the canal, but left again almost as soon as it arrived.

     Another vehicle pulled into the parking area and the driver began tossing out whole slices of white bread.

     It looked like the gulls and the mallards were as addicted to junk food as are humans!

     I am sure that our lunch was far healthier - and we weren't quite as messy either!