Local Nature

"The month of April is proverbial for its fickleness, for its intermingling showers, and fitting gleams of sunshine; for all the species of weather in one day; for a clear mixture of clear and cloudy skies, greenness and nakedness, flying hail and abounding blossoms. But to a lover of Nature, it is not the less characterised by the spirit of expectation with which it imbues the mind.”

William Howitt

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

     This is our most familiar raptor, seen frequently throughout the region, even in heavily developed urban areas.

     It is generally believed that Red-tailed Hawks  establish permanent, perhaps life-long pair bonds, and love is in the air at this time of year.

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)

      This beautiful little bird enlivens our winter landscape and seems immune to cold temperatures and deep snow, thriving under the most inhospitable conditions.

     It is a common breeding species in southern Ontario, although its nests are notoriously difficult to find.

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)

     True to its name, this species is a common winter resident, especially on large bodies of water, and most rivers harbour many pairs as soon as they become ice free. Rapidly flowing water, augmented by snow melt is no impediment.

     Here is a female flying up stream.

     And a couple of pairs.....

     Common Merganser is a gregarious species.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

     As soon as it gets past the first week of March I look for the early arrivals.

     This year the first two migrants were seen on 8 March in a sodden field along Hawkesville Road in St. Jacobs.

American Crow (Corvus brachrynchos)

     This intelligent, engaging bird never fails to yield great delight. It was quick to exploit any feeding opportunities yielded by the spring thaw.

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

     Starlings are present throughout the winter, but their flocks are augmented by Red-winged Blackbirds as soon as the latter species returns to southern Ontario.

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

     As is to be expected, a careful scan of these mixed flocks revealed Brown-headed Cowbirds, too.

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

     As long as there is open water a few hardy individuals will spend the winter here, but I suspect that this bird is a recently arrived migrant.

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

     This pair was hunkered down, sheltering from the wind.

      The great surge of migration occurs in April with each day promising new species.

       Stay tuned!