Catching up.....Episode 3

 31 March, 2023

A Drive through the Countryside

     Eastern Bluebird (Sialis sialia) is a success story, in stark contrast to so many declines in bird populations; it  verges on common in certain areas.

     This bird is banded and was probably monitored as a nestling. It would be interesting to be able to read the band and know where the bird originated.

     It was a very agreeable circumstance to come upon a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), an unusual sighting to be sure.

     Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) is a much under-appreciated bird in my opinion, especially when the sunlight hits it and its plumage shimmers.

     A Groundhog (Marmota momax) was reluctant to venture out into the open.

     A pair of humans at an Easter Parade, decked out in their finery, would have a hard time looking better than these Mallards (Anas platyrynchos).

     Bald Eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus) is another avian success story (isn't it amazing what happens when persecution ceases?), and nesting pairs are no longer uncommon.

     An eagle's nest is an impressive structure.

07 April, 2024

Hillside Park, Waterloo, ON

     The creek was full of fish, minnows of one kind or another it seems, but I don't have enough familiarity with them to attempt identification.

     A drake Mallard was content to rest awhile.

     Willows (genus Salix) were displaying the exuberance of spring.

     Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) imparted a real splash of colour to a landscape still dun from winter.

     We saw (and heard) several Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus) but this was the only one in camera range - and even it was quite distant.

     Someone had deposited bird seed onto a stump and it attracted the attention of many species.

     A female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was quick to take advantage of this afternoon snack.

     And seemed quite willing to share with a Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus).

     A Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) was next in line.....

     ..... followed by a White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis).

     A Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) was quite content to watch the world go by.

Bechtel Park, Waterloo, ON

     Wild Leeks (Allium tricoccum) were abundant.

     I have never used them in my culinary adventures, preferring to leave them in the forest, but I know people who have cooked with them and speak highly of the flavour.

     Early Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum giganteum) was emerging here and there.

     Several Mourning Cloaks (Nymphalis antiopa) enjoyed a fine spring afternoon and put on a show for us.

Columbia Lake, Waterloo, ON

     It was barely out of the way to drop by Columbia Lake on the way home - so we did!

     A colourful male Northern Cardinal was there to greet us.

     There were many Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser) on the lake.

     Strangely, these females were all lined up along the far bank.

     We were delighted to see a pair of Gadwall (Mareca strepara), a species not often observed at this location.

     A Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) was on its way to its northerly breeding grounds.

     Several Song Sparrows were probing for food.

     And an American Robin seemed to salute us as we arrived back at the car.

     There's more to come, but that will wait for next time.

I know you're ready for more of Lily!

11 November 2021

Bechtel Park, Waterloo, ON

     My mom always confers with David and Miriam about where we should go for a walk, and I was glad that they chose Bechtel Park. That's where you can see an Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) and that is very special.

     It occurs to me that I may have seen a screech owl more times than anyone my age.

     My Mom always tells me the correct name - no baby talk - and David says that he is going to make sure I learn the scientific name too!

Two Outings to RIM Park for Waterloo Regional Nature

      COVID, while still a spectre hanging over our heads, seems to influence our daily activities less than it has done since the very beginning of the pandemic and I was happy to be able to offer a couple of outings to RIM Park, Waterloo, for keen members and friends.

27 October 2021

RIM Park, Waterloo, ON

Leader: David Gascoigne

Members: Miriam Bauman, Lynn Conway, Lisa DenBesten, Anna Harper, Karl Malhotra, Mary Ann Vanden Elzen, Curtiss MacDonald, Zach Summerhayes.

Guest: Lucille Bordman

Zach, Lynn, Mary Ann, Karl, Curtiss, David. Lisa, Anna, Lucille

     It was a very pleasant late October day, and while the birds were a little sparse, it was quite wonderful to be outside together, enjoying each other's company, with nary a mask in sight!

     Miriam was unable to take many pictures, so I will draw from my archives for some of them, making sure as far as possible that they are from RIM Park at the same time of year.

     There were large numbers of American Robins (Turdus migratorius) gorging on buckthorn berries; some migratory, but many no doubt part of the contingent that elects to stay here all winter, in ever greater numbers it seems.

     Flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were also travelling through the area, but like the robins, more of them are toughing out the winters and eschewing migration.

     It was a distinct pleasure to see a Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) fly over, and only a couple of weeks earlier we had photographed this species at RIM Park.

     Fungi, for the most part, have passed their prime, often being little more than squishy masses by now, but a couple of interesting types were still pristine.

     This stash of cones was a bit of a puzzle.

     It is obviously not random and we wondered who might be responsible for it. Perhaps it is the work of American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus); from The Mammals of Canada, A.W.F. Banfield (1987) - "The squirrel may cut anywhere from ten to a hundred cones, before it descends to carry the cones to its cache."

     As might be expected, a few Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) joined us from time to time.

     All of the Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) we saw, to the best of my recollection, were females.

     There were remarkably few sparrows. We had a fleeting glimpse at a Song Sparrow (Melopsiza melodia) and a couple of Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) zoomed into the undergrowth, flashing their white outer tail feathers.

     In times past, Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) has not been shy in the undergrowth seen below, but today there was nary a one.

     Thanks to everyone who joined me on this walk. I thought that Curtiss put it well, "Every bird is a bonus, but simply to be out enjoying the fresh air with like-minded people is satisfaction enough."

31 October 2021

RIM Park, Waterloo, ON and Bechtel Park, Waterloo, ON

Leader: David Gascoigne

Members: Miriam Bauman, Lyndsey Butcher, Victoria Ho, Jenny Lorette, Tara Natter, Tracey Rainer, Selwyn Tomkun

Guests: André Bastel, Elaine Gallant

Jenny, Tracey, Victoria, Selwyn, Elaine, David, Lindsey, Tara, André

     It is always a delight to welcome guests on our walks, but there is added satisfaction when it is someone from out-of-province. Elaine Gallant from New Brunswick is visiting her daughter, Lindsey; she is a keen and proficient birder and made a great addition to our group.

     Victoria always cuts a striking figure, but when she brings out her Halloween spider for its annual encounter with the world, the result is stunning.

     Autumn leaves were the order of the day.

     If anything, birds were even harder to find than on the 27th, but we did have a few pockets of activity.

     This Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinensis) kept returning to the same area, obviously finding food there, and flying off to add to its winter cache.

     Several Blue Jays, alert to the same source of food, alternated with each other and with the woodpecker in adding to their stash.

     Tracey was especially thrilled when a Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) deigned to boldly flash its colours.

     Some kinglets migrate but, incredibly, many of these tiny birds, barely bigger than a hummingbird, will spend the winter here.

     Does a tree in fall not look splendid?

Bechtel Park, Waterloo, ON

     Tracey mentioned that she had searched long and hard in Bechtel Park to find an Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) but without sucess.

     Since we were not far away, Miriam and I offered to accompany them over there to show them where we had located "our" owl.

     Selwyn and Victoria indicated that they wished to come too; then Lindsey said to her mom, "Do you want to go?", so other than Tara and André, we all went to Bechtel woods.

     Success was our reward!

     This diminutive little owl was at the lip of its hole for all to see.

     Elaine was especially ecstatic, and Tracey and Jenny no less, since it was a lifer for all of them. I am not quite sure whether it was a first for Selwyn and Victoria, but they were thrilled in any event.

     A couple of Hairy Woodpeckers (Leuconotopicus villosus) plied their trade, but it's hard to compete with an owl, and I think they were paid scant attention!

     Another great outing with wonderful people came to a close.

     In a couple of weeks time we'll do it all again.