Northern Pintail (Canard pilet) and Pals

Cunningham Pond

Maple, ON

20 November 2014

     Given the truly unbelievable proportions of the snowfall on Buffalo, NY over the past few days, we escaped relatively lightly. We don't share the lake effect which gives them so much precipitation, but geographically we are not far away. 

     It is still a full month until the winter solstice, but recent temperatures in our area have dipped to minus 12 Celcius and snowfall has been significant. Most small ponds are now completely frozen over and even larger areas of still water have significant ice cover.

     This was the situation at Cunningham Pond this morning. I would estimate that 90% of the surface water was frozen.

     Canada Geese Branta canadensis and Mallards Anas platyrynchos occupied the open water, with large numbers compressed into a small area.

     I scanned the flocks carefully and was rewarded when I caught the merest glimpse of a Northern Pintail Anas acuta behind a Canada Goose.

     Most of the birds were resting, with relatively little movement, so I waited patiently until a the inevitable squabbling started to occur and the birds shifted position. I got a better look.

     After a few more minutes several of the Canada Geese started to flap their wings and immerse themselves in the water and I was rewarded with a clear line on this male Northern Pintail, a bird which I have had very little success photographing in the past.

     I was happy that I had decided to wait it out.

     As might be expected many gulls were present also, including several American Herring Gulls Larus smithsonianus, recently arrived in this area.

     Ring-billed Gulls Larus delawarensis seemed to be pretty content to simply snooze on the ice.

     

Cackling Goose (Bernache de Hutchins)

Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii

Cunningham Pond

Maple, ON

6 November 2014

     For many years there was considerable debate and disagreement among
taxonomists about the various races and subspecies of Canada Goose Branta canadensis. 

     In July 2004 Cackling Goose was recognized as a valid species by the American Ornithologists Union, followed by similar action by the British Ornithologists Union in June 2005.

     The front cover of Volume 1 of Ducks, Geese and Swans (Oxford University Press) depicts a Cackling Goose alongside a Canada Goose, although at the time of publication (2005), they were not acknowledged as two species in the text.

     During fall migration in Ontario, if one scans flocks of Canada Geese carefully, there is always the possibility of turning up a few Cackling Geese, but it requires patience. The two species migrate together from their breeding grounds in Western Canada and Alaska.

     I was delighted to find a single bird with a large flock of Canada Geese at Cunningham Pond in Maple yesterday.

Gulls Perching on Roofs

Gulls Perching on Roofs of Houses

Cunningham Pond

Maple, ON

21 November 2013

    This relatively small wetland and pond harbours gulls at all seasons of the year, but as low temperatures in late fall and winter become the norm, there is generally a substantial build up of gulls, and when ice forms they loaf on the surface by the hundred. From time to time rarities show up in the winter and this pond is always worthy of checking.

    The pond is in the middle of a residential area and is surrounded by houses and schools. Shopping plazas are not far away, with all the attendant possibilities for food handouts from humans, and waste from restaurants. As can be seen from the pictures below the gulls use the roofs of the houses as convenient perches and I am sure the mess they create must cause great annoyance to the homeowners.

American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus

Ring-billed Gulls Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gulls Larus delawarensis

    There are several Tamarack Larix laricina trees (sometimes referred to as American Larch) along the shore and the following images show the profusion of cones this year, providing a welcome source of winter nourishment for many birds.

    Here are several views of the pond and some of the bird life present today.

Canada Geese Branta canadensis

Ring-billed Gulls Larus delawarensis

         This Red Osier Dogwood Cornus stolonifera was located in a marshy area.  It is a very attractive shrub and its fiery red colour stands out against the general drabness of other vegetation at this time of the year.