Winter at Home

     Winter has been real winter since our return from Ottawa, with lots of snow (I shovelled the sidewalk and my driveway four days in a row), so we have not been rambling too much. This post, therefore will consist of a few highlights from home, some dating back a couple of weeks before white became the dominant colour of the landscape.

09 January, 2023

     Hairy Woodpecker (Leucontopicus villosus) is not always easy to find so we consider ourselves especially fortunate that a male comes to our yard regularly to feed on suet packed with seed and nuts.

     Not only does it arrive with predictable frequency, it stays for as long as it takes to become satiated before flying off. A rare privilege, we think.

10 January, 2023

     An American Linden (Tilia americana) in front of our house had died and the municipality dispatched an army of chainsaw warriors to take it down. I was actually hoping that they would leave it for a while, since I think it was in no danger of imminently toppling, and the bark had separated so beautifully to provide nest space for a Brown Creeper (Certhia americana). Realistically, however, I knew that chances of that happening were slim to none.

     We were sitting in the house enjoying mid morning coffee when we finally clued in to what was happening. By then the mighty tree was an ignominious corpse, shattered and broken, lying on asphalt.

     It is incredible the size of branches they can feed into the maw of the wood chipper.

     We were very happy when finally the sylvan destroyers moved on and silence was restored.

     One day in spring, I am sure another crew will come along to plant a sapling in the linden's place. It had better be a native species or I will be having a chat with the city!

17 January, 2023

     We continue with our efforts to encourage American Crows (Corvus brachyrynchos) to become part of our circle of friends, although I suspect we have lost some of our gains by being away for four days.

    Today (29 January, as I type this), however, five individuals paid a visit and responded to Miriam's voice when she called them in, and fed on the scraps of fat and cheese we tossed out for them.

     They go to their familiar perches and permit us minutes on end to gaze upon their sleek and glossy beauty. You can barely imagine our excitement and sheer pleasure at sharing our world with these lordly birds.

    I made a peanut butter sandwich for them, cut it up and tossed it out, but wily squirrels beat them to the feast.

17 January, 2023

     While squirrels have the capacity at times to incite mental anguish in frustrated human feeders of birds, one is bound to admit that they are endearing and appealing.

     A Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), on the other hand, elicits only whoops of joy.

28 January, 2023

     One can never have too many types of food on offer for our feathered friends, so I invested in some fat balls (grins and smirks permitted). 

     As you can see, they are a great success. It took a Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) no time at all to find them.

     I expect that the next post will contain a little more variety, but I am hopeful that these few pictures will entertain you and keep you on tenterhooks waiting for more of the World of Wonders from Waterloo!

Iam linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

A Check on the Great Horned Owls and Other Observations

 8 April 2022 

     We intend to make regular checks on the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) nest, and will post pictures so that you can monitor the progress of the owlets along with us.

     This morning, a week after seeing the nest for the first time, there was a noticeable difference in the appearance of the youngsters. They have grown and are rapidly acquiring their feathers; in fact, at first we thought that there was only one bird in the nest, and  were sad to contemplate that the other might have come to a bad end.

     The nest seems unusually small for a bird this size, and we considered the possibility that one of the owlets had fallen over the side of the nest.

     We were greatly relieved, however, when looking at the nest from the rear we saw that two birds were present, perched back-to-back.

     One owlet is smaller than its sibling and was completely blocked when first we saw the nest.

     A loud chorus of agitated American Crows (Corvus brachyrynchos) led us to the location of one of the adults, perched at a discreet distance from the nest, but able to offer protection if needed.

     After enjoying their company for about fifteen to twenty minutes (they were completely indifferent to us!) we bade them farewell with a promise to return next week. By then they may be out of the nest exploring branches. 

5 April, 2022

Benjamin Park Trail, Waterloo, ON

     Recently municipal by-laws were changed to permit people living in subdivisions to have chickens in their backyard.

     We were delighted to see that someone had taken advantage of the situation and had installed a chicken coop, and the domestic variant of Gallus gallus was wandering at will.

     This is an ideal location because the houses back onto a natural area and the fowl are free to scratch in the soil as they would in their native habitat.  We watched them rolling in the dirt in sheer pleasure, presumably dislodging ectoparasites in the process.

     An Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) was keenly alert to the new goings-on in his neighbourhood.

     American Robin (Turdus migratorius), always common, seems to be exceptionally abundant this year.

     This tree in an advanced state of decay bears the marks of wood-boring insects that have invaded the cambium.

     They give the impression of contour lines on a topographical map.

     Robins, among all the birds that we see, seem to take inordinate joy from bathing.

     It's always great to see a Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus).

5 April, 2022

Mill Race Trail, St. Jacobs, ON

     Tuesday walks, known as "Rambles with David" are ostensibly about birding, but have morphed more into a social event, a gabfest in fact, with little attention paid to the birds.

     Here are a few highlights from the Mill Race Trail.

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

 

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinensis)

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)

Lily

     And here is what so many of you have been waiting for - new pictures of Lily.

     In just two months she will be two years old. What a princess she has become!

A Couple of Recent Walks through Snowy Woods

08 February 2022

Hillside Park, Waterloo, ON

     The first sight to greet us was a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) perched stoically in a tree, weathering the storm like the rest of us.

     Most Great Blue Herons migrate at the approach of winter, but a few hardy individuals always remain, and over the past twenty years or so I have seen this species here in every month of the year. They are opportunistic feeders, and in addition to capturing prey in open water, will take waterfowl, rodents, rabbits and other mammals, anything they can capture really. As long as they are able locate food they appear to be capable of tolerating harsh weather.

     It was a snowy day in the park.

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.