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.     

Tuesday Rambles with David - Hillside Park, Waterloo, ON

      Having spent the weekend in Ottawa with my daughter, Caroline, and her family, we were happy to be back with our "gang" for our regular Tuesday ramble. Mary was unable to make it this week, so we were seven today.
     The past few days have brought full-on winter conditions to southern Ontario, and it was with great delight that we embarked on a walk through Hillside Park in crisp, clean snow with the temperature a very pleasant minus 4°C.
     The winter scene was little short of exquisite.

     The air was still and clear with no wind, and bright sunshine. It was a Christmas card made to order, with birds aplenty to complete the scene.
     We could have been forgiven at several points along the way had we concluded that a convention of cardinals was taking place (the important kind, not those ancient celibates in Rome). Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) were vivid exclamation marks against the whites and greens of the season as they sought winter provender. 

     Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) no doubt were also finding food throughout the snowy woods.

     The creek runs swiftly enough through Hillside Park that there is always open water, even in the depths of winter.

     We knew that last year a male Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) had remained throughout the winter, maintaining a territory in anticipation of the return of a female in spring, so we mounted a search to see whether he had stayed again this year. It did not take long to find him, with Francine's sharp eyes detecting him first. Miriam's picture was taken at a distance, but it serves to record this significant sighting.

     There were no takers at the bench this morning.

         But we cast a long shadow on the trail.

     White-breasted Nuthatches (Sitta carolinensis) were both vocal and visible, foraging along trunks and branches in that most characteristic nuthatch way; upside down is all in a day's work for a nuthatch.

     Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) were never far from us either.

     And Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), that gallant cavalier of the woodland, had no hesitation in showing off his finery.

     A few forlorn leaves still clung to a branch here and there.....

     ..... and the snow on the evergreens was magical to say the least. Be sure not to walk under the tree when a squirrel is scampering across the branches, however, or you will be wearing that snow!

     At some point during every walk we muse about "the bird of the day." And since we all agree that any day when we find an owl is a banner day, kudos must go to Jim Huffman for locating an Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio).
     Here is Jim:

     And here is the owl:

     I will leave it up to you to decide who looks the wiser. Francine is not allowed to vote on this one!
     A Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) was not in the best position for a picture, but it did not escape unphotographed.

     Franc and I were a little ahead of the group when we saw a Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) come out of the creek and scurry into someone's backyard where it was grubbing around for food of some kind.

     It spent several minutes there so we assume its quest was successful.
     The resident House Sparrows (Passer domesticus), perched in a stand of Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) had their own affairs to take care of.

     At a section of the creek where houses are located on the opposite side of the path, Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) are prone to congregate and as soon as they see a human they all approach as one, knowing that often food will be dispensed.

     We could be forgiven for thinking this was dessert left out for us. Snow cone anyone?

     We made our way back to our cars and just a couple of minutes from the end of the trail a Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) graced us with its presence.

     What a great way to end a walk, already made memorable by the kingfisher and the owl. 
     I wonder where we will go next week?