Tuesday Rambles with David - West Perth Wetland, Mitchell, ON

23 May 2017

     Not having visited Mitchell for a few months we decided to make that our destination for our regular Tuesday walk. All the regulars were present, except for Judy, and for this outing we were joined by John Pringle, an avid and highly accomplished bird photographer from Britain, a friend of Kevin Grundy with whom he is visiting.

     As you can see, John has a lens bigger than most people's ambitions!

     Our old friend Curtiss MacDonald was visiting the West Perth Wetland that day and joined our group too.

     Originally a sewage treatment plant, this area has been transformed into a wetland which attracts a wide range of birds, and features a substantial shorebird presence during spring and fall migration.

     Most of the northbound shorebird migration has already occurred and the southward movement has not yet started, but John managed to capture these stunning images of  a lingering Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla.

     One quickly appreciates what a skilled photographer with the right equipment and a full complement of patience and skill can do.

     John was no less successful with this male Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas. 

     Francine had never had a really good look at a Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis so we felt it our bounden duty to serve one up for her.

     Red-winged Blackbirds Agelaius phoenicius were seen and heard wherever we walked, males defending their harems.....

     ..............and females gathering nesting material and in some cases already feeding young.

     

     It was a pleasant surprise to see three Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis in one of the ponds.

     There were many, many Canada Geese Branta canadensis with young - always a delightful spectacle.

     Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia, as might be expected, was ubiquitous.

     Of the three species of swallow we observed Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor was far and away the most common.

     Near the end of our walk we saw a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheuticus ludovicianus.

     Eastern Kingbird Tyannus tyrannus  was the default flycatcher for the day.

    Miriam heard a Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii and John was able to get a picture.

  
   

     Francine captured a picture of our group.......

     ........ and it's not hard to see that we all have fun on these weekly outings. Mary was back with us for the first time in a few weeks and we were all delighted to welcome her back into the fold.

     I haven't decided where we will go next week, but I can assure you that we will have a wonderful time together.

All species: Canada Goose, Mallard, Ruddy Duck, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Kildeer, Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Downy Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, American Crow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch.  Total: 30.

Tuesday Rambles with David - Hamilton/Burlington Area

29 November 2016

     Our usual complement of eight was diminished a tad this week as Miriam, Carol and Francine were all under the weather to one degree or another - minor ailments but enough to keep them inside for the day, and Mary couldn't make it. However, I was joined by Judy, Franc, Jim and, as a bonus. Cara Poulsen, a University of Waterloo student you have met in previous posts. In a peverse way, it was good that some of our usual crew couldn't join us, since Cara wanted to join us and we don't want to let our group get beyond eight participants.

     Judy had expressed an interest in heading down to Lake Ontario where the spectacular concentrations of waterfowl have started to populate the area, so that is what we did.

     Our first stop was at the DesJardins Canal in Dundas, ON where ducks often congregate in fairly large numbers, always close at hand since the canal is quite narrow. In addition to waterfowl, the surrounding vegetation harbours numerous passerines. This Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis posed nicely for a picture.

     Dark-eyed Juncos and American Tree Sparrows Spizella arborea are two species that are emblematic of of the fall influx of northerly breeders, and both were present.

     There was abundant Goldenrod Solidago sp. and Teasel Dipsacus sylvestris (and other assorted grasses) to provide lots of food for seed-eating species and American Goldfinches Spinus tristis were quick to take advantage of this bonanza.

     There are few trees, but they were exploited by Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens and Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus but we had a clear line of sight only on this male Downy, searching for insects, grubs and spider eggs under the bark.

     Ironically, waterfowl, the primary purpose for our visit, were in short supply. There were numerous Canada Geese Branta canadensis, Mallards Anas platyrynchos, and a pair of Hooded Mergansers Lophodytes cucullatus, but not a single other species. The most photogenic of this entourage were the mergansers, but they took one look at us, flew to the opposite bank and concealed themselves in the reeds.

     We moved on to LaSalle Park in Burlington where we were confident that the waterfowl populations would be greater and more varied - and such turned out to be the case.

     Numerous Greater Scaup Aythya marila were present, some even close enough to shore for photographs.

     There were at least a hundred Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis swimming, diving and feeding, but this is a tiny duck and they were quite far out. A lone female came a little closer than the others, albeit briefly, before it rejoined the main flock.

        By this time of the year American Herring Gulls Larus smithsonianus have often replaced Ring-billed Gulls Larus delawarensis as the most populous larid, but we saw few of the former and Ring-billed Gulls predominated everywhere. There seems to be a bit of an irrational bias on the part of some against gulls, but I always enjoy them and this Ring-billed Gull in flight shows what truly beautiful creatures they are, graceful and streamlined, masters in the air.

     Substantial rafts of Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula are common sights now and numbers will continue to increase over the next few weeks. These hardy little ducks take all the harsh weather that winter can throw at them as they survive on wave-tossed Lake Ontario. There are a few species which cause one to scratch one's head wondering how the the name was ever derived, but as the picture below shows Common Goldeneye has a moniker to suit.

     This juvenile Common Merganser Mergus merganser is well equipped to handle the vagaries of winter and the savage weather it can sometimes deliver.

     Mute Swan Cygnus olor is an introduced species, resented by some, but it is a magnificent creature, worthy of our admiration. In addition to its beauty, it is a dedicated parent and staunch defender of the family - traits we admire in humans.

     Mallard is the most cosmopolitan of all ducks and is the ancestor of many strains of domestic duck. This male in flight is paradigm of grace and aerial skill.

     Buffleheads Bucephala albeola populate the Great Lakes in equal measure to Common Goldeneye and are a familiar sight on the winter waterscape.

     American Black Duck Anas sparsa hybridizes so frequently with Mallards that it is an increasingly rare sight to encounter pure American Black Ducks. This individual seems to have some degree of interbreeding.

     As we walked along the woodland trail cheeky Black/Grey Squirrels Sciurus carolinensis scampered along with us, hoping for handouts. Several of them had these curious pale ear tufts.

     There were a few Redheads Aythya americana on the water, often singles and hanging out with other ducks.

     Trumpeter Swans Cygnus buccinator, surely the most regal of all swans, can always be found at LaSalle Park in the winter, where they dominate all of the other waterfowl. When they are vocal it is easy to appreciate why they are called Trumpeter Swans.

     To end the day we moved on to Stoney Creek, past Hamilton and on the way to Niagara Falls, to check out two reliable spots, Fifty Road and Creanona Boulevard, where close access to the water can be gained, with very large concentrations of waterfowl.

     Many Buffleheads were present.

     As were substantial flocks of Common Goldeneye.

     Long-tailed Ducks Clangula hyemalis have arrived in their usual huge numbers, riding out the swell and diving to feed on zebra mussels. This male is coming in for a landing.

    Three species of Scoter were present, but usually very far offshore. White-winged Scoter Melanitta deglandi was most numerous.

     It was a fine day of birding with much to be enjoyed. I have little doubt that we will be doing this trip again before the winter is out.