Hillside Park with Waterloo Region Nature

     There are few things I enjoy more in life than leading a bird walk, and when I can do it under the auspices of my favourite naturalists club the pleasure is magnified.

     A group of enthusiastic participants took part in my two latest outings to Hillside Park in Waterloo. In the first contingent the youngest participant was seventeen months old and the oldest a mature eighty-three years. Birding does have its allure!

24 November 2021

Leader: David M. Gascoigne

Members: Miriam Bauman, Lynn Conway, Pauline Copleston, Lisa Den Besten, Beth Hobson, Jen Leat, Graham Macdonald, Marg Macdonald, Karl Malhotra, Geoff Moore, Heather Polan (with Lily), Pauline Richards, Rog Suffling, Kathy Waybrant, Andrew Wesolowski. 

Jen, Kathy, Karl, Lisa, Geoff, Beth, Pauline C, Marg, Rog. Graham, Pauline R, Lynn, Andrew, David

A Post on the Post and Other Tidbits

 Nature's repetitions are never boring.

Tim Dee  

     Of late we have been mainly confined to home by COVID lockdown, with only short excursions permitted, with a little birding here and there, so this blog entry is a combination of about a week and a half of odds and ends.

On the Post

     Three Bridges Road in St. Jacobs has been a favourite birding spot for many years, and the number of species seen there is quite remarkable for a very ordinary country road.

     One of the attractions is a post where people place bird seed and it has been a bit of a magnet for various species. 

     On 1 February we placed a little seed on the post ourselves and waited in the car for birds to take advantage of the handout. In mere minutes we were joined by a Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), always the most numerous species.

     White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) appears to travel with the chickadees, for as soon as one appears the other is not far behind.

     Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is fairly predictable too, although not as reliable as the previous two species.

     A gambling man would have a safe bet predicting that Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) would show up nine times out of ten.

     This female was collecting seeds from the top of the post and stashing them immediately below.

     This seemed a little counter-productive to us for the chickadees and the nuthatches were there to witness it, and sometimes as many as three downies were present in the immediate vicinity, and I doubt it escaped their attention either.

     But what do we know of the ways of a woodpecker?

     Several other species have used the post over the years and by digging into the archives I can show you some of them.

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) with House Sparrows (Passer domesticus)

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes caorlinus)

     The post is located about a hundred metres from the Conestogo River where a group of Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) was busily feeding.

     It was starting to get dark when we left and we experienced a beautiful sunset as the day came to a close.

The Mill Race Trail

     We have had our first cold snap of the winter recently, and even though it has not been unduly cold by normal late-January, early-February standards the temperature stayed low enough for a few days to freeze local ponds and streams.

     Some enterprising skater had turned the Mill Race into a kilometre-long rink. Perhaps he (she?) had friends to help clear the snow to expose the ice.

     A Dark-eyed Junco paid little heed to it all.

A Drive through the country

     White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have no doubt benefitted from a mild winter with less than usual snowfall, and this individual looked sleek and healthy in a field of corn stubble. 

     It was far enough away that it did not take flight when we stopped the car and Miriam stepped outside to take a picture.

     Winter snows lend a special charm to the landscape, and strangely, even though the farmhouse and outbuildings are there, a hint of desolation.

     For the second time in the past couple of weeks we saw two Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) side-by-side in a tree, uncharacteristically close at this time of the year it seems to me.

     Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) can appear like a swirling cloud in the snowy fields, and are constantly in motion, stopping to feed, but bursting into the air again at the slightest provocation, real or imagined. Despite our best entreaties this small flock was not inclined to approach us any closer.

     Perhaps we will see more on our next search for them and be able to share better images.

     An American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), relatively rare in recent years, had succeeded in capturing dinner.

Our backyard

     One might be forgiven for concluding that birds in the backyard have put on a special effort to keep us entertained during lockdown, for they have been numerous and, of course, are close at hand.

     One of the most pleasing of recent events is the presence of a male Red-bellied Woodpecker as a regular visitor.

     It is not the first time a red-belly has graced us with its presence, but this one seems to have found everything entirely to his liking and we see him quite often.

     A couple of Hairy Woodpeckers (Dryobates villosus) have similarly found that the Gascoigne/Bauman Café is a fine place to dine.

     As many of you will know, Hairy Woodpecker bears a strong resemblance to Downy Woodpecker, but is larger, with a longer, more robust bill. Some find it hard to differentiate the two species without seeing them together, but in the case of the male, the back of the head is diagnostic.

     The red cap is broken on a Hairy Woodpecker, on a Downy Woodpecker it is continuous.

     It is rare that we fail to see a Mourning Dove, almost from first light until the end of the day. Our highest count of late was twenty-one.

     White-breasted Nuthatch is equally common although not in the same abundance as Mourning Doves. We routinely see two and from time to time have noted a third.

     What would backyard bird feeding be without pesky squirrels to both distract and entertain, to give you fits, and moments of unalloyed delight?

     Let me leave you with a few more images of Red-bellied Woodpecker, a species named no doubt by a drunken taxonomist with a perverse sense of humour.

A red belly is hardly its most prominent feature!

     That little smudge you see is apparently what passes for a red belly.

     Ah well, the suet tastes good.

     And it helps a fellow get by on a cold winter's day.

     We will have to see what other pictures and bon mots we can bring you next time. I am beginning to think another drive through the hinterland is called for.

     So long for now.....

Short - But Very Sweet

Friday 06 November 2020

RIM Park, Waterloo, ON

     Friday is Lily and Heather day for us and we all met up together at 09h:00 to go for a walk. The weather was delightful to say the least, as it has been for most of November. Given that November can often be one of the most miserable months of the year, with shorter days and grey skies, and the first snow of the season, we have been very fortunate.

     Lily had a brand new toy to amuse her and she seemed quite taken with it.

     She has no teeth to clean yet, but she figured out where the brush is supposed to go!

     We took along a chickadee for her which has an absolutely faithful rendition of the bird's song when squeezed. First of all she didn't quite know what to make of it, but soon she was grabbing for it eagerly.

     The number of birds in the park was very low. It appears that most of the migrants have departed but many of the winter residents have not yet occupied their space.

     We spotted a small group of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) who eyed us cautiously but seemed unperturbed.

     No doubt Homo sapiens is a familiar species to them, and in the safety of the park not of the hunting subspecies, so we aroused little concern on their part.

      The trees of November seem stark against the sky, devoid of leaves, but already holding the promise of spring.

     Lily is always as good as gold on our walks, but she is especially happy when Heather decides to "wear" her. It's not hard to understand that nothing could be much better than being snuggled up close to mom, perhaps able to detect that familiar heartbeat.

      And if you can have a chew on a strap too, so much the better!

     We have doubtless walked past this nest of a paper wasp several times, never noticing it before.

     We all agreed that we had not previously seen an American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos) feeding on the fruit of Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina), but this individual seemed to be attacking it with relish.

     We had a good long walk, chatted, laughed, exercised, and revelled in the simple joy of being together.

     And Lily keeping us company made the whole experience even better.

     See you next Friday Heather and Lily!

Tuesday Rambles with David - Linear Trail, Cambridge, ON

04 July 2017

     Jim and Francine are away in Québec visiting Francine's mother, but the six remaining members of our group of eight were back together again. Yippee!

     Mary had previously visited the Linear Trail, but for Franc, Carol and Judy it was their first experience of what is a very pleasant walk. Miriam and I have traversed its length and breadth several times.

     The trail meanders alongside the Speed River initially as it slowly makes its way to  merge with the Grand River farther upstream.

     The Linear Trail, in our experience, has never been overcrowded, and seems quite bucolic despite the presence of tended parkland on one side, and houses fronting that park.

     We kept our eye on the river and were soon rewarded with a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) stealthily hunting in the shallows.  The stealth and cunning of the heron was matched only by Franc's determination to get in position for the perfect shot.

   

     The bird captured a fish, and Franc his picture, a pretty satisfactory conclusion for all concerned.

     The spot where the Grand and Speed Rivers meet is colloquially called The Confluence, and the broad expanse of water can at different times of the year host a wide variety of species.

    We saw many Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) but even with three cameras shooting we were unable to come up with a decent picture of a male. Abundant females were also present, however, some feeding young, and our luck was a little better with these birds.

     This mother seemed ready to deliver a substantial package of protein to a youngster patiently waiting, hidden in the dense foliage.

     Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were ubiquitous.

     The entire Grand River watershed hosts a substantial and thriving population of Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and at one point we had four of these magnificent raptors cruising and soaring over our heads.

     A little later we saw a nest atop a constructed tower with two young birds visible. It is a great privilege to have so many breeding pairs in this area and it bears mentioning that local Hydro Electric Authorities, the Grand River Conservation Authority, the rare Charitable Research Reserve, and others, have all played a part in enhancing habitat for this species, and nurturing a robust population.

     Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilocus colubris) is the only species of hummingbird to spend its breeding season here. This male was defending a territory, proclaiming to all other males to stay out, and chattering seductively to entice a female to mate with him.

     Perhaps this female has already succumbed to his charms.

     As might be expected, this riparian corridor supports a variety of mammalian life too, and we spotted an American Mink (Mustela vison) in and out of the water, complete in its mastery of both habitats.

     White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) also came to the river's edge to forage and drink.

     We did not locate a nest, but judging by the presence of this species in July, we may conclude that American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is breeding along the Linear Trail.

     Grey Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) chortled and mimicked other birds from deep within tangles, but occasionally an individual perched in the open, perhaps to have room to spread its wings to facilitate its toilette.

     Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) appears to have had a very successful breeding season this year, judging from the sheer numbers of young rabbits to be seen everywhere. I always enjoy seeing them in our backyard, but Miriam is not so keen when they nibble back everything that emerges from the ground. She is experimenting with different substances to deter the rabbits from thwarting her gardening efforts.

     Butterflies are abundant, seldom seeming to alight long enough for a photograph, however. This Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) was the exception.

     We spotted numerous Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater), not always with unalloyed pleasure when contemplating the range of species being parasitized by this obligate brood parasite. Here is a male resting in the grass.

     This female American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) perhaps is already sitting on eggs most of the time, or perhaps has young to feed now that the seeds of dandelion, teasel, burdock and other plants are readily available, with thistles soon to follow.

     A female Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) has perhaps already fledged her young to independence.

     American Robins (Turdus migratorius) were seen throughout. In the manicured section of the park the grass was being cut and there seemed to be good pickings on the insects disturbed.

     Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) were very common and we were rarely out of earshot of their stereotypical song.

     A day without a Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is like a day without sunshine and today we had both in abundance.

     Just before the end of the trail a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) perched and preened for several minutes, a delight for all of us.

          Day Lily, or Tiger Lily ( Hemerocallis fulva) is common along roadsides, paths and weedy areas, and this beautiful plant was abundant along the Linear Trail.

     It seems quite fitting that this show of beauty was present at the end of our walk to bid us farewell.

     A very enjoyable four hours was had by all and we look forward to doing it again next week.