A search for a Ross's and Solitaire

March 27 2020. First thing in the morning my dad told me that we were going to go birding for two targets; a Ross’s Goose and a Townsends Solitaire! So I ate my cereal quickly, got dressed and then we hit the road.  Our first target was the Ross’s Goose. It was at the Guelph Correctional Ponds in Wellington, Ontario. We had gone there a few days before to look for two Wellington year birds; an American Coot and a Horned Grebe- we saw both!

       American Coot- Guelph Correctional Ponds March 24, 2020, 7:20PM

Horned Grebe- Guelph Correctional Ponds March 24, 2020, 7:20PM

When we finally got there we got out and saw another birder heading down there. When we were heading down the path my dad spotted the Ross's so we got a few quick pics.  

Ross's Goose- Guelph Correctional Ponds March 27, 2020, 8:50AM

Ross's Goose- Guelph Correctional Ponds March 27, 2020, 8:50AM

Then we went to the bigger pond in the back and spotted my first Wellington Pie Billed Grebe. I got some very poor pictures. Some of the birds that we saw or heard were Common Goldeneyes, Hooded Mergansers, lots of Common Mergansers, Blackbirds, Canada Geese, Mallards, American Crows, Mourning Doves, Robins and Song Sparrows.

Canada Goose- Guelph Correctional Ponds March 27, 2020, 9:10AM

Song Sparrow- Guelph Correctional Ponds March 27, 2020, 9:10AM

Male Hooded Merganser- Guelph Correctional Ponds March 27, 2020, 9:10AM

I looked through the trees and saw the Ross’s getting closer and closer to land. So my dad, my sister (who’s five) and my brother (who’s  seven) and I quietly snuck over. On the way there I spotted a Muskrat.    

Once we got over there, I got some more pictures of the Ross’s. After that my dad also got some pictures and a video of it!

Ross's Goose- Guelph Correctional Ponds March 27, 2020, 9:10AM

Ross's Goose- Guelph Correctional Ponds March 27, 2020, 9:10AM

Satisfied with our pictures and sightings, we got in the car to go see our next target; the Townsend's Solitaire!  On the way there we spotted a Northern Harrier and I got my first identifiable pictures of one.

Northern Harrier Halton, Ontario March 27, 2020, 10:20AM   

Northern Harrier Halton, Ontario March 27, 2020, 10:20AM

The Townsend's Solitaire was seen in the Hydro Corridor in Peel, Ontario. It was last seen somewhere between 8:00-8:30AM that morning. When we got down there we saw a few other birders including Joanne Redwood. There were lots of Blackbirds (Grackles and Red Winged Blackbirds), House Sparrows, Robins but no Solitaire.

Common Grackle- Hydro Corridor, Peel, Ontario, March 27, 2020,10:50AM  

American Crow- Hydro Corridor, Peel, Ontario, March 27, 2020 ,11:00AM

Not about to give up, we walked to another place with the same habitat and checked it out. There was more garbage there and you could see that  it was a dog walking place (from all of the you know what). There was a Crow, some Robins, House Sparrows and two European Starlings....but still no Solitaire.

Finally, defeated, we walked to our car and went back home to find out what kinds of animals awaited us there!

Introduction. My first blog post!!

Hi! My name is Desmond MacNeal. I have a real interest in nature, especially birds. Some of my favourite families are Waterfowl, Shorebird, Gulls, Terns, Woodpeckers and so on.  I’m getting into mammals, frogs and reptiles, insects etc. I am 10 years old and I got really interested in nature when I was nine. I put my pictures of mammals, birds, plants etc. Click on this tab if you want to see my observations. My spark bird (that made me interested in all this) is the American Woodcock!  I love seeing and hearing them in our field. I love how during one of their displays they go up high in the sky and then dive down doing spirals and making a high pitched chip.

American Woodcock-  Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario, March 2020- 4:50PM

American Woodcock-  Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario, March 2020- 4:50PM

I live in Guelph Eramosa, Wellington.  When I grow up I want to go around the world doing Quest Nature Tours. My family has a field in the front (where we see our Woodcocks) and a field in the back. Behind the back field is a pretty big forest and there is a small clearing with Tiger Beetles. There is also a small pond with Green Frogs, Wood Frogs, Leopard Frogs, Eastern Newts and Spring Peepers.

Six Spotted Tiger Beetle- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario, May 20, 2019- 11:20AM

Right behind our house we have a larger pond, which we call Darner Pond. It is home to Leopard Frogs, Green Frogs, Eastern Newts, Muskrats (we think there are two) and Midland Painted Turtles. In Darner Pond we put a minnow trap and so far we've caught four species- Brook Stickleback, Fathead Minnow, Central Mudminnow and Northern Redbelly Dace. If you want to have look at what we've seen at our property, here is a link to our iNaturalist property project.  My dad is also really interested in nature and his name is Dan MacNeal. 

                                                                       

The reason why I am starting a blog is because of Josh Vandermeulen. If you want to read his blog (which I suggest you do), click on his name. He shares all of his awesome adventures! He inspired me to make this blog in the first place. So if you're reading this, Josh, thank you so much!!!!

Oh here is a picture of me!