Monday, April 20, 2020

Waterfowl...

On March 30, 2020 my dad and I wanted to get two Wellington year birds; a Ruddy Duck and a Northern Shoveler.  So we left after breakfast and went to go see the  Ruddy Ducks first. On our way there we stopped at a pond and saw some Mallards, Common Goldeneyes, Ring-necked Ducks, Canada Geese, Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead and a Lesser Scaup.

Common Goldeneye- Guelph, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 10:30AM

Lesser Scuape- Guelph, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 10:30AM


Canada Goose- Guelph, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 10:20AM
Ring-necked Ducks- Guelph, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 10:20AM



Then after that we went to the pond with the Ruddy Duck. Once we got there we saw some Ring-necked Ducks, Canada Geese, a Pie-billed Grebe, Bufflehead, Common Mergansers then finally some Ruddy Ducks. My dad spotted two of them when we were looking at a group of Ring-necked Ducks in the back of the pond.

Ruddy Duck- Mountsberg, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 10:40AM 


Then we had a stop at Barber's Beach before going to check for the Northern Shovelers. When we were looking at the waterfowl in the water my dad shouted, "Common Loon flying!" I thought, "Yes! another year bird!" Then I took some poor pictures of it before it flew out of sight.

Common Loon- Mountsberg, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 10:50AM


Then finally we went to go see if the Shovelers were still around. When we got there right off the bat we spotted a pair of Northern Shovelers. We also saw some Mallards,  Killdeer, Canada Geese, Green-winged Teal and some American Wigeons.

Canada Goose- Mountsberg, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 11:30AM

Killdeer- Mountsberg, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 11:30AM 

American Wigeon- Mountsberg, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 11:30AM

Northern Shovelers- Mountsberg, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 11:30AM



Then with both of our targets met we left and went home. But on the way home we stopped at another waterway in Mountsberg where Barb Charlton had once found a Eurasian Wigeon!  When we got there we saw some Canada Geese and Mallards and in the distance a Gadwall. As I was looking at the lake my dad said, "Osprey, Osprey!" I thought, "Wow this day just keeps on getting better! What's next? A Hermit Thrush?!"I spotted the Osprey, grabbed my camera and took some poor record shots. It turned out that it was the first one in Wellington seen for theyear and as we were looking at the photos I got we saw that it was carrying a fish!

Osprey- Mountsberg, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 11:40AM


After that we went to see if we could go find it again. My dad said he knew a place where they nested nearby at a baseball field. So sure enough when we got there we saw the Osprey on the nest so I got a few more pictures.

Then it flew away and we waited for a minute or so and then a saw it flying back with a broken branch. It landed in the nest and moved the stick around the nest trying to put it in the right place. But I guess it was picky because the next thing I knew dropped that branch and went looking for another one.

 
Osprey- Mountsberg, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 11:40AM



On the way home we spotted a Red-tailed Hawk. But this wasn't like a typical one, this one was super pale.



Pale Red-Tailed Hawk- Mountsberg, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 12:10PM



Then after that we went home. When we got to our home our Purple Finch greeted us with its song and the other sounds of nature.



Purple Finch- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 30, 2020, 12:30PM






Sunday, April 19, 2020

Yard Creatures

On March 28, 2020 I got up from a nice sleep and was ready to get out there.  

My dad asked if I wanted to join him on a walk and I gladly accepted the offer. At the farmer's field out back we spotted a group of sixteen or seventeen turkeys! The tom was showing off his feathers while the females slowly walked around. But when we came too close they all ran away.

Wild Turkey- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 8:00AM


We also saw the pair of Bluebirds going in the nesting boxes. We’ve been putting nesting boxes all over our property and they have been looking at each one.

Eastern Bluebird- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 8:00AM 

Eastern Bluebird- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 8:00AM 


Then we slowly started making our way back. When we got back I had breakfast then read some books and had some lunch.  Finally I grabbed my camera and my binoculars and went out. 

Once I got outside I saw a Robin taking a bath in a small puddle on our driveway. And again I saw the pair of Bluebirds checking out the nesting boxes, but this time they were looking at the boxes at the front of our property. Some other birds that were around were Song Sparrows, European Starlings, Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles, Turkey Vultures, American Crows, American Tree Sparrows, Blue Jays, American Goldfinches, Dark Eyed Juncoes,  Black-capped Chickadees and a Downy Woodpecker.

Eastern Bluebird- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 2:10PM

American Robin- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 2:20PM

American Robin- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 2:20PM

Black-capped Chickadee- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 2:40PM
Song Sparrow - Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 3:10PM

Red-winged Blackbird- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March, 28, 2020, 5:00PM

I went along the pond and found lots of these plants (see below). I also went up the trail a and found some Redshank!

Redshank- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 2:50PM

Redshank- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 2:50PM

Redshank- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 2:50PM

Plants sp- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 2:50PM

Plants sp- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 2:50PM


I saw two gulls soaring but they could not be identified with the pictures I got.



Gulls sp- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 28, 2020, 3:00PM


So after a long day outside I came in to eat my dinner and then read a book before bed...    but just before I went to bed I opened the door and heard a Woodcock! What a great day it had been! 








Saturday, April 18, 2020

A Snow Goose and a Canvesback


On March 29, 2020, I woke up happy and ready to start the day! At the feeder were some Red Winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, Dark Eyed Juncoes, American Tree Sparrows, American Goldfinches, Blue Jays, Black Capped Chickadees and an occasional Song Sparrow.


Red Winged Blackbird- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 29, 2020, 12:20AM

Red Winged Blackbird- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 29, 2020, 12:20AM

After breakfast I went outside and saw a pair of Eastern Bluebirds on one of our nesting boxes.  


Eastern Bluebird- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 29, 2020, 12:50PM

After a nice lunch we went out to get our day's target; a blue morph Snow Goose. It was located in Fergus, Wellington, Ontario. So me and my dad set out to find it. On the way there we spotted a nice looking Turkey Vulture.


Turkey Vulture- Fergus, Wellington, Ontario- March 29, 2020, 1:24PM


When we got to the place we looked around where it was seen in the morning. We did not exactly find the blue morph but we did find an immature Snow Goose...to think that there were two different Snow Geese sightings not too far away in four hours! Pretty nice.






Snow Goose- Fergus, Wellington, Ontario- March 29, 2020, 1:40PM

Canada Goose- Fergus, Wellington, Ontario- March 29, 2020, 1:40PM

After we checked some other ponds nearby and we found lots of Ring Billed Gulls.


Ring Billed Gulls- Fergus, Wellington, Ontario- March 29, 2020, 1:30PM


Our next stop was the Hillsburgh Pond. It is one of my favourite places to watch for geese. About a week ago my dad and I found Cackling Geese, a Snow Goose, Canada Geese and a Greater White Fronted Goose.

Snow Goose- Hillsburgh Pond, Wellington Ontario- March 22, 2020, 3:50PM

Snow Goose- Hillsburgh Pond, Wellington Ontario- March 22, 2020, 3:50PM

Greater White Fronted Goose- Hillsburgh Pond, Wellington Ontario- March 22, 2020, 3:50PM

Greater White-fronted Goose- Hillsburgh Pond, Wellington Ontario- March 22, 2020, 3:50PM

Cackling Geese (smaller ones)- Hillsburgh Pond, Wellington Ontario- March 22, 2020, 3:50PM

Cackling Geese (smaller ones)- Hillsburgh Pond, Wellington Ontario- March 22, 2020, 3:50PM

When we got there and were about to get out a few rain drops fell, and in a few seconds it was pouring pretty hard! We waited about five minutes and then it slowly stopped. We got out and went to the pond and the first thing I spotted was a pair a Canvasback. Since it can be a good bird in Wellington I got excited and told my dad. It was a Wellington year bird for both of us!

Canvasback- Hillsburgh Pond, Wellington Ontario- March 29, 2020, 2:40

Common Merganser- Hillsburgh Pond, Wellington Ontario- March 29, 2020, 2:40PM

Canvasback- Hillsburgh Pond, Wellington Ontario- March 29, 2020, 2:40

Canada Goose- Hillsburgh Pond, Wellington Ontario- March 29, 2020, 2:40PM

Common Merganser- Hillsburgh Pond, Wellington Ontario- March 29, 2020, 2:40PM


Then we checked out what other kinds of birds were there and then left feeling happy with our findings!

When we got home there was still one more treat in store for us; a Wood Frog! And with that our day came to an end!


Wood Frog- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 29, 2020, 3:30PM

Wood Frog- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 29, 2020, 3:30PM

Wood Frog- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 29, 2020, 3:30PM

Wood Frog- Guelph Eramosa, Wellington, Ontario- March 29, 2020, 3:30PM