Avocets at Waterloo April 30, 2020

We were on our way to get a Wellington year bird. We also hoped that we were going to get another year bird in a different county. Our first stop was not too far from Ponsonby, in a field where we hoped to find some American Pipits. As we got there, Dad pulled out his spotting scope, I toke out my bins, and in a few minutes Dad had found a few. By the end we had located seventeen.

American Pipits- Wellington, Ontario- April 30, 2020 at 12:45PM

As we drove to the next spot (not in Wellington this time) we stopped over to see some Purple Martins at a Purple Martin nesting box. After a few moments we drove on, this time to our destination.

Purple Martins at a Purple Martin house- Waterloo, Ontario- April 30, 2020 at 1:13PM

As we got there we parked in a small parking lot, got out and went to the bridge to find at least 8-10 birders, and of course the birds.

American Avocets- Waterloo, Ontario- April 30, 2020 at 1:35PM

They were American Avocets-seventeen of them (the same as the number of pipets!) When we first saw them they were on the front of a little island, but some moved to the side of the river over time. The Avocets were found by Jim Burrell and many birders got to see them.  This bird will breed in the west of North America, in Marshes, but sometimes you'll find an Avocet where it doesn't usually go, like Ontario. These birds looked like they were in their breeding plumage.

American Avocets- Waterloo, Ontario- April 30, 2020 at 1:46PM

There were also a few Northern Rough-winged, Tree and Cliff Swallows flying around the bridge and river, catching insects here and there. 

We observed them for a few minutes before the Avocets all took off, showing off their beautiful wing pattern. A few minutes later on the other side of the river we saw one Avocet catch a leech or a minnow!  

American Avocets- Waterloo, Ontario- April 30, 2020 at 1:51PM

American Avocets- Waterloo, Ontario- April 30, 2020 at 1:43PM

Heres some more photos of the Avocets:

One our way home we stopped at a spot in Wellington that had a Purple Martin house and saw a few flying around! It was a Wellington year bird for me and it was also the first time I saw one at all in Wellington. 

Purple Martins- Conestogo Lake Conservation Area, Wellington, Ontario- April 30, 2020 at 2:30PM