3 SURPRIZES!

Travelled to Tavistock for a family event and of course took a scenic route to do some birding. On Hwy 22 we saw 2 Rough legged Hawks and 4 Redtails. At the intersection of Bethyl and Hwy 22 a Turkey Vulture was soaring high above the distinctive V its wings make was very easy to see and I always think they look drunk the way they fly all tipsy like.
Horned Larks were in a playful way today with the sunshine out they kept darting across the highway.
Red Wing Blackbirds are definitely back!!
One was perched right on the hydro wires watching the cars go by.
When we turned onto Ilderton Road(Middlesex 16) an American Kestrel was perched sunning itself and scanning the fields for its breakfast. A  joy always to see was a flock of  about 100 Snow Buntings flying over the farm fields. I love how they fly as a group flying around the fields like on a roller coaster.

Since it was a sunny day we made a stop at Coldstream Conservation Area. This is a lovely spot with the reservoir and stream running through  a mature woodlot and cedar swamp. We took a short walk(1/2 hour) and this is what we saw
                Golden Crown Kinglet
                White Breasted Nuthatch
                 Brown Creeper
                 Black Capped Chickadee
                 Blue Jay
                 Coopers Hawk
                 Cardinals
                 American Crow
This area should prove very productive when the weather starts to warm up.
There was about 50 crows they just kept flying over.

Near Harrington we saw a group of 7 Wild Turkeys they started to cross the road so I got a few decent shots of them crossing and flying and of course we didn't hit any!



Wild Turkey near Harrington



I think he scared me more when he took off

 The last surprise of the trip was at Maplewood and 14th Concession where a Merlin was perched on a telephone pole. We saw it at the last second so I hoped it would stay and got my husband to turn around for a picture. To my surprise the Merlin was very curious of me and let me get within 50 feet of him and calmly watched me approach.


Merlin

TWO NEW BIRDING SPOTS

Went to Camp Saredaca at the corner of Blackwell Road and Telfer Sideroad.
There is a nice nature trail and we came across a group of 30 Dark Eyed Juncos they came very close and were fun to watch.



DARK EYED JUNCO




















Woodpeckers seem to love this 10 acre site we saw 2 Red Bellied and 3 Downy Woodpeckers. Chris and I also saw Tufted Titmice,American Tree Sparrows,Black Capped Chickadees, White Breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jays and Cardinals.

RED BELLIED WOODPECKER

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW

We also went to Marthaville Habitat Management Area again woodpeckers seem to be the bird of the day we saw another 3 Downy Woodpeckers. Chris was checking the two Bluebird Boxes he put up two weeks ago as we have seen Blue Birds here on numerous occasions and hope to see if they will use the boxes. While walking the middle trail 50 Snow Buntings flew over. We had about 3 Black Capped Chickadees that seemed to follow us.

BLACK CAPPED CHICKADEE

DOW WETLANDS

The seven wild turkeys were out feeding in there usual spot at the corner of Hwy 40 and Indian Road when we drove by today.
At the wetlands the ponds are starting to thaw bit still along way to go before they are open and free of ice.2 Redtail hawks were flying over the open fields area and we heard but didnt see American Tree Sparrows and Black capped Chicakdees.
We only spent about 1/2 hour as it was really quiet.
Headed along Lasalle Line as a way to wander in the direction of Wawanosh Wetlands and when we got to Lasalle and Scott Road we found a group of Red Wing Black Birds perched in the top of one of the trees. Managed to get a few photos!




Red Winged Blackbird

Ended up at Wawanosh Wetlands where we saw the Northern Shrike again pretty sure it was the same one we saw last time.Barring the usual birds we had the pleasure of about 10 Snow buntings fly over head as we walked back to the car.


FINALLY SOME SUNSHINE!!!!

Went in search today of anything new!!!
Started our search along Kimball Sideroad we saw 2 Redtail hawks and 1 American Kestrel. Decided to check our usual favourite spots along Bickford and Holt Lines.

   McKellar Tract was very productive  while wandering the wood lot we came across two Red Bellied Woodpeckers a White Breasted Nuthatch and a favourite of mine a Tufted Titmouse.
While trudging through the back fields we came across a group of 30 or more American Tree Sparrows. Chris tried to see if anything different in the group but they wont stay in the same spot for more than a couple of seconds. I think the redtail perched in a tree on the outer edge of the bushlot had something to do with it.
Red Wing Blackbirds have really started to show up we had 6 of them fly over head  this to me is a sure sign spring is coming!!!

Next stop was the Moore Management Area the ice and water was incredible.



ICE WAS REALLY CRACKING

This photo shows how high the ice and water was up the tree trunks during this winter.


Two Great Blue Herons flew over head I got a nice picture I am wondering  if they are some of the ones that nest in the heronry just up the road.

GREAT BLUE HERON AT MOORE MANAGEMENT AREA

At the floodway we saw a Northern Flicker,Blue Jays and another Red Winged Blackbird.
The trip route home was along the St Clair River with a stop at the Sombra Ferry Dock where there was a few Ring Neck Ducks mixed in with Redheads and Mallards.

RING NECKED DUCK AT SOMBRA FERRY

CANATARA PARK

In the only few hours of sun we got today Chris and I braved the cold and went a walk in Canatara Park.In the open grassland we found  the following
 10 Common Redpolls( flew over)
   1 Redtail Hawk
   1 White Breasted Nuthatch
   4 Northern Cardinals
   5 Black Capped Chickadees
   3 American Crows
   3 Blue Jays
   3 Downy Woodpecker

As soon as the sun went in all the birds seem to disappear and the park became very quiet. The wind picked up and we decided hot chocolate was what would end out a cold day.



Downy Woodpecker



Redtail Hawk