Today at the Creek, Feb 11 and following visits

[Napper]

Hey all

I went for a walk over to the creek this afternoon.
Before I got there, I nabbed a few shots of a Redtail hawk soaring over Derry Rd.

Walking along the the scrub area above the creek I spotted the same Redtail hovering into the brisk West wind.. All the while being passed very closely, by Tree sparrows.  They couldn't make up their minds.  As the Hawk moved near directly overhead they all decided to make a beeline back to the trees.


I was ready to head home when I spotted an Accipiter heading toward the Creek low over the abandoned farm field. I moved back towards Derry trying to find the Hawk.. I Couldn't spot him but I followed a crow and found the hawk.

I ventured down into the creek area and found American tree sparrows, A cardinal, two Blue Jays and many Black Capped Chickade's..
As I stood there I was surrounded by all of these birds foraging for food. It was very interesting..
  :lol:

[Napper]

Hey

I ventured over to the creek today.. Started up top and was surprised to find a Red tail in a tree 75 feet away.

Nothing much going on up top or at the pond(frozen) so I dropped down to the creek valley  and found Chickade's, Cardinals and a Downy Woodpecker..

I think I found his favourite tree as well judging by the markings/diggings..

Climbed up to the adjacent field a little later to find Tree sparrows, Junkos  and House Finches .

I also spotted a Sharpie or a Coopers in the distance... fun little outing.

Almost forgot,  more crows today than usual.

(virtually nothing at the feeder's  today xept 1 Cardinal)   Even stranger there were no doves to be seen anywhere.

[Napper]

Hey..

From my deck  tonight 5:10 pm I spotted a Great Blue Heron.  It appeared out creek area that is just west of my house.. It lumbered along, up and over the Hydro wires (at Derry Rd) and continued along the creek that heads Northwest thru town...  Heavily wooded in spots.. I haven't seen one here since January 15 th Freeze up..

Napper  :lol:

At home today house finches singing  their hearts out like it was mid summer.. No Birds at the Feeders . Coopers or a Sharpie crossed hwy 25 North of Derry heading for the (wooded area just South of E.C. Drury School for the Deaf)....


Correct time is 6:54 pm

[Napper]

Hey all

I was hampered by knee deep snow and high winds  today making the trek quite slow. I spotted the usual Red Tail with it's shadowing compliment of Crows.

The Heron was here again (fly over)along with many Canada Geese. The Creek is open and flowing. Many trees have been damaged by the recent ice and snow storm.

I decided not to venture down into the creek valley fearing a tree limb or trunk fallover. I was unsure of the snow depths as well..

The location is a tributary of 16 mile creek and  joins it  1/2 mile South of  Derry along  hwy 25.  I did manage a few images of some animal tracks that

were left behind I assume last night after a brief snow shower..  Fox or Coyote.. anyone a tracking xpert?? The tracks seemed to be following a rabbit/hare



Napper

[Napper]

Hey
I visited my favourite place this morning before the clouds moved in..

I found

20      Canada Geese
6        Buffleheads
many song sparrows
1       Savannah sparrow
2       killdeer
many Chickade's
few    Junkos
group of juvenile Brown headed Cowbirds(I think) please correct me  
few    Cardinals
many American Gold finches
many Redwinged black birds

I heard what sounded like a Northern Flicker in the valley area though I couldn't see it.


) Napper  (I edited this post at 6:51 pm Ap 14, added the image)

ps..

here is the link to my buddies trek nature page..  yellow legs in mississauga most images are from meadowvale

http://www.treknature.com/gallery/North_America/Canada/photo105315.htm

[Napper]

hey

This evening around 5:30 pm I visited the creek area "Sunshine finally"

At the Valley edge I was able to spot a pair of Golden Crowned kinglet's. They were  foraging along the valley slope and in some fallen branches near the top.

Again, I listened to a Flicker somewhere down amongst the trees but could not spot him.


I visited the pond area and there were 15 to 20 ring necked ducks hanging around.

On the way back, song sparrows, Chickadee's, Cardinals, Crows.  I stopped to try and get a picture of a sparrow flittering about in the tall dead grass

and a GB heron flew over me about 30 feet up. It clouded over so I came home of course now it is sunny again :roll:



At home on and under my feeder there are still a bunch of Dark Eyed Junkos throughout the day and evening hours along with Gold finches, Really tiny House finches, Mourning doves, Rw blackbirds, Cardinal pairs (3)

Napper:)  

:lol:

[Napper]

Another beauty night

this time the clouds didn't move in on me.

The creek area was quiet tonight with the exception of a few Gold finches, a Red tail hawk that was immediately escorted away by three crows.

the pond had 6 buffleheads a few mallards and about 6 Can Geese.

The only other thing of interest was the Swallow that flew over heading East, it  didn't even slowdown!!

I think it is Hirundo Rustica.. Not a great shot didn't have a lot of time

please correct me If I am wrong.. any input would be appreciated..

Napper :lol:








edited this post april 19 added Ringnecks

[JTF]

Nice hawk pic indeed, very good detail underneath for sure. You had a busy day indeed, keep them posts coming, thanks.

Paul
KFN

[Napper]

I thought I should clarify that this is an ongoing thing in the same spot...


Yesterday and today

Yesterday

surprisingly quiet

1 redtail hawk
4 crows
many many goldfinches & rwbb's
a few geese
2 Killdeer
few Song Sparrows

Today

similar situation
again many, many goldfinches
2  Hirundo rustica (story behind this, is last time I used the common name spammers ate it up)
10 ring neck ducks
6 Buffleheads

around the house

the birds are all a bit P**#^*  off because we set up a trampoline which took a little longer than xpected.
house finches, house sparrows, rwbb's, Goldfinches, Cardinals's, Robins...


Napper

 :lol:

I'll add images later.  Very warm today

Rustica Cropped heavily




This one is a toughy. I think it might be a blue winged teal from across the pond long distance and cropped  heavily

[Napper]

Made a dash over to the creek area tonight

There seems to be a an awful lot of activity around the "Hood"

One crazy House sparrow has been bouncing off of our neighbours window all day long.. I think it has a nest above the window inside the wall..
Seeing reflections... The windows are heavily reflective..


While there at the creek I spotted something unusual. snap a shot have a look Hmm.  A Phoebe.. Thats a first for me here in Milton..very curious little one I stood still and he moved from tree to tree all around me...

Many insects flying about.. Looked like small dragon flies..

I also found the flicker atop a tree preening...

5 buffleheads still at the pond..

napper:))  

Last night, back door open I heard the distinctive call of a white throated sparrow...

image in a minute

[Napper]

Again I made a dash to the pond area this evening
before the distant clouds arrived..

The first thing I noticed was an abundance of

Swallows around.. Barn, Tree and Rough winged

Buffleheads qty 10 in the drainage pond

2 Northern Shovelers, almost missed them...

1 distant Turkey Vulture

I did take a few shots,, later...

single White swan At Main Street and James Snow parkway, pond (Friday and yesterday)

Napper

[Napper]

Hey

I visited the creek today in bright sunshine.

spotted

Barn Swallows
bank Swallows
cliff Swallows **
tree swallows
Northern Rough winged swallows
10 Can Geese
3 Ringbills

2 Eastern Kingbirds
2 or three Chimney Swifts ** I have to confirm this one..
1 Baltimore Oriole.

As yu generally say the the ususal suspects aswell
robins
Goldfinches(many)
song sparrows
Chipping sparrows
Chickadee's
mourning doves
Redwinged black birds
Grackles

I spent the better half of an hour sitting along the bank of the pond as all of the swallows swooped near the water, a few buzzed me with very close passes

I may go back later Napper

No luck Photo wise


p.s Rose breasted Grosbeaks still visiting my feeders today at noon..

[Napper]

first of all I'd like to apologize for the image quality
all are heavily cropped with the xception of the Grosbeak.
I left the bigma at home..That won't happen again.

tree swallow

Chimney swift

Oriole


Grosbeak from May 22  with bigma



Napper:))

[GStuart]

You don't need the question marks on the swift.