Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve
January 26th to 31st 2010
As the warmest January on record drew to an end on a misty drizzle of a day we wandered around the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve. The last week has been warm for January and sometimes sunny. The new viewing scope and decorative fencing have added a great way for visitors to view the Great Blue Herons congregating at the East Bird Blind as they get ready to choose their nests for the coming season.
Little female Bufflehead Ducks paddled along preening while the males motored along with their heads a rainbow of colours in the sun.
Half a dozen Honey Bees gathered mud and water from the pathway at the Salwein Creek.
Black-capped Chickadees chattered to each other along the paths while we stopped to watch them.
Double-crested Cormorants are still visiting the lagoons and can often be found on the logs drying their feathers.
Brown Creepers were found on several days chugging up the trunks of trees in search of insects.
Downy Woodpeckers both male and female were found on several days. One male spent a long time preening and napping near the edge of the path at the Salwein Creek Loop.
Northern Red-shafted Flickers called to each other and stopped to check out the trunks of trees.
A flock of House Finches gathered in the Blackberries and cheerfully sang in the drizzling rain.
Click below to hear their voices
Pied-billed Grebes are easily found on the lagoons at this time of year.
Several Hawks take advantage of the sounds of the song birds to find their prey.
Juncos puttered about along the edges of the paths.
Common Mergansers and Hooded Mergansers paddled and dived looking for fish.
Ring-necked Ducks and Mallards are another common duck at this time of year.
Another common duck at the lagoons at this time of year are American Wigeon.
Song Sparrows blend well with their environment. We watched this one hunting through the cracked bark on this branch of a fallen tree.
Spotted Towhees seemed to enjoy the soft sunlight, their feathers blowing in the light breeze.
Wood Ducks get together behind the East Bird Blind often to enjoy each other’s company and have communal baths.
We enjoyed visiting with Val, Barb, Mike, Eileen, Herm, Brenda, Janet, Marcia, Judy, Connie, Pearl, Della, Tony, Christine, Alice, Muriel, Walter and Leon at the Rotary Interpretive Centre. We waved to Bill and Jenny who were leaving after doing a bird count and enjoyed a visit with Connie and two of her students doing a water test on the lagoon water. We hope that you enjoyed the first month of 2010 and that the year ahead is pleasant for you and yours.
We are not authorities on birds, wildlife, plants, cameras or photography, if you are doing research on any subjects, please refer to a more educational site for advice and double-check whatever you research.
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