Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve
February 7th to 13th 2010
Spring is in the winter air, when we go for our walk at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve we hear the Red-winged Blackbird’s song echoing through the trees.
Click below to hear the Red-winged Blackbird
Bufflehead Ducks paddle along together, just this once, we saw a female on a log.
Double-crested Cormorants do yoga exercises while drying their wings and preening standing on the convenient logs floating on the lagoons.
House Finches are easily found in the blackberries where they gather in little flocks.
Northern Red-shafted Flickers call to each other; this one was ready to have a nap.
Canada Geese and Cackling Geese were found on both lagoons. The Canada Geese flew over us to land and we managed to record their announced landing.
Click below to hear the Geese
Pied-billed Grebes spend time on the lagoons at this time of year.
A tiny Hawk held its foot up in the air as it perched at the peak of the tallest Cottonwood in the Salwein Creek area.
Great Blue Herons are coming together near the East Bird Blind before they eventually head over to their nesting colony at the end of the month. We often find a Bald Eagle harassing them making them all rise together in a flock. This time it was a young Bald Eagle causing the turmoil. One morning the fog was thick as we stood at the far end of the lagoon near the main bridge.
Juncos are everywhere we go along the edges of the paths. They are in small flocks and enjoy checking out the dead leaves for any seeds hidden there.
A female Kingfisher surprised us by landing on the wires near a bench where we were sitting.
Mallards congregate in small groups near the edges of the water.
Common Mergansers are visiting the lagoons; this one motored toward us while we stood on the main bridge.
A male and female Hooded Merganser entertained us while they fished near the East Bird Blind. The female caught a dainty little fish just the right size for her while the male had more than he could swallow with a Sculpin.
Ring-necked Ducks and a Lesser Scaup were found on the South Lagoon.
American Robins bring a bit of colour to our walks with Willows starting to bloom nearby.
Spotted Towhees call to each other and occasionally hop up on a branch for a photo.
Song Sparrows are starting to sing bringing a bright note to our walks.
Click below to hear the Song Sparrow
A Peregrine Falcon had lunch with a Steller’s Jay while we stood below the high perch that it had chosen to use. There are many Steller’s Jays calling to each other as we wander the paths.
Click below to hear the Steller’s Jay
Two Bewick’s Wrens drew attention to themselves with their territorial chattering at each other. One took time out from its chattering at the other to have a snack on a little insect.
Click below to hear the Bewick’s Wren
A pretty Primrose blooms brightly near the bird feeder at the Rotary Interpretive Centre.
We waved to Tony, Jenny and Bill on other days that we were out for our walks. We enjoyed visits with Jean, Karen, Dick, Leon, Janet, Eileen, Mike, Yvonne, Val, Barb, Barbara, Marla, Anne, Muriel, Walter, Gordon, Myrtle, Bernie and Sharon at the Rotary Interpretive Centre over the past week. It is always fun to stop in at the Rotary Interpretive Centre, the people there can give you an idea of the latest sightings and the gift shop has a lot of nice things available.
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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