March 9th to 15th 2010
As usual, we have found more than our share of wonderful sightings of birds and wildlife on our walks over the last week at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve in Chilliwack, B.C., Canada.
Red-winged Blackbirds call and females are starting to stake out nesting locations.
Bush Tits hop around the branches of the shrubs.
The mountains and trees in the distance covered with snow, remind us that it is still winter, although the Flowering Currant, Daffodils, Kinnikinnick and Salmonberry speak to us of spring.
Black-capped Chickadees stopped near us more often to call to a mate or just paused in their journey in search of food and nesting sites.
A Solitary American Coot still visits the South Lagoon.
Double-crested Cormorants are also still visiting here; this is a favourite place for them.
A few Crows have been present recently. We usually do not find them on our walks here.
It has been a week for sighting Woodpeckers. The perky little Downy Woodpecker stopped and preened for awhile before being chased off by an irate Song Sparrow.
A similar Woodpecker is the Hairy Woodpecker; it is sturdier, with a longer beak and no black striping in its tail feathers. This one was found several times on an old tree trunk in the slough on the dyke road towards the heronry.
Northern Flickers called to each other and paused to listen for replies. One of them had a “v” on the back of its neck indicating that it is a hybrid of Red-shafted and Yellow-shafted parents.
A male Pileated Woodpecker surprised us while we were watching a tiny Merlin at the top of a Cottonwood tree.
The resident Bald Eagles are nesting, one is always on the nest now while the other stays close by on watch.
House Finches are in large numbers; their colours brighten our walks.
Two Fox Sparrows were found in shrubs along the edge of a path.
Frogs are coming out of hibernation and can be found along the Salwein Creek Loop marsh area. Last night we heard a chorus of tiny frogs announcing spring is coming.
About 10% of the tops of old trees that are left standing broken from wind storms have Canada Geese standing or nesting in them. It seems that because of the flooding around our area, the Geese have learned to nest in these locations to provide a dry, safe nest site. The young of these Geese seem to have learned to do the same thing from their parents and we often see arguments over the best nesting trees.
Pied-billed Grebes are cute little fellows to watch, they will sink like a stone when disturbed by a loud noise or a predator.
A Red-tailed Hawk stopped by its old nest to find the Great Horned Owl in it.
One rainy afternoon a Peregrine Falcon spent a long time circling and screaming at the Great Horned Owl in its nest.
The Great Horned Owl is constantly sitting on its nest; please do not ask where it is as we are bound by a promise not to tell.
Killdeer in a farm field called rapidly to each other; it took us awhile to locate them as they were very nicely camouflaged.
Mallards are easily found at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve.
Common Mergansers were doing their courting dances and songs. We enjoy watching the ritual and are looking forward to the females carrying their ducklings on their backs soon.
Click below to hear the Common Mergansers
Ring-necked Ducks can still be found on the lagoons; soon they will head off to their nesting grounds.
American Robins are abundant now and an easy photographic subject in either rain or sunshine.
Song Sparrows are one of our favourite “little brown birds”; they have strong voice and are very determined to maintain their nesting sites. We watched one collecting some dried grass for nesting material. Others were busy gleaning snacks of insects and seeds near the water and in shrubs.
Bewick’s Wrens argued in the distance; Bruce found one on a dark day afternoon on a tree trunk.
Spotted Towhees stop for a rest on branches in the rain or sunshine; the weather doesn’t seem to bother them when they can get shelter deep in the undercover of the surrounding shrubs.
Red-eared Slider Turtles are beginning to come out of the mud to bask in the sunlight.
American Wigeon flew in a small flock over our heads to land in the South Lagoon, while others enjoyed the peace and quiet of the marsh at the East Bird Blind.
Wood Ducks floated past logs peeled of bark by Beavers, while others stood on stumps trying to choose a suitable nesting site in a tree.
A quick stop at Sardis Park one afternoon showed us several Azaleas in full bloom.
A few Bufflehead Ducks swam past us.
As always at this time of year there were still a few American Coots.
We also found some Pied-billed Grebe still visiting.
The little Lesser Scaups came over for a visit with us.
Northern Shovelers paddle back and forth.
Back at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve we are finding more fur bearing creatures getting active. The little Mink were found in several different spots on several different walks.
The River Otters also surprised us several times as we wandered along. While we were watching the Otter one afternoon, a train blew its whistle in the distance and a chorus of Coyotes joined in to serenade the train as it passed by in the distance.
Click below to hear the Coyotes
We enjoyed visits with Val, Barb, Mike, Leon, Eileen, Shirley, Vanessa, Alice, Walter, Pearl, Gordon, Jean, Doug, Stella, Dawn, Tim, Tony and Mary. We waved to Karen and Leona and want to wish all a very good week and hope that you will enjoy an outing somewhere for a taste of the spring time to come.
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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