Weather at the moment could best be described as ‘unsettled’ – yesterday afternoon we had thunder, hail, and pouring rain…this morning started off foggy, then sunshine, then rain…some how we managed our walk during a dry period…it is raining again now.
Today was so busy, bird wise that it was impossible to take it all in. The one Bald Eagle (I assume the male) was perched, again, in the ‘eagle’ tree by the viewing platform…although flew when a fisherman waded back from across the flats. I watched the bird fly and it headed to the hillside but lost it before I could spot exactly where it went.
This area was also where a lot of the bird activity was concentrated. The other ‘eagle’ tree had a Woodpecker (couldn’t see it, just heard it), a Northern Flicker, and also saw a Red-breasted Sapsucker fly into it. Steller’s Jay, Dark Eyed Junco and Red-wing Blackbirds were everywhere, as were Robins….also Gold-crowned Kinglets….but what was most noticeable were the numbers of
Spotted Towhees….counted over a dozen of them…and
Song Sparrows – this one perched up in a small tree ‘singing’….as were several of the Towhees. Song Sparrows, especially, start nesting very early, they and the Towhee are now attracting mates and staking out territory. Both of these species, along with quite a few others nest right on the ground..
this ‘file photo’ taken at Kettle River Provincial Park shows the site of a Song Sparrow nest…it is right in the base of that rose bush…right beside the walking path…
look carefully and there is mom sitting on the nest…right on the ground…
this file photo, also taken a Kettle River P.P. shows a Dark Eyed Junco nest with eggs…also located right on the ground…. all of this just points out one of the reasons for the ‘dogs on leash at all times’ sign – and how important it is for us, and our four legged companions to stay on the trails, especially during ‘breeding season’ which, even though it isn’t officially spring yet, is now upon us.
Back to today – there was no sign of the shorebirds and the only ducks to be seen were a few Green-wing Teal….
I’ll finish with one more Spotted Towhee picture since they were being so co-operative!
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