Tony Beck hand-feeding the Black-capped Chickadee
What an amazing day!
Bright sunshine with blue skies, and spring migration all around us, hiking along the Jack Pine Trail today revealed many species, like Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, Hairy and Downy Woodpecker, just to mention a few.
Canada Geese were frequently flying over head, and Redwinged Blackbirds were busy claiming their new found territory.
After completing the trail and getting our fill of hand-feeding the smaller birds, we went to the Burnside Pit.
There we saw about 600 Canada Geese, and a good mix of about 800 Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls resting on the ice.
Tony spotted 3 Glaucous Gulls and a Cackling Goose.
A couple of Red-tailed Hawks were perched looking at all the incoming traffic of Gulls and Geese.
To end the excursion we went to the Hilda Feeder at Shirley’s Bay.
There we saw a wonderful mix of Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow and Red-winged Blackbirds.
In all this chaotic activity at the feeder, Tony spotted 3 Hoary Redpolls and a Leucistic Common Redpoll for us all to photograph.
Spring migration is all around us!
Day list 15th March 2011:
- Northern Cardinal
- American Crow
- Canada Goose
- Rock Pigeon
- Ring-billed Gull
- European Starling
- Redwinged Blackbird
- Redtailed Hawk
- Blue Jay
- Mourning Dove
- American Robin
- Common Raven
- House Sparrow
- Herring Gull
- Black-capped Chickadee
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- American Tree Sparrow
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Mallard
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Downy Woodpecker
- Common Redpoll / Leucistic
- Hoary Redpoll
- Palliated Woodpecker
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Brown Creeper
- Glaucous Gull
- Cackling Goose
Leucistic Common Redpoll - Photo courtesy of Bill Bowman
Excursion Organized by Tony Beck - Always An Adventure
