Trip report - Kildonan Park

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Another afternoon trip to another city park.  Not a whole lot of birds, did hear a few that I couldn't identify.  Did get a quick glimpse of an Eastern Phoebe though, thought that was pretty cool!  No pic though - darn!

A little stream near one of the gardens.

Kildonan Park has park ducks.  I don't know if these birds are wild or released - they look much more compact than the wild mallards I'm used to!

Thought this guy was a "manky" mallard, a duck with some domestic ducks in his background.  But he also looks similar to some pictures I've seen of American Black Duck x Mallard hybrids.  So I don't know!  There were a LOT more male ducks than females present, and lots of chasing going on.  This guy was paired up with a female, and was pretty vigorous in going after any others who came too close!

Female Mallard, preening

Female Mallard, looking for corn.  Almost looks like a mini-Mallard!

Male and female, male complaining!

This was a surprise, a late Song Sparrow, hunched on a perch near the riverbank. 

And a very nice male American Robin, looking for worms amongst the tulips!

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Trip report - Assiniboine Park

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The trip to St. John's Park was about a week ago, never got a chance to upload the pics.

Went to Assiniboine Park on Tuesday.  Hoping it would be (relatively) unpeopled, being a weekday, but still quite a crowd.  Hate to think what it'll be like on the weekend!

But it's beautiful!

The bridge to Portage Avenue is very well attended by Cliff Swallows.  Canada Geese were loafing on the shores, and a pair with a single gosling paddled/were swept underneath the bridge to land on the shore further along.  The river was full, and pretty fast (as it goes!)

The English Garden is already colorful, but it was in a bit of an inbetween stage.  Mostly tulips, but many of them (in particular, the yellows) were already finished.  Still lots to be seen!

This was a gorgeous big tree.  Wonder what kind - I want one!

A beautiful early iris!

I think these are Alliums. 

My only bird photograph other than the swallows.  Some kind of flycatcher, maybe a Phoebe?  Brutally bad photo!

Only saw a few birds.  Heard a lot, but could only identify a few.  Did get the bins (but not the camera) onto a hearily singing Red-Eyed Vireo, and heard some Goldfinches later on. 

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Trip Report - St Johns Park

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Gotta admit I was skeptical of seeing any birds here, this park, while it is on the river, is smack dab in the middle of town.

That's also an advantage though, it's nowhere near as crowded as some of the better destinations. 

There's a bit of a wayside park, just a nice big green area, before you get to the actual park.  Love to finally see all that green!

The river was still pretty high, and had formed a little lagoon at this spot.  That'll be shoreline within a couple of months!

I loved how these trees looked, fighting gravity so hard!  The shore where the roots were was well-trampled, they must be very attractive to kids!  I wonder how long they've been leaning into the water.

More shoreline trees, up to their knees in water.

The little lagoon was attractive to the ducks.  There was a lone Mallard male and a pair of Wood Ducks.  I managed to catch a picture of the male, but his mate was shy, and they took wing almost as soon as we spotted them.

The Mallard was a noisy guy!  I wonder if he had a mate and a nest nearby. 

We also got to see a Canada Goose family.  Baby goslings are the best!

There were a few warblers at the park itself.  Most were too high up and too active to pinpoint any identities.  I NEED to get better at birding by ear!  Did manage to get the binoculars on a singing male American Redstart (no pictures, darn!) and after a LOT of watching, managed to pin down a photograph (not the greatest!) of a male Yellow Warbler, who had also been singing his heart out. 

We also saw a few Chipping Sparrows (and heard a lot more!).  This American Crow was having a drink at another bit of floodwater. 

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Trip Report - Oak Hammock Marsh

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Very chilly, and very WINDY!  Especially out at the marsh, the birds were just being blown every which way.

Saw Red-Winged Blackbirds on the highway out to the marsh, as well as a few Canada Geese. 

Didn't even notice the baby til I was looking at the pic on the computer!

In one of the ponds near the interpretive center were a few Canvasback and Lesser Scaup.  Too distant for good pics though.

Soon picked up Yellow-Headed Blackbird, Brewers Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-Headed Cowbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Killdeer, Mallard and American White Pelican. 

This Cliff Swallow was in a flock of about a hundred altogether, resting on the road.  Warmer?  Easier to weather the wind? 



Kind of a small brood!  Poppa was very protective of his family though!

We decided to try to road to the north mound, and picked up a few more species.  Northern Shoveler, Blue-Winged Teal, Gadwall, Northern Harrier, and the highlight (for me) a singing and displaying male Bobolink!  No pics (darn!)

There's a more typical brood size!  Daddy hadn't crossed the road yet.  They had a bit of a time, herding all those babies down into the water, but they made it!

Last sighting was a Franklin's Gull, right before we got back to the highway.

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Brief December Trip

Hadn't taken a trip in months, and Christmas offers the perfect excuse - visiting!  So it was that we left Winnipeg on the 27th.  Had wanted to leave Boxing Day, but the snow was a bit scary, especially when the plan is to travel rarely-used roads in a 19-year old car!  Our first day was for driving and visiting, no birding officially done, although we did see a Snowy Owl and a Black-Billed Magpie while coasting down the Trans-Canada!

We headed down to the Souris area for our birding.  I was hoping for Snow Buntings!  Alas, no such luck.  There were two flocks of small birds that we saw from too far a distance that could have been such, but no good enough looks.  We did get some good views of a flock of Starlings at the Souris dump, but it wasn't quite the same!

We tried to turn this into a Fox Squirrel, but I'm thinking it's a Gray...

At one of the marshes in the area, we could see a bird hanging out on top of a duck nest.  Tried to get closer, and the bird apparently scooted inside!  Much too far to make out any detail.  Darn it!

Yup. 

We made up for our bad luck with two other Snowy Owls:  One far away,

And one not so far away!

We also had a bonus Red Fox.

All in all a nice trip, it's always good to get out of the city!

Trip Report: Snowy, Snowy, Snowy, Snowy

When the forecast called for a bright and sunny weekend, we made plans to get out of town. When the forecast changed to rain, the plans got shelved, but the midafternoon sun made it too tempting!

Plan: Drive out of Winnipeg!

Destinations: Oak Hammock Marsh, Teulon

Weather Forecast: Clearing

March 21, 2009: Left town going north on McPhillips, turned west onto Hwy 67, then north on PR 220 to head for the interpretive center. Encountered about 6 Canada Geese on PR 220, feeding in the stubble. I'm not sure if this exaggerated pose was for our benefit, or his (?) mate!

Canada Goose, Oak Hammock Marsh, March 21, 2009

Hoping for a Meadowlark sighting, but no such luck. Just before the turnoff, saw in the distance (around the Artesian Well?) a group of flying birds. Possibly the Mallards everyone had been talking about? Only a short debate was necessary over the possibility of heading that way - the Volvo is a trooper, but the possibility of getting stuck was too great... Turned into the interpretive center and drove up to the sightings board. Our footwear was inadequate for the amount of water and snow, so we didn't attempt the trails. Headed back down PR 220. Saw another group of geese hanging out on the ice just south of the Interpretive Center's parking lot.

Canada Geese, Oak Hammock Marsh, March 21, 2009

Turned west on Hwy 67 and saw a Snowy Owl on a road sign! He wasn't feeling charitable however, and flew off on our approach. Disappointing, but this breaks a five year dry spell on Snowy Owls for me! Very glad for the sighting!

Headed north on Hwy 7. Saw several crows and one Red-Tailed Hawk, but no photos. Drove around Teulon briefly, then went back down Hwy 7, before turning East, back onto Hwy 67 for another run past Oak Hammock.

Grain Elevator, Teulon, March 21, 2009

Major excitement - our Snowy Owl is still there! Perched on the opposite side of the road, picture-taking opportunities are limited to shooting through the windshield. I couldn't see any black spots on him at all! He gave us a few shots, then took off into the nearby field. I'm assuming this was the same individual we saw previously, as the two road signs were almost directly across the road from each other.

Snowy Owl, Hwy 67, March 21, 2009

Continued driving west, almost at the turn to Oak Hammock Marsh. "Wait, what's that over in that tree?" "What tree?" It always helps to have a birding partner with great eyesight! I don't know how he saw this one! The photo below was taken with a 48x zoom.

Snowy Owl, Hwy 67, March 21, 2009

Turned south of PR 220 to return to Winnipeg. Hadn't gone a hundred yards before having to stop! Another Snowy!! This one let me get one photo, then flew to the next pole. We continued, slowly, driving in what was hopefully a very non-threatening manner. Stopped under that pole, and got a few more photos, before the owl swooped down and landed in the field. I LOVE that crown of black feathers!

Snowy Owl, PR220, March 21, 2009

"What's it got?" "What do you mean?" Our owl hadn't left because of us - she'd found a meal!

Snowy Owl and Meal, PR220, March 21, 2009

While Owl #3 didn't seem particularly nervous about us, it looked like she ate quickly, then stayed in place, scoping the area. We got many photos, but the distance was too great for really detailed pics. Then... "What's that in the distance?" "Where?" Would ya look at that - Owl #4 is sighted, in the same field. Very far away, only just barely close enough for ID. No photos of Owl #4, sorry!

Snowy Owl, PR220, March 21, 2009

Continuing along the road (am I the only one who has trouble leaving a cooperative bird?), we saw another Red-Tailed Hawk, several more Crows, and two pairs of Gray Partridges, about a mile apart. Also saw a white bucket overturned on a post. We tried our best, but couldn't turn it into Snowy Owl #5.

Gray Partridge, PR220, March 21, 2009

Species Tally:

Snowy Owl (4)

Red Tailed Hawk (2)

American Crow (~10)

Gray Partridge (4)

Canada Geese (~12)

Trip Report - Thanksgiving 2008

Our most recent birding trip. We don't often take trips during winter, so figured this would be the last one for a while. Sightings are light, partly because of the time of year, and weather during the weekend, partly because I'm relying on memory here!

Plan: Drive around Westman.

Destinations: Oak Lake, Virden, Whitewater Lake

Weather forecast: Cloudy and/or rainy

Day 1 (October 10) Winnipeg to Brandon: Didn't leave Winnipeg til mid afternoon. Took the road north of Assiniboia Downs to get out of town. Some nice fall color to be seen. Weather remains cloudy, but patches of blue sky are seen, so optimism is high! Surely it wouldn't be cloudy for three whole days!

Farmland, north of Headingley, October 10, 2008

Clouds and farmland along Number 1 Highway, October 10, 2008

Oops! Rather than heading right back out on the roads after getting to Brandon, shopping and supper took up the rest of the daylight. Hoping for greater motivation tomorrow!

Day two (Brandon to Souris to Oak Lake to Souris): Oops! Slept in (way in!) and didn't leave town til mid afternoon again. Headed for Oak Lake, conditions still cloudy. Still some fall color to be seen around here as well.

Trees, Oak Lake, October 11, 2008

Distracted by a small group of horses - thought this was one was the prettiest!

Horse in pasture, Oak Lake, October 11, 2008

Not many birds to be seen, and evening approaching quickly. Got to the first marsh along PR254. Lots of birds in the water, but too dark for ID. White bird-shaped blobs, pelicans? Snow Geese? Swans? Made it to the resort and took some photos of the lake. Better luck tomorrow?

Oak Lake, October 11, 2008

Day Three (Souris to Oak Lake to Virden to Coulter to Whitewater Lake to Souris): Weather has changed. No longer cloudy. Now rainy. Determination remains high, however! Goal: head back to Oak Lake to identify our white bird-shaped blobs. First, town security watched us leave.

Wild Turkeys in Souris, October 12, 2008

Daylight (of a sort) showed us some of the color we missed the night before.

Farmland, Oak Lake, October 12, 2008

A mammal sighting! We usually see many more birds than mammals on these trips, this one has been close to an exception! (Pardon the barbed wire)

Coyote, Oak Lake, October 12, 2008

Made it to the marsh! Our birds are swans! Rain increasing, visibility decreasing, but non-goose like necks are apparent, even in long-distance, no-light, blurry-as-all-get-out photos.

Tundra Swans and unidentified ducks, Oak Lake, October 12, 2008

Flocks of Snow Geese were seen on the way out from Oak Lake, most uncharacteristically not concerned with our presence.

Snow Geese, Oak Lake, October 12, 2008

Leaving Virden produced more flocks of Snow Geese (Click on photo to enlarge)

Snow Geese, Virden, October 12, 2008

And some other birds. "What are those?" "Canada Geese." "No, they're not..."

Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes, Virden, October 12, 2008

I'd only seen Sandhill Cranes a few other times, with the greatest number at once being around six. This was amazing! (Click on photo to enlarge)

Sandhill Cranes, Virden, October 12, 2008

Photos aren't the clearest, but for these shots, I kind of like the misty, dreamy effect.

Travelled to Coulter, Sourisford and Waskada. Animal sightings were short, but lots to see, including grain elevators and burial mounds. We did add Horned Lark and Ring-Necked Pheasant. On to Deloraine and Whitewater Lake!

Distracted by a misty cow...

Cow on pasture, Deloraine, October 12, 2008

And some misty horses...

Horses at pasture, Deloraine, October 12, 2008

The road was A-W-F-U-L. It had been raining all day, and the car was struggling! The roads to Whitewater Lake are often difficult, but on this day, they were impassable for our poor little Volvo. Shortly after this photo, we turned around and almost got stuck. This was taken as a sign that it was time to head back!

The Snow Geese around Whitewater Lake are much more suspicious of people and cars.

Snow Geese, Deloraine, October 12, 2008

Final bird tally not available (no list created at time of trip, and memory prone to failure). A good time was had by all!