End of January:

Yesterday morning we found 3 American Coots in the Sarnia Bay. After mentioning in my last post about their lobed toes I wanted to photograph their feet. I was pleased with the photos we captured, but didn't realize that one of the birds was taking a pee break until the image was on the computer screen! LOL!

3 American Coots floating in the Sarnia Bay.

Duck tracks in the slushy ice just before it froze.

Hundreds of ducks and geese were gathering 

at the last open water hole in the Sarnia Bay.

Ice that was forming in Lake Huron was

 starting to make its way down the St. Clair River.

We watched 2 Bald Eagles perform aerial manoeuvres high in the sky. They 

didn't appear happy to see one another as they made aerial contact several times.

A first year Iceland Gull near the Sarnia Grain Elevators.

This species breeds in the Arctic.

The full moon was spectacular this week. Hope you got to see it!

 

 "Snow" Birds

The Resident Red Screech Owl has made an appearance after several months of staying out of sight. (Maybe it likes the snow?) It was soaking up the morning sun today!

The Dark-eyed Junco is one of the most common birds in North America. It spends its winters in Southern Ontario and heads north for breeding in the spring.

White-crowned Sparrows, including this immature bird, often feed on the ground, eating seeds that have been knocked off the feeder by other birds. Providing a brush pile can help to attract this species to your yard. 

Deryl photographed a Great Black-backed Gull floating on some ice at the Sarnia Bay. This is the largest gull in the world!

A pair of American Coots were also hanging out at the Bay. Although it swims like a duck, it doesn't have webbed feet. Instead, the end of each toe is lobed to assist in paddling and walking through mud. (Cornel Lab, All About Birds.)

A Herring Gull sauntering along the edge of the St. Clair River. These pink-legged, white and black birds are one of the most familiar gulls in North America.

A Red-tailed Hawk scans the Canatara Meadow for its next meal.

 A Fowl Day!

We went for a drive along rural roads on Saturday. I wanted 

to stop for these very large chickens wandering along the road side. 

While photographing the chickens, we noticed a pair of Domestic Turkeys  

approaching on the opposite side of the road, and they did not look happy! 

This fellow raised his tail feathers to indicate this was his territory. When they 

started walking straight for the open car window, we knew it was time to exit.

 I wish I had a picture of them chasing our car down 

the road. I sure am glad we weren't on foot!!! 

Travelling down river, we saw a few ducks including these Lesser and Greater Scaup.

A Mute Swan found an open patch of water in a wetland.

Our best find was when we saw 1,000+ Blackbirds in a neighbourhood! 

....And one of them had a yellow head!!

Mixed in with the Starlings, Grackles, Cowbirds, and Red-winged Blackbirds 

were 2 Yellow-headed Blackbirds! I did not get to see that species in 2020!

And on our way home, we found the Frog Prince, sitting on his throne! 😊

 More January Birds:

One of my favourite sparrows is the White-crowned Sparrow. In past years, this has been a difficult bird for me to find, but several have been recently spotted at Camp Saredaca. I learned from the Cornel Lab-All About Birds that: "Scientists interested in movement and energetics have discovered White-crowned Sparrows can run on a treadmill at a pace of about one-third of a mile an hour without tiring out." Who knew that somewhere, in a Science Lab, sits a treadmill for birds! 

I recently watched a Mallard Drake with his prized fish. Although Mallards are omnivores, fish aren't typically a part of their diet. They will eat a variety of plants, grains as well as small aquatic invertebrates. Many ducks followed him in curiousity, but the Drake managed to hold on tight as he paraded around with his prize.

A group of Mallards showed off their feathers in the afternoon sun. Mallards are the ancestors of nearly all domestic duck species.

Our backyard feeders have been attracting a wide variety of bird species including this Carolina Wren. The sound that resonates from this tiny bird is amazing. It reminds me of the siren on an emergency vehicle.

The Pine Siskin returned to our backyard feeder today. (2nd from the right between a female and male House Finch). Pine Siskins will sometimes feed on suet but they prefer nyger, thistle and small seeds such as millet.

The Pine Siskin even checked out a hockey stick as a perch.

A pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches have been frequenting our feeder.

Black-capped Chickadee taking a brief rest.

 Some January Birds:

We typically find Robins in the winter, and this year is no exception. Eight American Robins were seen at Camp Saredaca in Sarnia earlier this week. As long as they can find a food source and shelter, some choose not to migrate!

I saw my first Brown Creeper of 2021 today. They are well camouflaged and 

resemble a piece of loose bark, moving upward on the tree in their quest for food.

An American Crow was playing with some sticks on frozen Lake Chipican recently.

Several Mourning Doves sat quietly in a sheltered area 

of Canatara Park. This one was close enough for a photo.

Look carefully and you will see a squirrel "flattened" against the tree trunk trying to hide from the Red-tailed Hawk above it in the tree. I figured the squirrel was going to become the hawk's breakfast, but some noisy crows pestered the hawk into leaving.

The Wild Turkey that is regularly seen in the park and on our street may be roosting in the coniferous trees behind our house. I watched and heard it peck on our walls and windows the other day, possibly eating bugs that "over winter" in the corners of the windows.

Our fenced back yard is a regular hang out for the turkey. I had to shoo it away from entering our sunroom recently. I think it was trying to find the bird seed stash for our feeders!

 New Lambton Bird For Me!

I had a pleasant surprise last week when I unexpectedly found a Northern Mockingbird. Although I have seen this species in other parts of Ontario, this was my first siting in Lambton County. (We are at the northern edge of their range.) I didn't have the proper camera lens at the time for a picture, but the above "in flight" photo showed the white wing patches and white outer tail feathers which quickly helped me to identify it.

Additional visits to the site on my daily walks have provided better views.

Mockingbirds rely upon berries in the winter months and insects in the summer.

It was feasting on rose hips from the invasive Multiflora Rose. There are several juniper trees/bushes in the area laden with berries that it will also eat.

I haven't heard the bird vocalize, but they are known to mimic other birds and insects. An adult male can learn up to 200 songs over the course of its life. (The Cornell Lab, All about Birds.) I recall my parents having issues with a noisy Mockingbird outside their window while they were trying to sleep. Apparently night time singing is more common during the full moon!

 Eagles On A Frosty Morning!

We headed out for a drive this morning in hopes of finding a Golden Eagle. Both the birds and the weather cooperated!

3 Bald Eagles appeared before we found a Golden Eagle. This Bald Eagle looked like a kite from a distance as it sat with its wings spread. Luckily we drove closer to check it out!

Hoar frosted distracted me in our quest for the Golden 

Eagle. The morning sunshine really intensified the crystals!

Our first glance at a Golden Eagle was a little too distant to positively identify. We later found one on the road side which flew into a tree out in the farm field. The white band across the tail and golden coloured head were diagnostic.

Just down the road we saw our first Horned Larks of the New Year. 

They surprisingly stayed close enough to the road to photograph.

Earlier in the week, I watched some large white birds bouncing in the Lake Huron waves off Canatara Beach. I had hoped for a different species but liked the photo of the 11 Mute Swans with the freighter in the background.