An Elusive Sparrow!!

The LeConte's Sparrow is famously elusive. It stays hidden in dense grass, often running along the ground rather than flying. They're so hard to find and track that, although the species was officially described in 1790, it took scientists nearly 100 years longer to find and describe the first nest! We were very lucky that it popped up onto a sumac branch! This short-tailed, flat-headed sparrow acts more like a mouse than a bird. It was a lifer for me when Deryl spotted it in Canatara Park!

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/LeContes_Sparrow/overview

I watched an American Mink run along one of the islands in Lake Chipican. Wild mink find most of their food near the water's edge. Typically following shorelines and banks, they investigate holes, crevices and deep-water pools for hidden prey. Strictly carnivorous, mink eat mostly frogs, salamanders, fish, crayfish, muskrats, mice and voles, along with aquatic birds and their eggs. 

https://www.britannica.com/animal/mink

We surprised each other when the Mink popped up through the slushy ice with a Sunfish right in front of me! I only had time for one picture before it dove and disappeared.

Since red and green are the "official colours" of Christmas, I thought it fitting to find a Redhead Duck swimming with some Mallard drakes on the first day of December.

Point Edward residents have been busy decorating for Christmas along the trail between Canatara and the St. Clair River.