Wildlife Near Sudbury:

After our adventures with the Pine Grosbeaks, we went for a walk at Fielding Memorial Park and Bird Sanctuary. The open water attracted a number of waterfowl including a total of 4 Trumpeter Swans. Canada Geese are not common in northern Ontario in the winter, but we found one! (tucked in behind the back swan.)

While watching the birds on the water, Deryl began to repeat, "Incoming, incoming". I looked up to see a Trumpeter Swan fly right past me. This picture is uncropped!

A female Northern Pintail was reported in the park and we were happy to find it nestled in amongst the Mallards. (small duck in middle of picture) When it comes to breeding, Northern Pintails don't waste any time. They start nesting as soon as the ice starts to thaw, arriving by late April in places as far north as the North-west Territories.

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

I don't usually associate Mallards with white water! LOL

A Mallard hen appears to be flying with "angel wings"!

A linear trail passed through both deciduous and coniferous forested areas, following along the edge of the water.

Black-capped Chickadees were abundant along the trails.

Opportunistic Red Squirrels took advantage of the many feeders in the area. The day after our visit, we learned that a Great Gray Owl had been recently seen in the area. The abundance of squirrels probably provides ample food for the large owl. Now that we are back home, we wonder how close we were to one of the tallest owls in North America!

I also saw my first Common Redpoll of the year, just outside of the park. Redpolls have not been found in South-western Ontario this winter. Some Common Redpolls have been known to tunnel into the snow to stay warm during the night. Tunnels may be more than a foot long and 4 inches under the insulating snow!

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