LaSalle Park and the Dundas Valley

We enjoyed a walk along the path at LaSalle Park in Aldershot with views of the Hamilton/Burlington Bay. Seed had been placed on a railing and many birds, including a Red-bellied Woodpecker were on the hunt for food. The 'red belly' which often can't be seen, is visible in the lower photo.

We don't normally visit this area in November so were surprised to see only 2 Trumpeter Swans. An interpretive sign provided more information about the Swans which are only found in North America and are the largest swans in the world. They were almost hunted to extinction. In Ontario, a captive breeding program began in 1982, using eggs from a flock found in Alaska. Born to captive parents in 1990 at Wye Marsh, a Trumpeter known as "Pig Pen" for her messy eating habits, became the first Trumpeter Swan to nest in the wild when she found a mate in 1993. That same year, she became the first Trumpeter Swan to migrate in Ontario in 107 years when she flew from Wye Marsh to LaSalle Park to spend the winter. Each year she and her mate returned to LaSalle with their young, and others soon followed. LaSalle Park is considered to be the most important Trumpeter Swan overwintering site in the Province with up to 200 Trumpeters being found there from the end of November to mid-Feburary.

Even though American Coots swim like a duck, their feet are not webbed. They are actually members of the Rail family. Coots are kleptoparasitic, meaning that sometimes they do not hunt for their own food, but steal it from other birds.

https://animalia.bio/american-coot

A Great Blue Heron patiently waited for food to swim within striking distance.

A Grey Squirrel, hoping for food at the local squirrel cafe.

Dundas Valley Trail Centre

While walking along the rail trail between Pleasant Valley and the Trail Centre, we had good views of the surrounding area from our elevated location. In total we saw 5 White-tailed Deer.

A young Buck was well camouflaged in the trees and was difficult to photograph.

A watchful Cooper's Hawk kept an eye on the area. He is probably the reason for only seeing/hearing 10 bird species during our 90 minute walk. Most of the birds were distant and some, like the very vocal Carolina Wren were only heard.

White Birch Trees along the trail.