Recent Spring Things!

A recent trip downriver scored us about 20 bird species at the Sombra Ferry Dock. 71 Bonaparte's Gulls were busy trying to steal fish from the Red-breasted Mergansers.

These were my first Canada Goose gosling sightings of the year. 

A couple of Yellow Warblers hunted together for insects.

The aptly named, Lesser Yellowlegs.

I wasn't expecting to see a Carolina Wren family with 2 fledged youngsters on May 5th! We had earlier heard the agitated adults making a lot of noise when a chipmunk was nearby. When I saw the babies, I understood the parent's distress. Carolina Wrens nest in open cavities, 3-6 feet off the ground in trees, overhangs and stumps. There are typically 3-7 eggs. The incubation period is 12-16 days and the nestling period is 10-16 days. Therefore, these babies likely hatched in mid-April.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Carolina_Wren/lifehistory

First American Robin hatchlings of the year. I could see 3 birds in the nest but there could have been a fourth.

Baltimore Oriole in the blossoms: Unlike Robins and other fruit-eating birds, Baltimore Orioles seem to prefer only ripe, dark-coloured fruit. Orioles seek out the darkest mulberries, the reddest cherries, and the deepest-purple grapes, and will ignore green grapes and yellow cherries even if they are ripe. 

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

Since the leaves on many deciduous trees have not fully opened, it is much easier to see last year's nest. I spied this hanging Baltimore Oriole nest from last year. The unraveled tape from inside an old cassette was the main material used to weave the nest!

Snapping Turtle enjoying the sunshine on a log!

I just got back from a few days on Pelee Island. Lots of photos still to sort through, but I wanted to post this picture of a Trumpeter Swan sitting on her nest. Tannins are naturally found in plants and sometimes taint the feathers of the Tundra Swans while the birds eat. Her mate, swimming nearby, also had the reddish tinge to his head feathers.