Feeder Birds

Our property doesn't have a lot of trees on it, therefore we don't get as many birds as our neighbours do. I went walking down to their place and sure enough saw some news birds. About a dozen male and female Brewer's Blackbirds (47) were feeding on the ground under the tree which holds their bird feeder. As well a single White-crowned Sparrow (48) was at the feeder. They also reported a Mourning Dove and Evening Grosbeak in the last week.

On the way home I noticed two female Mountain Bluebirds hawking insects.

Checking out the ponds there was a single female Blue-winged Teal (49) with a pair of Mallards. A trio of very silent Steller's Jays were seen with a Blue Jay. Singing American Robins, House Finches, Song Sparrows and Pine Siskins were also enjoying this fine spring morning. 

Last night we heard a chorus of Pacific Tree Frogs as well as a Great Horned Owl hooting from across the river. The Tree Frogs like to hide in my plant pots. Last fall I brought in my potted herbs and later, as I was sitting & reading I heard a very loud 'ribbid'. A frog was in the large pot that contained parsley!

Drumming Grouse

My friend Sarah and I kayaked over to the Ward Ferry Trail and walked north a few kilometers. It was the afternoon and pretty quiet. We did hear a Ruffed Grouse drumming (46) and heard a Belted Kingfisher as it flew by. A Beaver was swimming in the bay near his lodge. Western Spring Azures and Western Elfins were seen. Common Mergansers & Canada Geese were in the river and Black-capped Chickadees in the forest.  Of course the Tree Swallows were abundant.

Snakes & Hawks

I thought at first the Red-tailed Hawk was carrying a stick and so watched to see where he would fly with it and find their nest. But instead he landed in a tree nearby. The next time he flew off I realized he was carrying a 2-3' snake in his talons. We do have lots of snakes here. That will be one less...

A heard the distinctive call (frip,frip,frip) of a Northern Rough-winged Swallow (45) and saw it fly by. Last year I found a nest burrow in the river bank. The song sparrows and Red-winged Blackbirds were singing. A pair of Killdeer were doing their broken wing display. I wonder if they will try to nest right here. The Tree Swallows are starting to claim their nest boxes. A Northern Flicker was calling. Still lots of Canada Geese fertilizing the lawn. Mallards are hanging out in the ponds.  Robins are busy finding worms in the lawn.

Butterflies & Eagles

Yesterday I spotted my first identifiable butterfly. It was a Western Pine Elfin and it was on our flowering rock cress. A near neighbour has honey bees and they were enjoying the rock cress as well.

The Bald Eagles at Gold Island appear to be nesting again this year. I spotted an adult sitting low on their nest a week ago. The last two years they have not produced any young. Reports from locals in the area is that this nest has been here for over 25 years.

Neigbhours helping out

I went out along the river this morning and then was joined by Al & Val. We heard and saw Killdeer and lots of Tree and Violet-green swallows. At their place, Val noticed a bird with a bit of yellowish colour on its back. A Townsend's Solitaire (44). Thanks Val! The Bald Eagles on Gold Island are sitting low on their nest, hopefully incubating eggs. The past two years the nest has not produced any young. An immature eagle also was seen along the river. The Canada Geese seem to be everywhere and Mallards are in the pon. Al reported hearing and seeing a Meadowlark last week. Lots of birds were singing such as Song Sparrow and House Finch. Also, the Red-winged Blackbirds numbers are getting bigger. 

Bike ride & Spotted Towhee

I went out for a bike ride this afternoon and saw a Spotted Towhee (43) just as he was flying from one conifer to another. Towhees are not seen here very often although they are common in the area. I have only seen one before right here in Shoreacres. 

The Northern Shrike made an appearance yesterday. A pair of Red-tailed Hawks are seen almost every day. 

I'm still waiting to hear/see a Meadowlark. 

Number 42

I went for a short walk after dinner to see what I could see. I didn't see any new birds. But I did hear a Varied Thrush (42) calling from the forest across the river.A Bald Eagle flew low down and grabbed some weedy material that was lying on the ground. Is it nesting material? I haven't checked yet to see if the Bald Eagles are sitting on eggs. The last 2 years they failed to produce any young.
Across the river a group of 3 Elk were at the salt lick. The Northern Shrike is still around and I flushed him from one tree and he flew to another. Two Red-tailed hawks are around now and my neigbhour reported seeing one carrying some sticks to a conifer. He is going to keep an eye on the tree and see if they nest there.