Snowy Owls!

After a long day of birding Delta Marsh, Delta Beach, St. Ambroise, and the surrounding area, I came across this Snowy Owl near Oak Hammock Marsh on my way home. He was very obliging and allowed me to park the car on the shoulder nearly right beside him.

Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl

He wasn't the first Snowy of the day however, as we spotted this guy sheltering from the wind or simply chilling on the ground.

Snowy Owl taking shelter beneath some bales.

My lifers on this expedition were:

• Ross's Goose
• Common Redpoll
• American Tree Sparrow
• Northern Shrike
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Semipalmated Plover
• American Golden-Plover
• Black-bellied Plover
• American Wigeon
• Western Grebe
• Northern Pintail
• Rusty Blackbird

I'd say 12 lifers in one day ain't bad. Overall it was a successful day with many sightings, a few lifers, and some Snowy Owls putting the cherry on top (as they so often do). Check out my Bird Log post to find the eBird checklist links.

More Spring Stuff

Spring is truly here, with the Purple Martins chirping, the Goldfinches singing, and the warblers belting out their beautiful tunes! I am going to barrage you with a lot of photos so get ready for this...

Geese with Goslings (Took this out car window so a little blurry)

This goose is a little...

Canada Goose

Checking me out

 At the dump...

1st year Herring Gull

Franklin's Gull

Adult Ring-Billed Gull

Ring-Billed Gull

2nd Year Herring Gull

1st Year Ring-Billed Gull

Assorted Gulls (Front is Adult Herring Gull)

Adult Herring Gull

Herring Gulls

Herring and Ring-Billed Gulls

Herring Gulls

Canada Geese

Killdeer on nest

Killdeer (Got to love that red eye)

Killdeer

Male Mallard

Killdeer

Male Mallard

Killdeer Eggs

Common Raven

 Of course! Tractors!

First they disced.

Then at the same time, the seeder followed behind.

Later they rolled the field, packing it nice and smooth

I reluctantly admit that dandelions are pretty (they are considered a pest out where I live)

Unidentified Random Plant

Spraying the field

Pink Sun

Hope you enjoyed this post. More to come!!!

Spring

Spring is finally here. Today I went outside to check out the possible nesting location of a pair of American Kestrels I have been observing regularly. First there were colourful clouds.

First sighting was a Killdeer in a puddle.

Then some gulls in more puddles

The first pelicans.

Redhead, Ring-Necked Ducks, Lesser Scaups, Bufflehead.

In a nearby lot there must have been over 60 American Robins.

Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker

In the field in which the Kestrels are mainly seen are some Bison. The post picture is the cavity hole that the Kestrels seem to like and wait around.

Kestrel Cavity Post

Wow... over half way ;) There is a second pond behind the bison field which serves as the bisons' water hole. Here could be heard the nasal bep of a few Gadwall, as well as a few Mallard's and presumably more Redheads, Scaups, Ring-Necked Ducks, and Bufflehead. There were a lot of ducks. Sadly, the Kestrels did not show.

Coming back,  I got a few more shots of ducks at the pond.

Almost at our driveway again... meadowlarks!!! Needed to grab a few shots before I went inside. Here they are:

Thank you for staying with me. So concludes my massive spring post. Until next-time ;)