May 9,2020, Out and About

There were lots of birds out this morning on the walk

American Wigeon

Northern Shoveller

Common Loon

Song Sparrow

Great Blue Heron

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

My Walk May6,2020

It was a good day starting at 06:30 dark. The pictures were all taken around Rotary Park in Whitecourt.

We have a Northern Shoveller preening

Whatever he can do, so can she!

It was fairly warm, but this Seagull still had to fluff up. 

A pair of Blue Wing Teal enjoying the sunshine. She is very camouflaged!

Then there are the noisy crows. This one was not happy with Daphnie being so close.

The Common Loon was enjoying a stretch after chasing breakfast in the pond

Our Ospreys

are back. There have been Ospreys in that nest every year for about 9 years that I know of.

There were five Mule Deer in the park and they didn't mind Daphnie at all

They just kept on feeding.

Then there is the Canada Goose, head up looking for any danger to his hens

All in all, a good hours walk!

They Continue to Come!

A lot of the migratory birds are back, just to get hit with a major snow storm!

Common Goldeneye

Northern Shoveller

Great Blue Heron

Common Merganser

Common Merganser Pair

Common Merganser Drake

Great Blue Heron

Geese on the Athabasca

Lots of activity!

Yesterday Was a Ducky Sort of Day!

It was a great day for pictures! Alas, the River is opening up and the birds are dispersing to their nesting areas. In the meantime, I had fun!

Here are a pair of Common Goldeneye

A Canada Goose making a big splash on arrival

Two male Greater Scaup

A Pair of Bufflehead

A Male Common Goldeneye

A male Hooded Merganser

Tundra Swans

The Tundra Swans are a lot bigger than the Canada Goose!

A pair of Mallards

Canada Goose Mating ritual

Three Canada Geese fighting for the right to mate

Breakup on the Athabasca

This is a view of the Athabasca two days ago. The warm weather had opened up some of the river and raised the level about one foot. 

Here is another view two days ago. Some of the ice and debris dammed this side of the river, forcing more water into the main channel, much to the enjoyment of the ducks.

Yesterday, the top view became this. The ice was starting to move from upstream and the river's two flows have equalized.

Before long, the ice was building.

Some of the ice blocks ere several feet thick. I hope the river doesn't do what it did last year and dam off the whole flow below Town. The result caused the river to overflow the banks and flooded several thousand acres, and lots of houses. It washed out sections of the flats road. People were out of their houses for several weeks. 

Finally, I think Spring is Here!

Today was the first day that I saw Sea Gulls, not many, but its a start. They seem to keep well separated from all the Geese and ducks on the River.I thought I heard some yesterday, but couldn't find them.

The American Wigeon is still in the shallows, and ice. They are a pretty duck and I don't get to  take photos of them very often> I am trying to get a side by side of both  male and female.

The weather is such and the traffic is way down and the Mule Deer are coming out.I am hoping to get some fawn shots this year.

This female Wigeon was cooperative to a point, but wouldn't sidle up to her mate. I will keep watching!

Summer Influx of Birds

There were a lot of new faces on the Athabasca River today! I am not sure who this guy is, but he was having a lot of fun in the current.

This one is a Hooded Merganser with his hood down That is a sign of a contented Merganser.

This Common Goldeneye just flipped and caught a minnow head down!

Here are two more Goldeneyes

A Drake Mallard up against an ice bank

A Hen Mallard at rest

Then we have an American Wigeon.

I was wondering what these Canada Geese were picking at. It turns out the ice is covered with very small flying insects.