Incoming Canada Geese

 Canada Geese

A Rusty Blackbird

Nesting pair

New Returns

 

The first shot is of of a Tundra Swan. There were lots more present in the fields today.

This is a Sandhill Crane, the first that I have seen this year. They are a stately bird. Unfortunately I couldn't get closer.

Yet another Tundra Swan!

A flock of Mallards was just leaving a field pond. If you bigify the photo you will see some Pintail Ducks include with the Mallards.

This is another newcomer for the year, a seagull.

Can you find the Pintail Duck?

That's all for now. It may be a few days before I can get out again.

 

Early Birds on the River

 The last few sunny days have been spent on the river tracking the incoming geese and other birds. I did manage to get Geese and some Mallards between snow, storms, fog and bad lighting. There were lots of Canada Geese and quite a few Mallards

Some Geese were content to graze

The Mallards were content to try to get a mate.

Hey, look missy, a duck march just for you.

Sleepy geese must have been up all night flying here.

A little bit of open water is appreciated.

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!

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

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.