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!

A Real Downer!

 I was out birding in the local down town park when I noticed this Common Loon behaving oddly. I snapped a few photos and did not realize what was wrong until I got the shots on the computer at home. The Loon was lethargic and allowing me to approach to close. It was obviously in distress.

The problem was a big fishing plug wedged sideways in the mouth with some of the leader wrapped around the bill. I contacted the Wildlife office today. They were aware of the issue, but I didn't get any answer what, if anything, they were going to do about it. I mentioned that a bird in distress and flopping around in the Park was not a good thing for children to witness. I will keep an eye out, and if I can catch it, I will, and get it to the vet. My canoe is not big enough stability wise to deal with a bird this size.

A couple of Firsts

It was a nice, sunny, non windy day and I loaded up the canoe to do a little fishing at Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park. The fishing was slow(got one rainbow trout), but the photography opportunities were great

This was a first for me in Alberta.A Tundra Swan co-operated with my canoe approach and I got a bunch of good photos.

Also a first was this Pelican that was swimming along minding its own business.

Not a first, but nice to see up close., the Common loon in profile.

 

It was so hot, 28C and humid that i had to get off the lake by noon. I felt like the sun was melting me!

Wordless Wednesday