Reuven and I decided to cruise around Guelph this morning once the downpours stopped, since it was another warm day (13C) and there were winter birds to be found! Our first stop was at Riverside Park (where the Greater White-fronted Goose pic below was taken), where there were no geese in sight. We did hear and then see one of the wintering Tufted Titmice though. It'd be cool if they stuck around to breed! Then it was off to the Lafarge site, where we quickly heard the Orange-crowned Warbler that had been refound the day before. It chipped constantly for about a minute, but when we got close enough to possibly spot it, it stopped calling and we never heard it again. There has also been a Saw-whet Owl hanging out on the property somewhere, and after about 40 minutes of searching I eventually found it.
It didn't look very happy (soaking wet, as you can tell), so I just snapped a quick shot and once Reuven had seen it we left it alone. While we were searching we had a Bohemian Waxwing and 2 Red Crossbills fly over. I also spotted what was probably a Green Frog jumping into the creek - crazy for January!! Afterwards we met up with Jesse to scour the Arboretum (unsuccessfully) for the Barred Owl and Brown Thrasher, only managing to find 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers.
After lunch I went up northeast of Guelph to look for some previously reported birds for my Wellington winter list, and managed to turn up Carolina Wren, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Pine Grosbeak and an American Kestrel. I am still hoping for one or two more warm-weather birds out of this crazy warm spell!
1 comment:
David, you Saw a Wet Owl! (pun intended :-p) I would like to drive up to Guelph for an afternoon of birding. There are some species there that are difficult to find in Windsor!
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