Today, is a quintessential April day, cold and blustery. We’re looking forward to warmer weather on the weekend and hoping for clear skies on Monday for the solar eclipse.
April 1st was a sunny day without too much wind and the temperature in the single digits. We went with friends, all hoping to see some early spring arrivals.
Komoka Provincial Park borders the Thames River. The Ponds were created in a former gravel pit. The low land and meadow adjacent to the ponds provide habitat for ground-nesting birds such as Eastern Meadowlarks and Killdeer. Nesting boxes around the property are home to Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows.
We were happy to see or hear 22 species, the highest total we’ve had for some time. The main trail is along a high berm, far from the water and most of the birds. This made for some disappointing photos.
The ponds were not very busy – only a few Canada Geese, one Mallard, two American Wigeons, 10 Buffleheads and five Common Mergansers.
There was lots of bird song as birds began to establish their breeding territories. We were excited to hear the song of an Eastern Meadowlark that we then spotted singing near the top of a tall tree. Thanks to our friends for excellent photos of both the male and female meadowlarks.
Another treat was seeing several Eastern Bluebirds. One was far away, steadfastly bashing a larva against a branch. Others were foraging in bushes that were a lot closer.
We heard many Song Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, and Red-winged Blackbirds, and the calls of Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, American Crows, Carolina Wren, Black-capped Chickadees, Common Grackles and American Robins.
There were several Brown-headed Cowbirds perched in a tree.
Turkey Vultures and three Bald Eagles soared overhead, and a few early Tree Swallows swooped to catch insects in the air.
Another happy sighting captured by our friend’s camera was a Golden-crowned Kinglet flitting furiously from branch to branch. They forage for insects and will sip oozing sap from trees.
Some plants were beginning to grow and bloom.
Osprey Update
We’ve had an anxious week watching Osprey life at Labatt Park. After seeing two Ospreys on March 28, we then saw only one for several days. We realized that the lone Osprey was the female that has nested at the park for the past few years. She spent much of her time perched on the new set of lights that were in the location of the old nest. Her attempts to rebuild a nest on that site were all unsuccessful. Sticks and branches merely slipped between the lights and fell to the ground. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAd8NftM4wQ
On the morning of April 2nd, the female Osprey was perched on the lights when a second Osprey circled over the river and landed briefly on her back (without mating). We recognized this smaller, lighter-coloured bird as the female’s mate from last year. The female continued to perch on the lights, apparently unwilling to give up on the site. The male made some attempts to court the female by adding nesting materials to the lights, but these were highly unsuccessful. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OcG8W3wL7A8
For the past few days, the female has often perched on the lights. More often, the male stayed on the low platform where he also consumed fish. It seemed that the male favoured the low platform, but that female was reluctant to give up the high lookout of the lights, despite the improbability of building a stable nest there. We were worried that the birds would abandon the park completely.
Since yesterday (April 4), however, both male and female have spent more time together on the low platform. This morning, it even looks like some nesting material has been added to the platform. We are more optimistic now that the pair well stay and nest on the platform and that we will have an even better view of Osprey life.
Glenn has been adding short videos of the Labatt Ospreys to a dedicated YouTube channel.
In Honour of the Eclipse
Where will you be on April 8 around 3 in the afternoon? We are hoping to see a total eclipse for at least one minute by driving south only a few miles into its path.
Choir! Choir! Choir! at the Art Gallery of Ontario: Space Oddity – yes again