Greenway Park – February 22, 2025
Last weekend when the weather was bright and not too cold, we spent time at Greenway Park. The Thames is deep enough there to attact diving ducks from farther north that are in search of open water. The ducks typically feed on small fish, aquatic insects, crustaceans (especially crayfish), amphibians, vegetation, and mollusks.
The most numerous birds, both on the water and on the shore were Canada Geese and Mallards.
Diving along the river were a number of birds we were used to seeing in greater numbers off the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto – Common Goldeneye (m) accompanied by two Black Ducks, a female Red-breasted Merganser, a Long-tailed Duck (m), a Bufflehead, and two more male Goldeneyes. The female Goldeneyes did not pose for photos. A less-frequent visitor to the river was a handsome male Canvasback.
We hope there will be more days of winter birding to report before spring arrives. For now, it is foggy as the temperature has risen just above freezing.
Here are the last of our photos from our February 2019 visit to Panama.
Gamboa
Gamboa is a town in the Canal Zone that was established in the 1930s. The Canopy B&B is located in a quiet residential neighbourhood that was home to many canal workers during the years the Americans managed the canal. The large, comfortable house is surrounded by tropical trees and a garden that features a well-stocked fruit feeder. It is a 5-minute walk to the canal and a short walk to the lowland rainforest of the Soberania National Park that surrounds the area.
After the nonstop pace of outings at the lodge and the tower, we were happy to spend time relaxing in the garden as we watched the birds and other visitors attracted by the feeders.
Blue-grey and Golden-hooded Tanager, Plain-coloured Tanager, Buff-throated Saltator, Crimson-backed Tanager, Summer Tanager, Green Honeycreeper, Red-legged Honeycreepers (female and male), Orange-chinned Parakeet, Blue-crowned Motmot, Buff-throated Saltator
The Yellow-headed Caracara and the Grey-headed Chachalaca may have visited the feeder when we weren’t watching.
Other visitors to the feeder: Geoffroy’s Tamarin, Central American Agouti, Green Iguana
Although we don’t think the agouti ever made it onto the feeder platform, we did see the igaua drop gracefully onto it from an overhanging tree. Its dismount onto the ground was much less graceful.
Before it was time to leave Panama, we had time for a walk along the canal and Gatun River and lunch at a nearby resort.
There were opportunities for just a few more photos.
Black-bellied Ducks and Southern Lapwing
Social Flycatcher and Sloth
Tropical foliage, Banded Peacock butterfly, Leaf-cutter ant carrying a blossom. Leaf-cutter ants carry leaves and other plant matter underground where they use the plant matter to fertilize fungus gardens. The fungus provides nutrition for the ants.
It was time to head home, however reluctant we might be to leave. These are our final views of Panama as we headed through Panama City to the airport at low tide.
Fading Flowers
Valentine’s Day flowers, fading, but still giving pleasure.
Queen Songs
Only one of the songs in the playlist is sung by Queen. Other than the word, queen, very little connects these songs. I could find dozens of songs I liked with queen in the title, but almost none with king in the title. Hmmm.