1, 2, skip a few, 99, 100!!!!!

I headed to Holiday Beach today to see what was around, since I didn`t get out to the Hawk Festival this weekend.  During this time of year, there is always an official counter on the tower.  Before climbing up to the tower, I walked around the edge of the trout pond to see what was in Big Creek....lots of GBH's, Great Egrets and Mute Swans.  There were some ducks that were too far off to identify.  The thrill of this walk, however, was the Green Heron (life bird 99) that jumped up into a tree maybe 20' in front of me and was quite the model!

I have lots of pics of this guy....sorry to bore you :)

This picture is actually a different bird (I think) in a different location from the other pics.

I was thrilled with this encounter!!  I then headed up to the Hawk Tower and met a young U of W student that I told about this bird and that he was number 99 on my list.  He then pointed out a Pied-billed Grebe in the marsh, quite a way out, but there was a scope on the tower, so I got a good look at it....bird 100!  Thanks Jeremy!!

Here a couple other shots I got today that I liked...

Great Blue Heron taking off...looks more like jumping for joy :)

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I was hoping this was a Hairy, but I think it is a Downy...

Snake swimming in Big Creek

Sunning Turtle

What a great day!!
PS: Brian, did I beat you to 100? ;)

Owl Mobbing and Other Birds

Today. Was. Awesome!!!!!!  I dropped the girls off at the pool in Blenheim and headed to Erieau.  I was debating between stopping at the Lagoons or the Erieau Marsh, but I am sooooooo glad I went to the Marsh!  I got to witness what looked like a Great Horned Owl (not 100% of the ID) get mobbed by lots of Red-winged Blackbirds and Killdeer!  I heard all kinds of racket, looked and saw an owl being chased by a large flock!  I instantly put my bins down and grabbed my camera to capture the action...not the sharpest pictures, but show the scene quite well.

Just after I first heard the racket and saw the owl.  He ducked down below the reeds for a bit.

When he took off...the racket continued and many more birds than pictured were chasing him...

If you look closely, you can see a Red-winged Blackbird right on his tail!



The owl, now perched, got dive-bombed constantly, until he took off.

Just before the owl mobbing, this poor duck (Mallard female...I think), was being chased too!  The bird has his legs out like he was grabbing at the duck!

More harrassment!

The trees were dripping with Cedar Waxwings!  This is a life bird for me...they are probably the most elegant looking bird I have laid eyes on.

Cedar Waxwing

Three on one branch...there were TONNES!

Here are a few other shots I got today that I liked...

Killdeer cruising over the marsh.

Eastern Kingbird

Great Blue Heron

What an exciting day! 

Labour Day Weekend 2011 (Ottawa)

My brother has lived in Ottawa for about 5 years, and in all our visits, we had never been to Gatineau Park.  We headed to Pink Lake with my brother and his family (he, his wife, his almost 8 year old son and just 3 year old daughter).  I suspect there were many more birds and critters around than we saw, but we made too much noise :)

Caterpillar on the boardwalk...had fun explaining the "fake head" to my nephew.

View of Pink Lake

My daughter, husband and myself (my son couldn't come.)

 This bird (below) is the only new bird I saw at Gatineau Park. I was initially thinking it might be a Hermit Thrush.  Not sure though....I can't make out the details well enough to count it as a life bird...

 This is the first time I had ever seen a milipede in the wild :)  Yup, they're gross!

On Sunday, it rained, so we did "indoor" things.  On Monday, we went to Brewer Pond to catch frogs...my brother and the kids tried numerous times while at Pink Lake to catch the slippery suckers, with no luck.  They had better luck at Brewer Pond.  While there, we saw....

Lots of dragon flies.

A Garder Snake...

This Song Sparrow...which is actually a lifer...have seen them, but never identified them before...

And this Great Blue Heron!  My brother was basically standing next to it then spooked it trying to get my attention.

While sitting on my brother's deck, this Black Capped Chickadee came for visit :)

And these White-breasted Nuthatches (below) were busy on this stump most of the afternoon on Monday.  They were fun to watch!  Apparently, before cutting the tree down, it was frequented by Pileated Woodpeckers.  I was hoping to see one this weekend, but didn't.  The feeders at the window in the background were busy all day with Goldfinches, Chickadees, Nuthatches and an unidentified Woodpecker.

So, although not a birding trip, I was happy to get a couple lifers!

Holiday Beach Conservation Area, Canada Day Weekend

For Canada Day, we decided to camp out at Holiday Beach.  I was happy because I knew I would get to see herons and cranes.  I certainly was not disappointed.  While I didn't do any serious bird watching, I did make sure to check out the marsh each day.  Here are some pictures I managed to get.....

Great Blue Heron :)



In flight.....

Truth be told, I'm a little bit sad that I didn't just watch him (or her) through my binoculars...what a spectacular bird!

I'm not sure what this bird is....there were four of them sitting up in this tree.  When they left the tree, they dove for fish! They didn't fully submerge (that I recall).  Any idea?  Update...I am pretty sure these are Eastern Kingbirds :) 
 

This is a new bird for me!  I am pretty sure it is a Common Moorhen :)

I think this is a Great Egret.  The bill is more orange than yellow and the lores are more black than greenish.

 



Ok...not birds, but still cute :)

 

Love the action shot, even though it is blurry :)

As always, if I have misidentified a bird, please correct me!