I've been getting out to a few places, including Rondeau, but will save the Rondeau highlights for the next post. Instead, I will draw attention to things elsewhere in C-K!
Certainly a highlight now, is to note that Bald Eagle nests are being occupied, at least in a few places. Fortunately Bald Eagles have re-bounded from their endangered status of a few years ago! Some nests are fairly visible right from a road, as is the case of this nest along the south end of Fargo Road.
It is a new nest this season, and I'm not sure how long it will last, as it appears that the tree is totally dead. Hopefully it lasts at least this season! It is easily viewed from the road, although binoculars are helpful. Being a dead tree, at least any growth of the young up to fledging time should be more visible.
This next photo is one of my favourites, although it was not taken of this nesting pair. But I like it so much, I had a 12" X 24" canvas print made of it!
Closer to home, literally, I have been watching the neighbourhood squirrels maintaining their winter nest. Once the snow left the yard, there were at least two squirrels busily gathering up even more leaves and scampering up the tree trunk to add them to the existing nest.
Not sure if they are just patching things up due to the high winds scattering some of the nest leaves, or whether they are just shoring it up to allow some protection for probable recently born nestling from the weather. Or maybe they know there is more winter to come, and want to improve on the original design.
Now that SCNWA is open, and the trail is free of snow, it is somewhere I will be going to again fairly regularly, especially as it is relatively close to home.
Not that long ago, it was solid ice everywhere.
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| Late February |
The waterfowl are now able to make use of the openness.
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March 8 |
Red-winged Blackbirds are abundant, staking out territory.
The occasional Great Blue Heron is around, but not offering the greatest photos (or maybe I just wasn't prepared with the proper settings :-)
Canada Geese are getting paired up...
..or just moving around looking for a mate?
American Tree Sparrows are still hanging around, picking away at whatever they can find on the trail to nibble on.
Nearby one can find the occasional Belted Kingfisher, waiting for something to surface at a recently open spot. They are skittish, and this one didn't allow a very close photo op. It is heavily cropped.
Of the several Wood Duck boxes just north of the NWA, an Eastern Screech Owl continues to hang out, at least for now. Wood Ducks are starting to return, so no doubt they will oust the owl before long.
Sandhill Cranes are around in increasing numbers, and often are paired up. I suspect they are already beginning the nesting process!
More unusual are a couple of Trumpeter Swans. This pair was just hanging out in a local corn stubble field without any other waterfowl nearby. Maybe they will stick around and nest? This species has been suspected of nesting in recent years, but not confirmed that I am aware of. They like the large, open and secluded wetland areas.
The NWA can be a great spot for sunsets!
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