Enjoy!

~Sharon

The above photos are of a female Brown-headed Cowbird taken at Oak Hammock Marsh.  These birds were foraging on the ground picking up insects.  Below is the male .

Below a Western Meadowlark at Oak Hammock Marsh. Meadowlarks are commonly found in grasslands areas and their song is beautiful and unmistakeable.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Not just a “sparrow” . . .  years ago before I really started paying attention to birds I would have simply identified this bird as a sparrow and left it at that.  We have many varieties of sparrows around us daily with beautiful songs and distinctive markings and colour.   Pictured above is a Savannah Sparrow at Oak Hammock Marsh.  It has yellow over the eyes and a white breast area.   Below is a Lincoln’s Sparrow with some buff colouring on the striped breast and around the eyes – this one in my backyard.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

This Northern Shoveler pair was sighted close to Oak Hammock Marsh.  Beautiful waterfowl with large shovel like beaks that swipe back and forth while feeding on the water surface. Can be found breeding in shallow wetlands. Below is the female Northern Shoveler.

Below – close up views that show their broad beaks.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Above:  Kildeer at Oak Hammock Marsh

Spring seems to be arriving early this year just like our little groundhog predicted it would.  With spring will be the arrival of our wonderful variety of birds.   The geese have already arrived and the Bald Eagles are once again soaring high in our skies.  Today’s blog features birds commonly found around our marshes and lakes.

Below:  Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper & Common Snipe.  These photos were taken at Oak Hammock Marsh, Hecla Island and Twin Beaches

Enjoy

~Sharon

Above: American Coots swimming through the Duckweed.

This aquatic plant is aptly named as it is apparent that waterfowl love this stuff.   Todays photos are of American Coots, Mallard Ducks and Wood Ducks all ready to dine on their Duckweed dinner.  Where the Duckweed is really thick in the marsh,  little trails are blazed as the diners swim through feeding on their greens.  I didn’t realize the importance of this plant until doing a bit of research on it. Duckweed is another example of things we see often but don’t pay much attention to.  The website which I have cited below is both an informative and interesting read.

The family of duckweeds are the smallest flowering plants that grow floating in still or slow-moving fresh water world wide, except in the coldest regions.  The growth of these high-protein plants can be extremely rapid. Lemna is one of the best known of this group and has been the subject of much research. The Charms of Duckweed. (15 Sep. 2002) http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed-citation.htm (10 Nov. 2002).

Below:  Mallard (female) heading for the duckweed.

Below:  Wood Ducks in the duckweed.

Below: Gadwall Duck swims in the duckweed at Oak Hammock Marsh.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

There is a colony of Richardsons Ground Squirrels at Oak Hammock Marsh. On a recent visit in late August, I overheard an employee explaining to a visitor that the adult ground squirrels are already preparing for hibernation while the youngsters are still out and about foraging for greens to fatten themselves up for the winter.

I think this means the chicks are either  hungry or  auditioning for a local musical . . .  There were four chicks in this nest and I was surprised to find that the birds were still nesting at the end of August when these photos were taken.  Every time a parent swallow would fly by the mouths would open wide and more often than not an insect would be fed to a chick.  This nest was at Oak Hammock Marsh, just north of Winnipeg.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

More today from the “Marsh” visit. It was a dreary day, pouring rain every time a cloud went over, then sun, then rain and so the day went. It was still nice to be out and about in spite of the weather. The first two photos are of a Killdeer.

Next:  Yellow Headed Blackbird

Enjoy !

~Sharon

You can find the page at the menu to the right in the “GALLERIES” section.

Since the Wildflowers are all blooming we might as well look at more while they are in season.
Once again, photos from Oak Hammock Marsh and Lockport area.

Below: Two views of a Curly Cup Gumweed

Below: Two Grooved Milk Vetch

Enjoy!
~Sharon