The last two weeks have been a strange mix of great birds and deep angst. I'll save my thoughts about the COVID-19 pandemic and birding for another post and keep this post focused on the birds. This post is all about March 11, which was filled with excellent photographic opportunities for some spring migrants, including HOODED MERGANSER, RED-NECKED GREBE, GOLDEN EAGLE, and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK.
Hooded Merganser
Around this time of year, when the ice has melted and the ducks are active, the Valley Inn ponds can provide close views of some duck species. A small flock of HOODED MERGANSERs almost always finds its way here for a week or so every spring and fall. Normally, they are incredibly skittish and swim far away at the slightest sound or movement along the shore line. On March 11, I drove slowly beside one of the ponds and discovered a group of 6 feeding right beside the road. My lens was quickly resting on the bean bag for the car window!
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Hooded Merganser eating a small fish |
Eventually, the HOMEs swam out into the pond where the reflections from the hill side made for some great art shot opportunities.
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Hooded Merganser |
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Hooded Merganser |
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Hooded Mergansers |
Red-necked Grebe
This time of year, RED-NECKED GREBEs start returning to selected areas along the shores of Lake Ontario. A well-known spot for one pair is Bronte Harbour, where the town puts out floating tires for nesting spots. After finishing up with the Hooded Mergansers, I took a drive to Bronte Harbour to see if the RNGR were around. Sure enough, they were swimming in the harbour. I was hoping they would perform some of their mating ritual while I was there, but they didn't. They were, however, quite chatty with each other.
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Red-necked Grebe |
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The other Red-necked Grebe |
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I had some very close views! |
Golden Eagle
After arriving home from the Red-necked Grebes, I received a report that some Red-shouldered Hawks were migrating over the Hamilton area. So, off I went to the Valley Inn and Woodland Cemetery to see if I could find some. These moments are always fun when other birders are showing up for the same thing.
Our first stop was Woodland Cemetery, which has a few spots that provide good views south, east and west for migrating raptors. From here, we saw one distant Red-shouldered Hawk. As we were about to leave here and go to Valley Inn, we spotted a large raptor flying directly towards us. We could tell that it was an eagle, and I assumed it would be an immature Bald Eagle since we see so many of them at this spot. I started taking photos as it approached, thinking that it might not be a Bald Eagle ... maybe it's a Golden Eagle. It was cloudy and quite dark, so it was impossible to see any plumage markings at all. I took a number of snaps as it passed overhead so that I could look at them later on my computer.
When we got down to the Valley Inn, another birder was there who had just seen a Golden Eagle. Say what!?!? Sure enough, the bird that flew over us was an adult Golden Eagle. I didn't get finely detailed photos, but they're good record shots. Here's one:
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Golden Eagle over Woodbine Cemetery |
Red-shouldered Hawks
Down at Valley Inn, we patiently waited for migrating raptors, hoping for some Red-shouldered Hawks. It didn't take too long for one to fly overhead. We had three adults here, for a total of four on the day. Again, the dark afternoon did not provide good light, so the best I could hope for were some solid record shots. Someday, I'll get awesome, detailed photos of a Red-shouldered Hawk!
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Red-shouldered Hawk |
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Red-shouldered Hawk |
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You can see the Red-shoulder on this one. |
All-in-all, a good day for bird snaps!