Favorite Butterfly Patch!

Finally some nice conditions for butterfly hunting!Went to some unused land off of Bournais Drive where last summer always saw many varieties.Found over 25 Mourning Cloaks,2 Comma's and 1 tattered Milbert's Tortoiseshell!The cloaks were chasing everything including any birds flying by and me!Was not looking for birds but did see new for the year Winter Wren and Eastern Phoebe!And saw two Woodchucks who use the extensive cement piles as home.Sure do give off a startling warning call!

Sandhill Crane Calling

Again another day off!This time no work!Left very early to avoid the crowds!Only went to one area along the railway tracks.Extensive marsh with very interesting sights!A large bird flushed and I followed it through some deadfall.It was a Cooper`s Hawk and it was hunting the numerous Dark-eyed Juncos about!A Northern Flicker also alighted as I walked here.With the low cloud ceiling swore a Sandhill Crane was very close to me!On the way to the bus stop took a side trip to another swamp and was rewarded.A Rusty Blackbird flew on to a bulrush and started singing!Here are three videos of birds seen or heard,

Song Sparrows Singing!

St.Boniface Industrial Park

Had another day off ,poor employer is very sick!Lots of male Red-winged Blackbirds have arrived and were scattered around the two marshes.As I was approaching the sedge meadow heard my first song from a migrating bird,a Song Sparrow!A few moments later heard a Western Meadowlark belt out part of a song!In a swamp with many dead snags a Mourning Dove was back at it's favorite haunt.Only new species seen in all the ponds were a pair of Buffleheads.As I was exiting the park a Black-billed Magpie was seen building a nest near the police station.Of all the years of seeing American Tree Sparrows passing through never heard a male sing.But today one perched prominently on bush singing!

Gray Partridge!

Went for a long walk looking for exciting new finds for the year!All four ponds were covered.In them were a Canvasback and a pair of Hooded Mergansers.Also found a new pond looking through Goggle Maps!Next time!American Tree Sparrows everywhere,a few Fox Sparrows rummaging in the leaf litter and an American Robin flushed from a bush.A Northern Harrier hunting over a marsh and two later chasing a very active Great Horned Owl!Two Herring Gulls who only stay long enough to gorge on the winterkill of fish! Watched as a Red-tailed Hawk soared higher and higher trying to find a warm updraft in the cold weather.Lucky for the bird the winds were heavy and it was out of my eyesight in no time.Found a colorful male American Kestrel hunting from a hydro line and close by a female.Could I be treated to a whole summer of raising there young as I did last year!And always a surprise two Gray Partridges flushed from a field just as I was about to step on them!

American Kestrel

When butterflies are not flying and orchids are not showing will periodically post notable bird sightings especially from my local patch.Which is St. Boniface Industrial Park, found within the city limits of Winnipeg,Manitoba.After unseasonably warm weather lately the temperature returned to more normal highs for this time of year.Therefore because of the cold no butterflies were expected to be seen.Did see an American Kestrel which are very uncommon in the city.Hope it is one of the pair who breed here and successfully raised two young.And finally seen a Killdeer after hearing them for about a week.One other bird of note were two Herring Gulls.The three ponds are free of ice but disappointedly there was few waterfowl on them. Next weekend should be good for butterflies,much higher temperatures and sunny!

Green Comma

My first butterfly sighting of the year!Found in a riparian oak forest.Checked out both my butterfly field guides and I am confident that it is a Green Comma!