Holiday Birding

I've made a few attempts to go birding in Windsor over the last few days, but really... nothing too special to report! A typical walk at Malden Park or the Ojibway Prairie Reserve resulted in a typical list of birds... American Tree Sparrows, Two Blue Jays, a few Cardinals, Am Goldfinch, Morning Doves, and a White Breasted Nuthatch. Earlier in December, I noted several American Kestrels at Malden Park, but not so much in the last week or so.

I've even stopped by Lakeview Marina and some of the small inlets along the Detroit River in East Windsor to find them poorly populated... due probably to lack of open water! Lakeview Marina is across from Peche Island and gives nice views to at least a few species of ducks.

Scaup, Tundra & Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser,Canvasback along with some gulls are easily found where Lake St Clair turns into the Detroit River. Last year, scanning these flotillas would give Great Blue Herons & Hooded Mergansers as well.

I stopped my my parent's house today and noticed that the feeder activity was pretty good. Dark eyed Juncos, House Sparrows, Doves, BC Chickadees, Blue Jays, Cardinals... nothing too exciting. Actually one nice surprise today was a female Red Breasted Nuthatch! A Red Tailed Hawk flew by at one point. On the way home, a small kettle of 3-4 Red Tailed Hawks flew over my car in central/west Windsor. Red Tailed Hawks are so common in Essex at this time of year. I noted on a recent trip to Leamington (along highway 3) that there were 4-5 perched evenly along the highway if you look at the trees along the road.

Red Breasted Nuthatch from Feb 2010... could it be the same one as the one seen today?

Good birding and Happy New Year!
Dwayne