Billings Bridge Ducks

January 21, 2018

After our success with the American Wigeon, we decided to try for more winter ducks.  The Northern Pintail eluded us, but we got the Wood Duck pair, a Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, and several pairs of American Black Ducks among the hordes of Mallards.

American Wigeon at Pinecrest Creek

January 19, 2018

There have been several reports of a male American Wigeon at Pinecrest Creek, notably by friend Derek Dunnett of Ottawa Field Naturalits' Club. So after lunch we headed over to look for it. As soon as we started on the trail, a cyclist, upon seeing our cameras, told us about an unusual duck up ahead.  Sure enough, there he was out of the water and putting on a fine show.  There were also hundreds of Mallards and a few American Black Ducks in the water.

Owl Prowl

Jan 14, 2018

It was a frosty -17C, but we needed to get out, so decided to check the roads around Richmond.
First we went to the Trail Road landfill,  We saw two Red-tailed Hawks, both distant, so no photos were obtained.

Next we went to Rushmore Road where we spotted a Snowy Owl on a utility pole.   We were just setting up for photos when it flew across the road with another vehicle in pursuit.  It landed very close to the road, so we got some mediocre shots before yet another vehicle passed us and stopped in front spooking the owl.   We were quite annoyed!

We carried down Rushmore, stopping to photograph a small flock of Snow Buntings near Eagleson Rd.  We cruised both Brownlee and Akins without seeing anything.  So we returned to Rushmore where we again spotted the same Snowy Owl on the same utility pole where we had first seen it. This time, we had a chance to get some images.