Birding in the snow

 It's tricky, birding! Those of us living with snow know how difficult it is to photograph something in the snow. Also, I have trouble focusing. Period. You'll get the gist, however.

We had a big storm Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. Monday, Nov. 23rd we had a red-wing blackbird. They should have flown by now. 

Female cardinal in bombing position.

The cardinals avoid the blue jays. The cardinals pick up what has been dropped. It's a good relationship!

I did see a Downy Woodpecker take a crack at a chickadee. The woodpecker had feathers on her beak after the incident, which pissed her off! She kept whacking her beak on the feeder.

White-breasted nuthatch in the little feeder.

The mourning doves get along with the blackbird.

There! Finally! A decent photo.

A wee downy.

It was easier photographing them in the tree.

Lift off!

On Wednesday, there were TWO female cardinals, as well as the one male. Can you see them?

I thought not. It's as close as I could get. You'll have to trust me. Here is the mourning dove perching on the bird bath.

American tree sparrow!

A drive to the rivers to see the birds

Hooded Mergansers took off!

We had a grand time. There is a spot near Smiths Falls where the birds gather.

Old dam footings, suddenly the bridge ends!

South Mud Lake drains into north east, into the river. The river wends its way to the wide, unnamed damn (irregular shape on the right of the satellite shot).

This dam, empties, leading to a culvert under the road, then empties into a marshy bog. I want to do some research to figure out who put it there!

Canada Geese on the far frozen shoreline

Pretty safe, methinks.

Incoming geese were chased away!

The road is quite new, in the grand scheme of things.

The birds were amazing.

red-wing blackbird

Song sparrow

 

What is shameful is the garbage people leave behind:
a diaper, cigarette packaging, bottles.

Geese on the move

The mallards were pretty pissed off with me!

The ice just sinks as it melts, the fast-flowing dam..

Here are a pair of Bala Mallards!

 
We drove to the water to see the birds! A couple of Canada Geese, breaking through the ice, blackbirds, mallards, all singing for love! Watch as she loses here footing, despite treading carefully!