Windmere Basin to Hendrie to Bronte Marina

What joy it was to be out and about Saturday. The cloudy morning gave way to sunshine.
Windermere Basin, Hamilton

As I entered from the southern end of the park bravely navigating past the Tree Swallows vigorously defending their nest boxes.

A Snowy Egret (rare) drew birders to the basin. One benefit of venturing out to photograph a rare bird is the opportunity to meet with and learn from birding experts. Scopes are mandatory here. L. Fazio, a veteran birder, greeted each newcomer and generously encouraged us to view the bird with his scope. This is the best I could do with the limits of my camera’s limits aka a record photograph.

Snowy Egret (rare)

Also observed and netting similar type photographs were a Northern Pintail, an American Coot, Wood Ducks, and Northern Shovelers. A Lesser Scaup, a Rough-winged Swallow and a juvenile Tree Swallow offered closer views.

Lesser Scaup

Rough-winged Swallow

Juvenile Tree Swallow

Van Wagner’s Beach to Spencer Smith
This juvenile Northern Mockingbird was singing atop a light standard at the go cart track. Four additional mockingbirds were found along the beach stretch, as were Mallard ducklings and Canada Goose goslings.

Juvenile Northern Mockingbird

Gosling yawning

Mallard ducklings

The Peregrine Falcons on the Lift Bridge have had three chicks, two males and one female. The youngers were banded and named Wellington (red), Lucifer (blue) and Stella (yellow). So the story is, “Lucifer was given that name because on the day he was banded, his weight in grams, was 666”! Here are some photographs:

Patrolling under the Burlington Skyway

Wellington and his breakfast

Peregrine Falcon with prey

Next stop was the bench at CCIW to check if there were any hatchlings. Oh, what a feast for the eyes.

Caspian Terns and fledglings

Ring-billed Gull and two young

Ring-billed Gull fledgling

This is a great spot to photograph the Caspian Terns.

Caspian Tern skimming

Caspian Tern in flight

From the parking lot a swan and cygnets and a Red-Winged Blackbird were observed.

Swan and cygnets (notice how well they camouflage with the rocks)

Female Red-winged Blackbird with insect

I encountered Dale on the walk to Spencer Smith as he added the details. I had to ask how he managed during the winter. Well, he has a sandpit in his basement! He will be present at the 8th annual sandcastles festival to be held on the beach on August 8, 2015.

Sand sculpture

Hendrie Valley, Burlington

In the 30 minutes I was at Hendrie I observed the Indigo Bunting, a juvenile Black-capped Chickadee, the House Wrens, a Yellow Warbler, a Belted Kingfisher, and a Caspian Tern.

Indigo Bunting

Juvenile Black-capped Chickadee

Yellow Warbler

Caspian Tern with fish

Bronte Marina, Oakville

I had to see how the Red-necked Grebes were faring. En route we watched Cliff and Barn Swallows collecting mud used to create their mud cups.

Cliff Swallow collecting mud

Barn Swallow collecting nesting material

Four photographers were present near the grebes when we arrived. I made myself comfortable on the rocks and spent a good 45 minutes observing and photographing the birds. As I said my adieus, the chap next to me asked, “so soon?” I tarried for another 30 minutes. By then our numbers expanded. If you ever see a group like this, never feel intimidated by their numbers, expertise or camera gear. Greet the person next to you and join in.