Kitchener Waterloo & Area Birding: Blog commentary on my, (Bill McDonald) birding and wildlife sightings & observations
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APRIL 2024

3/4/2024

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April 26th - 30th 2024

LOCATION: SE Ohio
WEATHER: Sun & cloud, and very hot ( up to 29C )
I have been getting quite impatient - the thought of shooting some spring warblers has been getting me wishful for a bit of avian action with migrating songbirds. So pretty much every year at this time I head down to SE Ohio with a group of like minded friends to see what goodies that area has to offer. Our targets were generally Warblers and Vireos but wouldn't say no to a few flycatchers or others either.
We arrived late Friday after a long drive through Michigan and Ohio to our annual spot and booked into our accommodation, then immediately headed out to check out what was around. Over the next few days we did pretty good with the selection of images below. 
We had an excellent time ... great photo ops, great friends and great food ... thanks to Helen :)

April 21st 2024

LOCATION: Huron Natural Area
WEATHER: Sunny
A bit of warmer weather and the birds start to be a bit more active. HNA I am finding to be quite productive with quite a few birds milling around. Roll on the Wartblers

April 19th 2024

LOCATION: North Dumfries (again)
WEATHER: Rainy, then sun came out later
The light rain that started as I was driving to start my chosen route for this morning, had me almost turning back for home, but I am glad I didn't as it turned out to be one of my better days. Highlights were the Warblers and the Gnatcatcher ... I aslo saw a Pine Warbler and I am pretty sure a Yellow Warbler as well. A good day.
Tip of the Day: One way to mask your movement from a bird is to use a blind, and your car can be perfect for that. When you drive along keep your camera close by just in case you see a bird. Then, just roll down the window and take a few shots.

April 18th 2024

LOCATION: Huron Natural Area
WEATHER: Cloudy & quite cool
Another couple of hours walking the trailks in the Huron Natural Area, was reasonably productive. I had hoped for Yellow-rumped Warbler, but yet again they eluded me, but on the plus side I did dind a couple of Pine Warblers - one in particular was very vocal and dropped down into my line of sight for a few moments, so I was able to get a decent shot.
When I arrived home I found  I had a "passanger" on my clothing ... a Dog Tick. Thankfully he didnt find flesh or skin, so phew !!! I hate these guys !!! So I set him up and got the macro gear out and  took a few images.

Tip of the Day: Many birds depend on finding insects first thing in the morning to refuel after energetically demanding nights spent migrating hundreds of miles. Insects depend on the sun’s warmth to get them out of their lethargic state. Where there are bugs there is likely to be birds, so that’s where you want to be.

April 16th 2024

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Sunny & Warm
North Dumfries is a county fairly close to where I live, so it is a spot I often head to when I endeavor to stick around my own area, It is one of the better spots within 10km of where I live and a spot I have been visiting for many, many years. Over the years I have had some great sightings .... so you never know !!
Tip of the Day: When getting close to your chance at a photograph of a particular species be aware of your location and adjust your position to get a better chance of a good image, look out for good perches, the sun direction so as not to get too contrasty an image, and try to figure out where the bird is going to head next ....  and be ready!

April 15th 2024

LOCATION: Huron Natural Area
WEATHER: Mainly sunny and warmer
Another good day at HNA ... this is an amazing all round good place to get birds at this time of year. Lots of great habitat and as such a great place for birds to hang out !!

April

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Cooler, but bright
Nothing too outstanding but nice to see an increase in the amount of Pine Warblers in the area

April 11th & 12th 2024

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Both days wet and dull
Forecast for these two days was for constant light drizzle, and they weren't wrong. IO still headed out but basically shot from the open car windows, but there were a few birds around even though it was miserable. Highlight was a FOS Hermit Thrush, but I was a bit peeved when the only shot I managed was partially blocked .. 

April 10th 2024

LOCATION: Huron Natural Area
WEATHER: Sunny and warm
Weather has turned a bit warmer so with a couple of target birds in mind I headed to Huron Natural Area. Targets were Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hermit Thrush and Eastern Towhee, and anything else I could find. Out of the 4 I only managed the Pine Warbler, and I had seen at least 4 individuals at various points around the park, but the others were playing hard to get somewhat. I did speak to a birder who had seen the Yellow-rumped and pointed me in that direction, but alas I didn't hear or see the little guy.

April 9th 2024

LOCATION: North Dumfries, around Blair
WEATHER: Bright and sunny .... 18C
Picture
Savannah Sparrow
I took the short drive to cruise the back roads around Blair Village, I was delighted to come across a spot where a few Savannah Sparrows were foraging. Always nice to get a FOS (First of Season) bird. In the same general area I also saw a few Tree Swallows, and a few Bluebirds. Spring is definitely happening - all I need now are some Warblers!!
​
On the non avian side of things I am starting to see a few insects floating around, so today I managed to stack photograph a boring looking large fly, but it will soon be time for Butterflies and Dragonflies etc !!

April 7th 2024

LOCATION: North Dumfries
WEATHER: Sunny and quite warm
Todays target was the sighted Lapland Longspurs that have been spotted almost daily along both Paris Plains Church Road and West Dumfries Road. but I didn't see a single one. I saw lots of Horned Larks, but the target was elusive .. unfortunately. On the plus sider I saw and photographed a FOS Vesper Sparrow, so not a total loss !!

April 5th 2024

LOCATION: North Dumfries, then Huron Natural Area
WEATHER: Pleasant with some sun
A short drive along some back roads in North Dumfries, then over to a spot I haven't been in several months ... Huron Natural Area. This is an amazing wilderness area with wetlands, meadows, ponds as well as both evergreen and deciduous  forest, so plan to pop over more in the coming weeks.
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    ​Blog Author

    Pretty much all my life I have had an interest in nature photography albeit in, off and on, phases of interest. Around 18 years ago, I found myself, again, getting that nature bug, and I am now, especially since I retired just over 8 years ago, very passionate about  wildlife & wildlife photography.

    ​Enough about me ...             I hope that you enjoy my ramblings and the occasional  decent  image.

                       Bill McDonald

    “In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” 
    ― Robert Lynd
    ​

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