Andrew Haydon Park

Over the past few days I've been to Andrew Haydon Park a few times and enjoyed seeing quite an array of different wildlife. I'm always amazed at what one can find in this kind of public place.

I think this is a Horned Grebe.

Female Mallard Duck enjoying the sunshine. 

Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk. 

He successfully caught a red squirrel right next to where I parked my car. He sat on it until he was sure it's not moving anymore and then took off into a nearby tree where first a crow, same size like him, tried to take away his catch and then...

... he got scared away by a grey squirrel that was coming up right on the same branch he was sitting on. Quite some tricky dinner time for a little hawk. :)

 Hawk about to take off again with his meal.

Canada Geese

Double-crested Cormorant 

Great Egret 

Britannia Park

Today I went to a small section of Britannia Park for some fresh air. Contrary to the  summer months, only a few people were strolling around, enjoying the autumn sunshine. I'm not a big fan of crowds so it was very enjoyable for me to spend a little time there. 

Trees are clearly changing into their fall colors already turning everything a bit more vivid than in the months before.  The warm breeze makes me hopeful that we will have a warm, colorful autumn ahead of us.

Photowalk: Herons and Ducks at Mud Lake

I was spending some time watching herons and ducks at Mud Lake.

One Great Blue Heron was first patiently waiting in the shadow but it seemed that nothing interesting/tasty caught his eye. Another one took off a few minutes after my arrival, I guess he was looking for a better place to fish.  

A few meters away a juvenile Night Heron looked interested in something beneath the branch he was sitting on but ended up roosting, grooming and napping in the sunshine. After all, it was still early for him. :) 

After a while the Great Blue Heron started stalking around the edges of the lake for some tasty little fish or frog. Eventually he ventured out of the water and up on the little island, maybe to warm up a little before nightfall. 

All this time a number of ducks, including a few Wood Duck families, were busy chattering while munching on some greens. 

Juvenile Night Heron

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Male Wood Duck (such a fancy plumage!)

Night Heron and Great Blue Heron

Female Wood Duck

Great Blue Heron ascending the little island

Autumn is clearly on its way

On the side roads from Constance Bay to Shirley's Bay

Weather was beautiful, going back and forth between intense sunshine and overcast, resulting in some lovely dramatic colors. I started my little road trip in Constance Bay and then went east via Baskin's Beach area and Riddell Road towards Shirley's Bay. 

Constance Bay was not crowded but nicely populated I think. I did not see any shoreline birds but regardless enjoyed my walk along the beach. Clouds were piling up quite nicely and eventually I moved on to try and see a few more locations before a potential thunderstorm.

I really enjoyed the calm side roads after the before-the-holiday-Monday-madness in town.

A few trees already started loosing their leafs, which I think is a tiny bit early this year. Nevertheless, the flying leafs added to the cozy country side feeling for me. 

Constance Bay

 

 Snowshoe Hare, this time in summer clothes 

 Before sunset at Shirley's Bay