Winter birds, passers-through and a very rare visitor

I ventured out to Shirley Bay and Andrew Haydon Park today in order to try and get some long exposure pictures but because there were so many interesting birds, I changed my plans, naturally. 

American Goldfinch Females

These four took over the feeder by storm.

Downy Woodpecker Female 

Blue Jay
There was a group of four, a family I guess, enjoying the seeds people left for them.

Chipmunk
Surprisingly I only saw one chipmunk.Well, I guess I simply was too late for the day.

Red Squirrel 

Seagulls

Hooded Meerganser 

 Mallards

King Eider Female
That's the very rare visitor from the Arctic.

King Eider Female 

Photowalk: Furry, feathered and/or winged

This time I took a stroll along the side roads to see what animals I might find. The trees were buzzing with life, literally, since there were a whole bunch of cicadas buzzing in the trees but I did not manage to spot one. 

Numerous birds were tweeting all around but I only could get a glimpse of a Downy Woodpecker and a very nervous Blue Jay.

Rustling of some branches in an oak tree brought my attention on a chipmunk. I am not sure whether it went for the acorns or something else. 

Further down the road I met another, more curious chipmunk.

Mourning doves outnumbered the other birds I saw this time.

I have no idea yet what bird this is but it was staying for a few minutes
before disappearing into the bush again.

Three Blue Jays made an appearance but only let me picture them while I was sitting in the car.

  Along the beach I found a beautiful big (about 1 inch or 2.5 cm) Great Golden Digger Wasp, 

a few Honey bees,

and numerous Bumble bees. 

There were a bunch of young (almost) 'invisible' grey grasshopper trying to blend into the surroundings.

Lots of other (adult) grasshoppers all around, too, of course.

Photowalk: Stony Swamp Ottawa

Before doing some shopping, we decided to go for a quick walk in Stony Swamp. It was quite dim already due to a whole lot of clouds but now and then the sun was glimpsing through, just in time for a quick chipmunk and chickadee photo session. Lucky for us, somebody brought them peanuts and bird seeds before we arrived so they were quite busy stocking up (in case of the chipmunks) and filling up their bellies (chickadees).

Photowalk - Greenbelt Pathway

This walk actually happened already last Sunday but I did not get around posting the pictures until now. It was the first proper spring walk in +24C or so and it was a most delightful one. :)

I really enjoy this time of the year when one can find spots of color among the various shades of brown that still dominate the landscape. I get excited about so many little things when I am out there, whether it is a freshly blooming tree, a little flower on the ground, a pretty bird, or even some animal I have never seen before. For me it is like a treasure hunt.

Beautiful spring colors                    Young horsetail plant     .

Not sure, but I think that's a Field Sparrow

      Crow                                      Red-bellied Snake

Red-bellied Snake

They are small snakes and get only 30-35 cm long. Apparently what we saw,
was an adult already; and I thought it was a baby-snake... pff.

This snake was very very patient with me trying to focus my camera. After a couple

 of minutes of picturing, it eventually turned its head towards me like asking
"are you done then? I got things to do, you know?". Well it was time to move on
for us, too. So we watched it smoothly disappear into the dry leafs.
What an elegant creature!

Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle

They can be found around dirt paths in grassy areas, seldom far from the woods;
they are often hunting along sidewalks/roads and on large lying logs.
They eat other small insects, spiders and other arthropods.

After looking around a bit on the internet, it seems that those lumps are a fungal disease called "Phomopsis gall". It is not clear why it effects
 some trees but not others but besides slowing growth
 and a peculiar look it does not seem to be much of a problem.

Raccoon enjoying an afternoon nap in the sun. :)

* * *

After this very enjoyable walk we decided to make a quick visit to Shirley Bay to drop off our last sachet of mixed seeds for the birds until next winter. I am so glad that we did. 

There was also a nice couple with a large bag of peanuts which drew out the chipmunks and gave me a nice opportunity to snap some pictures here too.

Chipmunk enjoying a peanut

White-throated Sparrow

Got something for me? 

A black chipmunk! I have never seen one of those before! :)

This little guy must live in a mansion based on how many peanuts he/she stashed away. :)

He/She also has quite a few white hairs already, clearly not a junior anymore...

Blue Jay

That's what I call a successful treasure hunt!