Good Birding Report:
London, Ontario April 17-24, 2020

Unlike the weather this past week, birding has been quite consistent. Despite each day flip-flopping between winter and spring the migrants we expect to see at this time of year are present while good numbers of resident birds can also be found. In my last post, Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times I talked about birding frequently at a couple of areas close to home. Fortunately, the patch closest to me is void of people and full of birds allowing me to enjoy the great outdoors without worrying about close contact with others. 

One species I am seeing (and hearing) impressive numbers of lately is the Northern Flicker. The loud call of these large woodpeckers can be heard throughout the woods letting their presence be known. It’s not always necessary to look up to find flickers as their favourite food is ants so they are often seen on the ground probing the earth with their large beaks. 

Song Sparrows are another abundant species and can be heard long before they are seen. If you are familiar with this bird’s song, they can typically be located singing from a high perch after hearing them. Sparrows are often overlooked by many and even referred to as LBJs or little brown jobs because of their seemingly nondescript appearance.

The subtle differences in sparrow plumage are quite striking and their songs a pleasure to listen to. One of the most pleasant sparrows to hear sing is the Field Sparrow which I have observed several of this past week.  

Some of the largest birds have been the hardest to see. Despite their impressive size, I came within a few feet of several Wild Turkeys and almost missed them. 

On some occasions, I have noticed these birds and managed a few photos before stepping away quietly while in other cases the birds have popped up and run or flown leaving me with a racing heart. 

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are another bird whose numbers drastically increased this week. Walking through the local woods I was treated to the sights and sounds of these tiny songbirds. In my opinion, kinglets are one of the hardest birds to photograph as they do not hold still very long. Even with a fast shutter speed capturing sharp images is a real challenge. 

A pair of Cooper’s Hawks have built a nest in the forest where I do my daily birding. After watching the couple start several nests close to each other over the past few weeks they finally decided on the perfect location. When visiting this area, I always give these birds a wide berth to not add to the already stressful task of raising young. From a distance, I regularly see the female’s tail overhanging the side of the nest while the smaller male keeps watch from a nearby tree.    

Over the week, I shot several video clips of some of the birds and wildlife I encountered and pieced them together into one short video I called A Walk In The Woods which I uploaded to my YouTube channel. I hope to capture more videos in the coming weeks of my adventures.   

In a little over a week, the migration floodgates are going to open. Orioles, hummingbirds, and of course warblers will be streaming in. It’s a good idea to get your feeders out early filled with water and sugar mixed at a ratio of 4:1 (1 cup of water to a 1/4 cup of sugar). This will ensure orioles and hummingbirds have nourishment to replace spent energy upon their return. Several of my followers have reached out letting me know how much they are enjoying my photos and posts during this difficult time which means a lot to me. I look forward to visiting my “secret” spot often and continuing to share my adventures and images with you. Until then stay safe and as always

Good birding,
Paul