As we are finally through winter with new spring migrants appearing each and every day, I thought I would post several random photos I took in the past two months.
Fish Crows have once again taken up residence in Port Dalhousie which is along Lake Ontario in the west part of St. Catharines. I will be checking this spot semi-regularly this spring in hopes of finding a nest! I aloso had an exciting find on March 28, as a Fish Crow decided to spend about 15 minutes in the vicinity of my yard and my neighbours' yards.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRovmjsk87Db6gq6TBzk4_2N77FIzVkn5xDQuMLYqz_XEWEf-PkFTllNuVEPXz2VpBTILvFmPT3BaS05OwV8SLyw9mdo5Ihl-mWYQNVlhpNrXC5V787ydmQ_QQ4QNv3AOyMsNGCcE-Qw/s1600/DSC_8882.png) |
Fish Crow - Port Dalhousie, Niagara Region |
Back in January, I finally saw my first Mudpuppy in Ontario after Dan and Garth Riley discovered a location for this species near Thorold, Ontario. This was not a species I had expected to see so close to home! The remaining Ontario herps that I have yet to see include Wood Turtle, Northern Dusky Salamander and Mountain Dusky Salamander. The latter two species' ranges in Ontario are limited to a few small seeps in the Niagara gorge; hopefully I will connect with at least Northern Dusky Salamander this spring as it is supposedly a little more widespread than Mountain Dusky Salamander.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YwkItnGZZ727ICANcy4lzABQbAd11o4gqxdPH4DZ2xcAPXFGxlxvXcCBQBGt3frfcl7Vh0n8ujbvNm-bb3Vd-uaYoV_HrYHtOr9KoANOzDxt1OFg0-NxBoiEbYWZ-vdOs6XXXMFvyJw/s1600/040.png) |
Mudpuppy - Thorold, Niagara Region |
I finally snapped my first acceptable photos of Rock Pigeon in Ontario the other day...exciting, I know...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9JJhlPbSF5674NFIhGWfjFkk77fQn1ge8P3jTJfiLv5sMjOO_GJNBNyaK3u8R5BPy0MBJvwOTGGD3ZOdkCqqjlHdQL-T9nraPzSik2EDWW5AW0QvipeLhLVoubr4JuP4p-7IzWr0TI0/s1600/DSC_7022.png) |
Rock Pigeon - Port Dalhousie, Niagara Region |
While we are on the theme of non-native species, here is a European Starling. It is a species that is surprisingly wary and tough to approach closely for photos.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCKVzLTe6TjYIde629w7g4MWKXhLipQ-3fcS14HuNsWPadfFr-UI0_jO9KnvL3x73ekNzlCPxKGTNqTQakAscKNZE7VlFuRHPZom5J1avIv1ACIiipQPf_4CGp73rvO8sOPiT_-5IQHk/s1600/DSC_8659.png) |
European Starling - above Niagara Falls, Niagara Region |
In January, Laura and I visited Dan Riley and his girlfriend Nikki for a weekend north of Lindsay, Ontario. Laura's keen eyes spotted this Barred Owl while we were out for a hike one afternoon.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJpXc_X4pwKDPp363dJGCPI4DPge4IKHJhpJpRWxI-mqBhSKeds-3CqHkFESg5SBf1zuVJ_rLSIVf-n-Ghznw_Za1ORlCBs-UtSgQHOqupBSvFCb64H2PhFRooDImMRZ4I8Qjuvk72_E/s1600/DSC_3623.png) |
Barred Owl - Ken Reid Conservation Area, City of Kawartha Lakes |
American Kestrels is a beautiful species that I don't appreciate as much as I should. This one was hunting from a roadside hydro wire.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCnG8y13CcA3_zbRt3RaJ8AzqKhSBly-esPAuMx4QU0Np2OTUe0QUmlmXizOZbc9HNkiUXDeFFAgV7XQ_xsGh1IV7t1ZesjixwPEgwoHkbWMm9UcLgBIrI7_B6nkuxTfgpJ8Zw8ZqnLo/s1600/DSC_3610.png) |
American Kestrel - Snug Harbour, City of Kawartha Lakes |
A late winter snowstorm a few weeks ago dumped 40+ cm of snow on us here in Niagara Falls. Hordes of Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and American Robins were swarming the feeders and open water at Dufferin Islands the following day.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5BFgnsbiVsyYCCp98eXxdbY8rYJkjw-9qtMPGABaFFU-zsOyXXMixtwIlm4OXX_r69BdUoHVM16W-mrq5qR18vtw3tZ2_5edo4-jwxZDyUKq6BXdC5BlDo6dt5pAWDM_-ewTwHqoELQ/s1600/DSC_8497.png) |
American Robin - Dufferin Islands, Niagara Region |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexbsXb4wJsTEAdNZVqiCE8OQXAVByp0-PhgeMI63ANnadwCvf_Ds_82UK1Xwmi1Iym8YFPC7dU3pVE0XpKAN0l5w10CBeWMnIrnppFvPFlCfx0izrnQN9RPqR5HlNAPrIDtliiT_29z4/s1600/DSC_8539.png) |
Red-winged Blackbird - Dufferin Islands, Niagara Region |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHXIcVBYgpG1YffNO5rHO7JnQRbY5GNDpzvoAGNcEFE-KrsOQtpg8jUhVWUSWXCv_0_AvEhUs3n5dY8ZkcMmSVciCHl2bPW_iuuY1nhGhI3Ox5au7Q681S95DgSQtMU6ewS9OZ3pASGQ/s1600/DSC_8571.png) |
Black-capped Chickadee - Dufferin Islands, Niagara Region |
The female Pine Warbler successfully overwintered at Dufferin Islands, though I have not seen the male in a number of weeks.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LYHU-K1aB4rgyK_70-oXwzbVMBcDEoJS-kltaMZEmscYE41wo6rvrgC_kgfXRw5TAHZrdviC-t9t-jlEglHTvJ2uzR7SZyHmtW1ke4Etnndmq3A2596RZJ9gnEcY8Wr_y0_UtcQblM0/s1600/DSC_8561.png) |
Pine Warbler - Dufferin Islands, Niagara Region |
Eastern Gray Squirrels don't get much love, but they certainly have a lot of character.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBafpAXRQoVG3QBgSgm38zj_ThlDi_Fq8FfupnWoex8dEIDQ0RPgfCV8qn2u5WOmcfUz2kG00-l2X4lEIP2qvO7Ptqmsof1CWri7u7zUKUE3E5fS_iQXpOlvvhPcKRAqzaSoOzTXuuS8/s1600/DSC_8517.png) |
Eastern Gray Squirrel - Dufferin Islands, Niagara Region |
This Ring-billed Gull was one of thousands that arrived in southern Ontario in late February; one of the earliest migrants that we see in the province. It was a little entertaining watching it struggle to choke down this fish!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSLxsbyF6u9L_ftgUkJyK7LjEeDcDahPpFRgGDOkDVy6-J3-ngo99QQEj04Z3mQvGPKbKqusFBghfmfmONDPjiQdIEYi3ZDXnD4a-XMZQLEBFE2F_APrxX3Il7wt6gpI9SF_pmH6CUdM/s1600/DSC_8648.png) |
Ring-billed Gull - Dufferin Islands, Niagara Region |
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