Week of 3 May - 11 May 2018

Northern Rough Winged Swallows

Barn Swallow

Belted Kingfisher
Was surprised to see the Kingfishers in a different part of the river. I spent an hour on each of 3 days hiding behind a tree trying to get photos of them but they are very wary and have very sharp eyes. I was surprised on the 3rd day to find Rough Winged Swallows in the same location as they too were nesting near the Kingfishers further down the river. The Swallows were perched on one of the Kingfishers preferred perches and was visibly upset. This was enough of a distraction to allow me to get quite a few photos. The Swallows chased the Kingfisher off twice. This too was a surprise as they seemed to get along at their old nesting site.

Tree I was hiding behind. Kingfishers didn't seem to notice me until I made any kind of movement. I had the camera up against my face so that I only had to move it a few inches to get my eye behind the view finder, but that was enough movement to set them off.

Kingfisher - Swallow new nesting site.

Old Nesting Site
River bank had quite a collapse at their old nesting site.

Old Nesting Site - Closeup

Blue Jay

Blue Winged Teals

Bufflehead 

Bufflehead 

Canada Geese 

Meadow Lark

Mourning Dove - Grackle 

Northern Water Thrush

Purple Finch Female

Purple Finch male

Robin

Tree Swallow Juvenile
Nesting boxes were still piled on the ground around one of the new hydro poles. We missed a day at the pond and the following day were surprised to see the nesting boxes had been mounted on the fence posts and the Tree Swallows had arrived and were using them. 

Tree Swallow Juvenile 

Wigeon - Cackling Geese - Redhead - Bufflehead - Scaup Gadwall 

Yellow Rumped Warbler