next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects
Hi there, Jean Hartley and I went to Dartmouth today at mid-afternoon, looking for returning migrants and other signs of spring. At Bissett Lake, we saw the two Ruddy Ducks, and a flock of scaup. We didn't see any teal. The Ruddy Ducks were quite far from our viewing point at Bissett Lake Park, so we drove around to Astral Drive School, and walked down the muddy track behind the school to the shore, where we were much closer to the ducks and could view them in better light. The Ruddy Ducks aren't in full breeding plumage, which was disappointing. In the alders there was a fine pair of Purple Finches, the first I've seen this year. At Rainbow Haven, birds were quite active around the parking lot, where we found another singing Purple Finch, Common Grackles, several male Red-winged Blackbirds, and a little flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers, both male and female. These had rather dull plumage and I wondered if they had overwintered here. They were also the first I've seen since last fall. Other birds included a noisy Northern Flicker, some American Goldfinches, and several American Robins, some singing. Ring-necked Pheasants and Mourning Doves were calling as well. The marsh at the Cole Harbour Heritage Farm (viewed from Dorothea Drive) held more Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds, but the best mark of spring was hearing the sweet song of a White-throated Sparrow. A quick stop at Sullivan's Pond at 6:30 found a male Eurasian Wigeon, a male Gadwall, and several American Coots, among the more usual birds. Coltsfoot was in bloom in many places, and expanding Speckled Alder catkins were yellow with pollen. There was a Muskrat swimming among the old cattails at Bissett Lake, and we saw clouds of tiny flying insects there as well. Cheers, Patricia L. Chalmers Halifax
next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects