2020 Wanderings – Early May

Hi again!   Here’s more of my wandering around in 2020.  May is when the natural world really comes alive, and is one of my favourite months of the year.  I went on my annual birding marathon in May – more on that below!

These first 5 photos are from the beaver dam across the street. May is when all the different types of herons and egrets return. They are so shy! I saw them almost every day but it is really hard to get a picture of them.

Highlights from the beaver pond also included lots of blackbirds setting up territories, and the Canada Geese and beavers getting along splendidly!

With most parks still closed in early May this year, I spent quite a bit of time right in my own neighbourhood. One other place I could visit was Lone Pine Marsh, a beautiful marsh about 20 minutes southwest of my house. Lone Pine Marsh is fun in the spring! Here’s some of the action:

I also had a lot of fun looking for birds at the Brighton Constructed Wetlands, which did not have any restrictions on entry. It seemed weird to go down to Brighton in May and not go to Presqu’ile Park, but I got to see some real characters at the wetland, regardless.

 

I usually do my big birding marathon the second week of May, and this year was no exception! I went out for a whole day and tried to find as many different species of birds as I could.

I really wondered how it would go this year, since  I could not go to Presqu’ile Park due to the pandemic.   Interestingly, I was able to find almost as many species by going out in my local area, to Lone Pine Marsh, and to the Brighton Constructed Wetlands as I do on a normal year.  The average number of species I usually find on my annual birding marathons is about 98, and this year I found 89.   Regardless, it’s all about the challenge, and I always find something very cool each year.   Of course I do – spending an entire day outside.

Thanks for walking along with me, we will continue through the year until I catch up to the present.

All the best!  Leslie