Birding over the weekend

Here is a recap of the birding I did last weekend.

January 4th :

I went to Rotary Marsh, here in Kelowna; on a gorgeous sunny day, with a cool, brisk breeze swirling around. On the outermost pond of the complex, I was greeted with a sight I just had to photograph. There was golden sunlight pouring down on the tall grass by the water, and a heron situated in the most perfect location and position. Also in my frame of view were three Gadwall swimming away. I called this picture "Nature at its finest" for the whole gist of the photograph.


Nature at its finest - Great Blue Heron and three Gadwall

Walking along the path that skirts the inner ponds at Rotary Marsh, I was counting far too many people walking up and down the path. I mean FAR too many. ( 50+ in five minutes of walking! ) I guess they were there for the same reasons I was - fresh air, the great outdoors, and all of that beautiful sunshine. But I was there for two other reasons; birding and photography.

Getting back to the birds, I continued on, looking over the 100 plus Mallard busying themselves in the crowded pond. There was a lone male Bufflehead though, apparently keeping the Mallards in line, as he dove up and down in the middle of the other ducks.
Rotary Marsh's paths fork as the main trail reaches Okanagan Lake. The left fork loops around, and continues on almost forever along the water until it reaches Bennett Bridge. I took the right fork, which leads to a jetty at which you can scan the lake all you like. At the point, there are usually many dozen bay ducks out in the water ( scaup, Redhead, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck ). Not today, though. No ducks were to be seen excluding the omnipresent Mallards nearby. A few minutes of scanning the lake did produce some rewards, however. I counted 2 Horned Grebes, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, and 200 American Coots. After a few more minutes of waiting, I noted Hooded and Common Mergansers, and a few more Gadwall; which flew past for a picture.


Gadwall

On my way back to the car, I watched two Sharp-shinned Hawks fighting as they flew passed. That was an interesting sight!

Next up was Sutherland Bay, which is about a 3 minute drive from Rotary Marsh. At the bay, there was more of the same birds I saw at Rotary Marsh, but this Ring-billed Gull was preening and posing nicely for some low-angle shots.
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Ring-billed Gull preening

January 5th :

I happened to be in Salmon Arm on January 5th, so naturally, as a birder, I had to check out Salmon Arm Bay for a quick visit. In general, there were not too many birds around, as the whole bay was iced over, but in a tiny, LITTLE patch of water near shore, I found a cute male Green-winged Teal, which was a year-bird. Other birds around the bay were : Mallard, Bald Eagle, Song Sparrow, American Goldfinch, 2 Marsh Wren ( those are fun to get in the winter ), and this Black-capped Chickadee.


Black-capped Chickadee

Thank you for looking, and good birding to everyone!