Birding in January's Deep Cold

Horned Lark

Horned Lark- frontal

BC Chickadee, Am Tree Sparrow, WB Nuthatch, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco

Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneye Ducks on the Grand River

Temperatures have remained below average this month and there has been no January thaw. There have been several sunny days but it is too cold to tramp around trails for hours looking for birds. We drove to some of our favourite birding areas in the region on two different days this week. Overall, birds seem to be harder to find this year in the usual winter hotspots. I hope that means that the hotspots have shifted, not that there are fewer birds overall. It is usually easy to find Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Harriers and the occasional Snowy Owl or Red-shouldered Hawk at this time of year in the farm fields north of the city. Flocks of Snow Buntings are often common on gravel roadsides. So far I have not found any of these species this year.

We did startle a flock of Horned Larks on a dirt road along the Conestoga River. The birds make a tinkling sound that is like shattering glass when they are together in fields foraging for seeds. Horned Larks nest in this area, but they do migrate short distances in the winter in search of food. They are more abundant here in the winter as birds from the north come to southern Ontario until spring arrives. 

The usual winter passerines are visiting our backyard feeders. Northern Cardinals, Nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers, Tree Sparrows, Chickadees, Juncos, Mourning Doves, Blue Jays and Finches drop by throughout the day, competing with the squirrels for sunflower seeds. A large Pileated Woodpecker flew alongside the car yesterday, but it was not safe to stop and get a picture when it landed on a tree near the road. 

Local rivers are open in places where the current runs quickly and where warm water is pumped into the stream from water treatment facilities. We stopped along the river at a couple of places and saw the usual winter visitors;- Common Mergansers, Goldeye ducks, Buffleheads, along with the year-round resident Mallards and Canada Geese. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to get out of the house and go for a drive during the winter. With the bitter cold and social restrictions due to the latest COVID wave, many seniors, people with disabilities and parents with small children have been very isolated this month. Hopefully, the lockdowns will end soon and people will be able to gather and visit again.

On a sweeter note... I made an old-fashioned Graham Wafer Pie today. My husband is very faithful in visiting his recently widowed brother once a week for dinner and a movie at his house. Our sister-in-law was a good cook and we enjoyed this pie often at their house. Food is one of the things that bring back fond memories of loved ones. Here is a link to the recipe.