A few Canada geese

We drove to Brandon and back yesterday but saw few birds. We saw several ravens and one crow. Overhead though we saw several smaller flocks of what I think were Canada geese going north. Actually a couple were going south. Unlike the geese in the photo these geese would find that all the sloughs are frozen so perhaps they were looking for some larger body of water that had some open water already.

Geese Still Flying South

Yesterday when driving back from Brandon we saw a large flock of Canada geese flying south. This morning I could hear the honkers when I stepped out onto the deck. The geese seem to leave for the south over several months starting in September. This is rather late. I thought all had been gone. There could be no geese as in the photograph since all the sloughs are frozen as of now!

A purple finch again

While the feeder is mobbed by house sparrows much of the time, here is a photo of a lone purple finch that has the feeder all to itself. Geese are flying south the last few weeks in large flocks. On the way to the next town today we saw a large flock of Canada Geese in a field and also sever flocks overhead as well.

Canada Geese flocks flying south..

This is not a photo of the flocks but it is cute photo of goslings from National Geographic.
For the last several days I have heard and seen many flocks of honkers on their way south. They also can be heard as they gather in fields near the edge of town. It should not be too long until the juncos start to appear also on their way to the south.

Several flocks of Canada Geese..

We drove to Brandon and back today. On the way I saw one group of Canada geese in a large slough together with many ducks. However I also saw three large flocks in fields that had been newly harvested No doubt there is quite a bit of spilled grain.

I thought that all the redwing blackbirds had already gone south but in several places I saw flocks gathering. Perhaps they come from further north. So far we are still frost free.

Northern Flickers are back...

We went out into the country to pick up some butter at a farm and in the yardsite we saw a northern flicker. When we went back to Oakburn we saw another as well. On the gravel road near the farm we were confronted with a pair of Canada geese. Probably they are nesting in a slough beside the road.

Robins are back..

I heard robins outside this morning and then later when I went for a walk I saw several. So far I have not seen any in our own yard. Yesterday we went for a long drive in the country. We saw several flocks of Canada Geese and also a couple who were simply standing on a piece of ice in a slough that was only partially melted.

The weather is much warmer today and within a day or so all the snow will be gone. There is lots of water in the ditches and in low spots in the fields.

Some Canada geese are back!

We saw our first Canada geese today. They were not in water as in the photo but flying over fields that still have a light covering of snow. I also saw a small flock of what may have been starlings. At the birdfeeder I have seen only chickadees the last few days.

Large flocks of geese on their way south...

This is a flock of snow geese. I have heard several flocks of geese this evening flying overhead even though the weather is very windy and rainy. This time of year flocks of snow geese often are seen in the fields just as in this photo that was taken--but not by me---near The Pas Manitoba. By the honking I think that the flocks I am hearing are probably Canada Geese.

Geese are already starting south...

The other evening I was outside just before dark and heard the sound of Canada Geese honking as they flew over. This is a sure sign fall is coming. There seem to be more chickadees at the bird feeder lately as well after being not so common all summer.

A creche of Canada geese.

This is a creche of Canada geese a group of goslings with several adults as well. On our way to Rivers the other day we saw a creche very much like this in a large slough. There seemed to be two pairs of adults and a number of goslings. The goslings are already a good size.

Red-winged blackbirds back..

Driving to the next town yesterday to shop we noticed several red-winged blackbirds including a female with two males. (I don't know how that works out).
There are also several pairs of Canada geese that have flown over the yard recently. They are probably nesting in one of the sloughs at the edge of town.
The feeder is not busy these days for some reason. The juncos are nowhere to be seen and only the odd chickadee and nuthatch have been visible lately.

Snow and blowing snow..

We drove about 150 miles or more to Yorkton and back. Along the way we saw ravens but also we think we also saw crows. They look a lot like ravens but are smaller.
We also saw several flocks and small groups of snow buntings.
At Roblin, on Moose Lake (pond actually), we saw some geese at a couple of small open water areas. Just inside the Saskatchewan border there were two dead deer with crows or ravens busy feeding on the carcasses.
The second day of Spring saw snow flurries and blowing snow in places but the roads were not too bad. Today there is snow and wind again. Some of the roads are predicted to be bad but we will be staying home so it won't bother us.
There are the usual birds at the feeder: black capped chickadees and red breasted nuthatches.

Two Canada geese

My wife had been told that geese were back already but I took it as just a rumour. However, today while getting gas a Shoal Lake there was an unmistakable honking, not of car horns but of two Canada geese clearly visible as the flew towards the lake. Everything is still well frozen over but there are a couple of open patches where the lake is aerated so perhaps they land there.

The feeder is rarely visited and only by black-capped chickadees and the odd red-breasted nuthatch.

Many flocks of geese, mostly Canada geese

I was outside for a while in the yard and there were flocks and flocks of geese flying over. There was a lot of honking so most must have been Canada geese.

The bird feeder is busy most of the time. There was one period this morning when the feeder had about six pine siskins at once (photo). There were also quite a few red breasted nuthatches and a few chickadees. House sparrows are still plentiful and there is the odd purple finch.

On the ground around the trees slate coloured juncos are still common, not having moved further south yet. It has not been all that cold so I suppose birds including the geese may be around for a while yet.

Many Canada Geese: Honkers

We drove to Russell yesterday. In Russell there were many flights of Canada geese overhead. The noise of their honking was so loud that a nearby dog started up howling when they passed overhead!

On the way home we passed a newly cultivated feed. There were numerous herring gulls feasting on whatever grubs or insects had been uncovered.

The feeder is still busy. There are plenty of house sparrows and pine siskins (photo) as well as chickadees, and nuthatches. The other day I saw another Harris sparrow.

Another junco or so!

There was at least one slate coloured (or dark-eyed) junco along with the house sparrows at the feeder this morning. There was also a Harris sparrow again. There are still plenty of pine siskins and there wads a purple finch as well. Red breasted nuthatches as well as chickadees are present every day.
I hear flocks of geese going overhead quite regularly these days. Most of them so far seem to be Canada geese.

Many slate coloured juncos

We were in the country all day plucking and cleaning chickens. Of course I just watched and enjoyed the scenery. There were quite a few dark-eyed or slate coloured juncos around the bush at the farm yardsite. I saw also one magpie and a crow. Overhead there were numerous flocks of Canada geese the whole day.

No hummingbirds

We have seen no hummingbirds for several days so perhaps they are all or mostly gone south already. I still see a few swallows. However we drove far out in the countryside yesterday and I did not see any red-wing blackbirds. This summer every slough had a few. On the sloughs there were a few ducks and I saw on pair of Canada geese but I was unable to identify the ducks except for some northrn pintails.

A redbreasted nuthatch(photo)is visiting the feeder again. There are so many house sparrows that the seed level goes down considerably every day. When we were away for the day it was virtually empty when we returned. There still many pine siskins, and some savannah sparrows plus a few purple finches. I saw a norther flicker again in they yard yesterday. There are still a few crows about but it will soon be time for ravens from further north to appear for the winter.

savannah sparrows

I finally identified some of the sparrows that I knew were not house sparrows. They look a bit like pine siskins but they have no yellow on them and are larger. It turns out they are savannah sparrows I am reasonably sure. They look quite a bit like song sparrows but have no black spot on their front. They do have many streaks of black on their chest. The photo I have enclosed looks exactly like the ones at the feeder.

There are still a few hummingbirds visiting occasionally. I thought I should leave the feeders out in case some stop by on their way south from further north. At least there has been no really cold weather as yet. There are still plenty of flowers.

I noticed on a trip to Winnipeg on Saturday that the crops are almost all harvested near Winnipeg. I saw a flock of Herring gulls. I assume they are gathering to go south. I even saw a few Canada geese already flying south. However, at Oakburn there are still some swallows around yet.