We finally had a sunny spring day the first week of April but it wasn’t warm. I wandered down to the Rattray Marsh to see if I could find any birds, butterflies or bonuses. Among other things, I did discover the Knoll boardwalk replacement is complete and open (in April 2022.) That was good news. Many of the more interesting plants, animals and birds I’ve seen at the Rattray have been on or near the Knoll. The new boardwalk has no stairs making it easier for photographers like me (the less co-ordinated ones) to not trip as much!
Distant Ducks Foil Rattray Photographers
The purpose of the Rattray is to give wildlife a chance. So although there are paths, there is a lot of territory that is safely distant from people where the birds and animals can live undisturbed. From the Knoll board walk, I watched this pair of Hooded Mergansers diving their way up one of the ‘arms’ of water and out into the main lagoon. I never got the kind of photo I want but I enjoyed watching them anyway.
The female Hooded Merganser may not have the flashy white feathers but she still rocks a style of her own.
Male Hoodies can expand up their head feathers until that white patch is amost a circle. He was calm and busy diving today so his white patch was sleekly down.
There were other ducks at the marsh. The Mallards, Common Mergansers and Green-winged Teal, tlhough, were too far away to even try to photograph.
Sex in the Marsh
(Don’t avert your gaze, that’s just courtship.)
Like many people, I find Mute Swans pretty, especially when they puff out their wings and ‘sail’ around on Lake Ontario. An introduced non-native bird, though, they are aggressive, territorial and known to kill other ducks and geese. So I have mixed feelings when I see them nesting in the Rattray.
I also would not like to explain Mute Swan sex to a young child. The few times I’ve seen it, the male has ended up submerging the female under water and with all the flapping around to balance it looks like he is trying to drown her.
I’m not sure if Credit Valley Conservation does anything to remove or damage Mute Swan eggs. If they don’t, likely we will see some cygnets this summer.
Winter Birds Spiff Up for Spring
Most of the birds I saw were the usual year-round residents. Some, though, are sporting new spring feathers.
If you look at this Mourning Dove’s neck, you may see a small yellow patch. In the sunlight, it was a shimmering patch of gold. I’ve never noticed one like it before.
The Downy Woodpeckers crests were catching the sun too.
White-breasted Nuthatches looked fresh.
Still not much change in the American Goldfinches that spent the winter here.
The Carolina Wrens looked as bold and brassy as the songs they were belting out.
Look Who Popped Up
From the Knoll, I could see some birds were on the Lake near where the shingle closed the outlet of the Marsh. They would appear and disappear as they rose and fell with the waves. After watching a minute, I recognized the Mickey Mouse ears and bright colouring of a Red-necked Grebe. I’m more used to seeing them at marinas that the Rattray, so it was an unexpected Bonus Bird.
Only a Few Spring Arrivals So Far
Song Sparrows were singing at varous spots around the park.
As mentioned previously, Golden-crowned Kinglets have also arrived! There were 3 of them, all healthy and energetic, so it’s very unlikely they were over-wintering birds.
A few male Red-winged Blackbirds and some Common Grackles were in the tree tops but they were too busy posturing to pose.
There was also an unexpected bonus that I will try to write up later.
Overall, it was an encouraging visit. I hope to be there again before the big Warbler Storms of May.
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