First week of May: cool, cloudy, damp

 But the birds are here anyway.




Several Pine Siskins arrived early in the week.

 There are at least two Harris's Sparrows, at least that's all I've seen at one time.

 A Lincoln's Sparrow

 A musical gathering of White-throated Sparrows:

 I could almost say a musical gathering of Common Grackles, too, but somehow their songs are just short of musical, making it more into the noisy category, along with my other most common visitor, the House Sparrow. There is sometimes a Red-winged Blackbird with the Grackles, though, which definitely raises the tone.

A small flock of White-crowned Sparrows. They've been scratching in the lawn so much, I can't help wondering if they are eating the grass seed I spread in an attempt to fill in some of the dead patches.

 

 And always a cheerful American Robin. My favourite this week was hopping busily around the lawn, apparently oblivious to a cat creeping up on him, but always several feet away. Eventually he just lifted his wings and flew and the cat gave up and wandered away.

Common Loons

 The loons can be seen spring and fall on Diefenbaker Lake.

Unfortunately, we never get to hear their mournful call during the few minutes across the bridge in the vehicle.

 

 When I looked at my photos afterward, I was pleased to find these mergansers. (I could only stop the van on the bridge so long, and hadn't taken time to use the binoculars.) They were far away. I never seem to see Mergansers close up. 

Yellow-headed Blackbird

One of my favourite roadside birds. I have some photos showing this fellow slimmer and sleeker, but I like this one where he is plumping himself up. He sang for us too, which I liked, even if he doesn't sing as beautifully as his cousin with the red wings.

I love spring migration

A wonderful way to wake up on a sunny spring morning: the song of a White-crowned Sparrow.

Geese: April 11

Driving between Rosetown and Lloydminster, we were blessed by the presence of flocks of migrating geese. Snow Geese, White-Fronted, and assorted Canada Geese.

In the fall, we get huge flocks going through the Lucky Lake area, but our spring flocks are smaller with rarely a Snow Goose among them.

According to Sibley's, the Snow Geese never go through Saskatchewan at all, but like so often seems to happen, these geese didn't study the map.

Last Sunday at Gardiner Dam (March 4, 2012)

Across the water north of the spillway, a large collection of Canada geese. Now, a week later, people are seeing Canadas everywhere. Were these early, or had they heroically stayed all winter? Or maybe not so heroically, given the winter we had. Nearby, paddling contentedly away from us, a Redhead and a Lesser Scaup.

And just 2 of the approximately 20 Bohemian Waxwings moving from tree to tree in Danielson Park.

Common Redpoll

They don't come to our yard every winter, but this year they are here in respectable numbers. They spend more time in the trees around the garden than at the feeders, but yesterday they decided this seed bell was worth eating so I took several photos. Most just have the red on the head, but I love colourful birds, so this guy got his photo taken the most.