Rondeau Ric

We saw this young peregrine while boating on Sunday. He was on a sandbar in the middle of the bay and was busy grooming. He got up and spooked the birds in the area including a gull. Falco peregrinus The Peregrine Falcon is a very fast flier, averaging 40-55 km/h (25-34 mph) in traveling flight, and reaching speeds up to 112 km/h (69 mph) in direct pursuit of prey. During its spectacular hunting stoop from heights of over 1 km (0.62 mi), the peregrine may reach speeds of 320 km/h (200 mph) as it drops toward its prey. source - Cornell Lab or Ornithology.

Soras are a small, secretive bird found in marshy areas and are the most widely distributed rail in North America. They migrate as far as South America. They are more often heard than seen. We are lucky to be able to see a lot of them along the edge of the marsh at Rondeau, from our boat,  during the fall. We think they are feeding up before migrating. Porzana carolina

This ruby-crowned kinglet literally jumped on the Tennessee warbler in the pond. It may have been territorial or perhaps a misguided attempt to breed. Either way the Tennessee wasn't amused. I've not seen behaviour like this before. The more you watch the more you see. Tennessee warbler -Oreothlypis peregrina Ruby-crowned kinglet -Regulus calendula There is a yellow rumped warbler in the foreground.

I got several good shots of the northern flicker having a bath so here is one more. I like that it shows the golden yellow shafts. Colaptes auratus Although it can climb up the trunks of trees and hammer on wood like other woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker prefers to find food on the ground. Ants are its main food, and the flicker digs in the dirt to find them. It uses its long barbed tongue to lap up the ants. source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Enthusiasm - intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval We had a northern flicker take a bath earlier today. He was very enthusiastic, splashing away with abandon. Colaptes auratus Like most woodpeckers, Northern Flickers drum on objects as a form of communication and territory defense. In such cases, the object is to make as loud a noise as possible, and that’s why woodpeckers sometimes drum on metal objects. One Northern Flicker in Wyoming could be heard drumming on an abandoned tractor from a half-mile away. -source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Found this tree along Spicebush trail in Rondeau Provincial Park. This is an ash tree that has been infested by the emerald ash borer. The insect bores its way underneath the bark and destroys the cambium layer that is the living portion of a tree. Vascular cambium does not transport water, minerals, or dissolved food through the plant. it does produce the phloem and xylem which perform these functions.

Of course you don't have fingers which makes it difficult. The pilings at Rondeau Provincial Park. Too bad Ontario Parks can't be bothered to do anything about replacing the pier.