2022 Rides - Week Twenty

Whoopsie... posting this almost a week late. Feels like forever ago...!? 

Monday took the long route to Sobeys at Preston Crossing... 

So Many Goslings 

pile of goslings!? 

Still more goslings

Not sure when this was...? Maybe heading to work Tuesday morning...? 

Rode to Art Drop-In with Keiran in the evening. 

Wednesday I rode over to my folks to help them out with a few things. Hit the library on teh way home. and then went out AGAIN, riding up to Chief Mistawasis Bridge and over through the Northeast Swale.

Park downtown and more goslings 

Not sure if you can make them out, but down by the weir and the train bridge there were HUNDREDS of swallows soaring through the air, dipping and bobbing and hoovering all the mosquitoes out of the air!? 

Looking North from the Chief Mistawasis Bridge. 

Heading east on McOrmond Drive. 

First little wetland just off McOrmand drive - like you could toss a stone from the road and land it in the middle of the pond... SO MANY BIRDS here!? 

LIke, there's the road... 

And there's the water!? 

There were Canvasbacks and Horned Grebes and Canada Geese and American Coots and Mallards and... 

KILLDEER - first I've seem this year. 

Yellow-Headed Blackbird - also the first I'd seem this year 

Further down the road - big Raven on a power line. 

I always feel like this is a statement... like they are guaranteeing there will be wildlife on the road ahead. 

There used to be a sign below it that said "NO STOPPING" and I always thought; "So... you're just supposed to HIT the wildlife on the road!?" 

More wetlands in the Swale

More wetlands in the Swale - across the road. Might have to check those out some time. 

STILL more wetlands in the Swale

I stopped at one of the larger ones. 

it's close to housing, but not SO close to a freeway, I thought there might be more birds here. There were SOME, but not as densely packed in as the previous wetland! 

Saw a few new birds. 

Another Killdeer and some Blue-Winged Teals. 

It rained on Thursday I didn't go anywhere.

Friday I made a quick trip to Broadway for a few groceries. I didn't take any pictures along the way. 

Saturday we went over to bike Universe and picked up some tires and Arkel panniers!? All was 50% off - they are going out of business and closing the following week. Like, TOMORROW, now!? 

Later in teh afternoon I took a ride out to the Chappell Marsh Conservation Area

Heading out of town. 

Dirt roads to the marsh 

Tree Swallows on bird box

Grand Trunk Bridge. 

rode to University bridge on my way back, just to get some extra kilometres in. 

MORE goslings in the park

It's getting a bit ridiculous. 

you get the idea right...? 

Lots of others gathering around and taking pictures. 

Are you sick of goslings yet? 

Or just can't get enough of them!? 

Last one... for Saturday.... 

Sunday  I went out for a ride with Keiran on the tandem.

Pictures of goslings had to be taken. 

And Pelicans at the weir.

and some of those pictures had to be sent to grandma. 

and then we visited grandma. 

Turkey Vultures!? 

Chief Mistawasis Bridge. 

That small wetland right next to McOrmond again.

SO MANY BIRDS EVERYWHERE!? 

That's an Osprey at the top of that pole. It had lunch with it... 

Checking out birbs at the large wetland in the swale. 

Mallards and Teals

More Texting... kids, amirite? 

That's all for now.