• This month -  26
• This year -  35
• Career total -  107
• Pictures posted -  685

Hope this pair will hang around and raise up some kids.

Suspect this bird was waiting for me to move on before approaching its nest.

A poor choice for a nest site: much debris and human traffic, not to mention a strong wind from the east will destroy the nest (located against the concrete wall at the west end of the lake.

While I was checking to see if the red-winged blackbirds were nesting, a mallard hen jumped up of this primitive nest. I suspect she is just starting on this clutch and will tidy things up as time goes on.

Saw these birds in a couple of places...hard to get a good count and difficult to get a good picture.

Observed a pair of adults with 8 youngsters associated with 3 immature geese. Got several shots of the youngsters.

Observed a pair of adults with 8 youngsters associated with 3 immature geese. Got several shots of the youngsters.

Here they were climbing out to graze a bit.

Dad was hanging back. This clutch is from the nest across from my balcony.

Vandals or predators?

This is the last pair to nest at Beaumaris...others have been setting nests for weeks. They've got a long wait...

This is the first grebe I have observed on Beaumaris setting a nest. The male, I assume, was loafing nearby (beside a floating whiskey bottle).

The goose that was setting atop the neighbours' brick planter brought off her hatch this morning, the first on Beaumaris I believe. One egg failed to hatch. Six youngsters are swimming with mom and dad.

The goose that was setting atop the neighbours' brick planter brought off her hatch this morning, the first on Beaumaris I believe. One egg failed to hatch. Six youngsters are swimming with mom and dad.

The goose that was setting atop the neighbours' brick planter brought off her hatch this morning, the first on Beaumaris I believe. One egg failed to hatch. Six youngsters are swimming with mom and dad.

I shot and waited again and again but the sun would not glint off the wing patch.

Two birds but I couldn't get them to pose together.

This pair worked assiduously to avoid my camera. This was a long shot and I couldn't capture the wee hen.

I would like to know how much bread the ducks, geese and gulls consume on Beaumaris during the course of a season.

Counted 10 in pairs and singles around Beaumaris. We only get them comin' and goin'; they don't stick around.

Counted 10 in pairs and singles around Beaumaris. We only get them comin' and goin'; they don't stick around.

Many mallards loafing in the water, on the shore and on the piers (closed to us humans).

Some of the geese are fractious.

This wee hen was preening on the rock and scolding the mallards that came too close.

Counted 10 in pairs and singles around Beaumaris. We only get them comin' and goin'; they don't stick around.

Lots of gulls cruisin', squawkin' and posin' fer pictures at Beaumaris.

This wee hen was preening on the rock and scolding the mallards that came too close.

Yesterday, in two separate spots, I found what appears to be parts of crayfish. I was aware such critters abound in the stocked pond at Morrinville and in another storm-water lake, west of 127 Street, but heretofore there had been no signs of them on Beaumaris. If they have established here we may see a wider variety of gulls on the lake.

The geese attract a lot of attention. Some are more aggressive than others.

This is the nest of yesterday, with the gulls. Today there was not a gull in sight and the nest is unguarded. A pair of geese was close, just up the shore but not visible from the nest area. I resisted the temptation to inventory the nest.

This is my first grebe of the season on Beaumaris.

Perhaps the competition is beginning for this choice residence.

This is my first coot of the season on Beaumaris.

Folks were feeding these birds and I tried to catch the action.

Folks were feeding these birds and I tried to catch the action.

Earlier I mentioned the stress these nesting geese endure. In addition to all the people that go by, they have to put up with these scavengers...after I took this picture I noted that a crow was also sitting by awaiting an opportunity for an omelet.

I wish they would you the grass...

This ain't no grackle but, from this angle, I can't tell what it might be...help!

Just can't resist the colours...and he can't resist showin' em off.

These were the first of the season on Beaumaris, at least for me.

Just can't resist the colours.

Maybe she will nest here...occasionally a goldeneye will do that here, although they don't use the boxes set out for them.

These were the first of the season on Beaumaris, at least for me. Seems they didn't like me watching.

Yesterday, after the sun had set, this nesting goose came to my attention. So we have 4 nesters for sure and we will have to wait and see what happens with the flowerpot saga.

Two nesting geese are visible from my balcony on Beaumaris. One can be seen to the right of the mallard and up a little.

Two nesting geese are visible from my balcony on Beaumaris. This one is almost in the middle of the photo. With luck I may be able to observe the youngsters leaving the nest(s).

So, why is this hen sittin' up there? I'm wondering if the heat generated by that lamp tempts her to roost there.

I could have sworn this pot and this goose weren't there yesterday. I must be gettin' old.

When I approached this bird two ring-billed gulls were standing within inches of her. Nesting geese put up with a lot of stress on Beaumaris, what with predators and people.

There were 3 birds in this group although I only caught two of them.

Given the prevalence of geese and their approachability I am assuming the artist was drawing a goose. I suspect the adult (the big one) was trying to convince the one with the camera not to get too close. (Sidewalk Art-Beaumaris Lake)

This bird wanted its picture taken.

The flower pot has been removed but 9 agitated honkers remain in the area. Perhaps the sign had warned them not to do anything hasty.

Binoculars from my balcony revealed that a female has joined one of the males on Beaumaris. I took this photo of that pair later in the day.

This is a favoured nesting spot, occupied annually (and not the same site with the 3 eggs).

If you wear a green hood, perhaps you should sport orange boots.

Danger! Thin ice.

This gal moved over to give me a glimpse of at least 3 eggs.

This is the nearby male...his actions suggest he is somewhat agitated by what is going on, but who am I to say?

Interesting behaviour around the nest pot. 4 geese are visible. A fifth, I suspect it's the male that belongs to the bird that usually nests in this pot, is a short distance away on the ground. I don't know why this pair is tolerating all the company.

Interesting behaviour around the nest pot. 4 geese are visible. A fifth, I suspect it's the male that belongs to the bird that usually nests in this pot, is a short distance away on the ground. I don't know why this pair is tolerating all the company.

This one sat still long enough to be digitally captured.

This bird also seems to have a start on a family.

These are the first grackles for me for the season. I wonder why a bird that can look so good would make itself look as bad as in the other photo.

Why would a sleek bird do this to itself?

I suspect this gal is setting an egg or eggs.

Today there are at least 5 of these guys on Beaumaris.

Seems the already claimed flower pot is being coveted by at least one other pair. Later the ones on the roof were gone and the bird that had been beside the pot was sitting on it.

These birds were doing a lot of frolicking in the air but I could not capture that. Later in the year I won't bother much with robins but it is good to see them back.

I heard them before I saw them and they were too quick to catch the lot in a single shot.