Widgeon Marsh park reserve, nest box cleaning

On Saturday from 2pm until 5:30pm, BMN members finally finished cleaning the bird boxes at Widgeon Marsh park reserve, after having to delay it from the week before because of snowy weather concerns.  The weather forecast was for sun in the morning changing to snow, and when we arrived at Widgeon the clouds were dropping quickly, and we were being occasionally dusted with very little snow, nothing to really bother us in our task at hand. Bird box usage was high as usual for this park, and we saw at least a hundred 90 Trumpeter swans off in the distance trumpeting occasionally in the slough.

Nice example of a duck-feather-lined nest.

The troops awaiting their marching orders, all seventeen of us a good number considering the previous weekends weather delay, after dividing into groups we wandered away and completed the tasks required with time to spare.

A few photos of the days adventure on Panoramio

The rarely seen and elusive untamed naturalists in their natural habitat
looking north Widgeon Creek valley
And some more pictures of the event along with previous outings to Widgeon Marsh

A picture of a picture-taking naturalist,  Photo: Hilary Maguire

And a list of the birds spotted, from Hilary Maguire
5 Canada Goose
90 Trumpeter Swan
21 Mallard
1 Bufflehead
1 Common Goldeneye
3 Bald Eagle
1 Northern Flicker
1 Steller's Jay
1 Pacific Wren
20 Golden-crowned Kinglet
2 Varied Thrush
2 Spotted Towhee

And Pamela Zevitt, added a song sparrow, and a belted kingfisher.
And also a collection of photos from Pamela of the adventure.

Also a photo set from a professional photographer, Paul Steeves.
But wait ! John (Jack) provided some more photos; Great..

        When we got to the site what appeared to be an eagle was soaring overhead, but difficult to identify; but in the group that I was with we were able to identify it a little later as a Golden eagle.

☞Thanks☜ to all the suppliers of pictures and information,
nice to know that many species use the area; including untamed naturalists.