Feb 21, 2010 - Nanticoke Part 1 - Great day trip for Wildlife and Predators

The goal: Birds of Prey & Wildlife. The result: WOW what a day!

A February trip to the area of Nanticoke and Haldimand Ontario was nothing short of awesome!





Here's a brief video shot in Nanticoke. Be sure to scroll down and read the additional blog entries from this trip, the photos are much better than the video.



The morning started out overcast, and originally the plan was to go to Hamilton in search of Bald Eagles. En route, the destination was changed on the fly, the GPS was turned on, and a favourite location "Nanticoke" was punched in.

A little over an hour later, we were in the region, and already in awe over the number of predator birds visible in the area. The sun came out, setting the stage for what was to become a very memorable day of birding in Southern Ontario.

In the Haldimand/Nanticoke area, your best bet for birding is to head towards the lake, and Nanticoke power generation station, but all the while, keep your eyes sharp, there's an incredible mix of hawks and other predators to see!

This trip I brought my camera and zoom lens (of course), but I also managed to record some video along the way. The video camera isn't up to the calibre that my zoom lens and still-photos are, but there's something to be said for watching moving footage, I hope you enjoy!


More Images:

Feb 21, 2010 - Nanticoke Part 2 - Birds of Prey Galore!

It was great to see a large number of deer grazing the Nanticoke powerplant property, but at the end of the day, it was all the hawks and other birds of prey that were the highlight of the day.

Down along the shoreline, Eagles can often be found. Today a juvenile Bald Eagle was seen and photographed from quite a distance.

Also witnessed was a Northern Harrier hovering over some grasslands, countless red-tailed hawks, rough-legged hawks, and honestly a few species I'm not even confident to try to identify.

Without question, when it comes to birds of prey, this region is shockingly productive. I'm not sure why so many seem to congregate here, but I'm not complaining!



More Images:

Feb 21, 2010 - Nanticoke Part 3 - Rendezvous with an American Kestrel

For many folks, a drive around rural Ontario is a relaxing sightseeing exercise. If you've ever been in the car with me during one of these drives, you'd know that the relaxation is frequently interrupted, my Jeep veering onto the shoulder and rapidly reversing. (I make sure nobody is behind me first)

You see, I've had this longstanding drought when it comes to catching American Kestrels with the camera. I see them everywhere, most commonly perched on telephone wires at the sides of roads. Almost every time I spot one and quickly try to get close to take a shot, you guessed it, they fly away.

The more this has gone on the more obsessed I've become. I'm glad to report that in Nanticoke I finally had the excellent fortune of finding, watching, and even photographing a gorgeous American Kestrel. He was hunting at the time, and thankfully didn't mind me watching.

The American Kestrel is the world's smallest member of the falcon family. They have special vision which allows them to see parts of the colour spectrum that humans can't, a trait that assists them in hunting. Their most common meals are mice and voles, but they will even eat bugs and small birds on occasion.

Today I didn't see Mr. Kestrel catch anything, despite multiple attempts. Regardless, it was very enjoyable to have a chance to see a Kestrel in the wild, attending to business.



More Images: