Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Part 2. A hike on the West Bank of the Vermilon Ri...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Part 2. A hike on the West Bank of the Vermilon Ri...: "Swamp Sparrow Playing on the Ice Skim  Swamp Sparrow   Red-wing Blackbird  We're picking up where we left of on the ..."

Part 2. A hike on the West Bank of the Vermilon River, along the Abandoned Railway Track. A post to Camera Critters and Scenic Sunday.

Swamp Sparrow Playing on the Ice Skim



Swamp Sparrow




Red-wing Blackbird




We're picking up where we left of on the previous post.The two sparrows are in a small wetland just over the bridge. The Red-winged Blackbirds are on the wetlands of the abandoned RR line. So are the Grackles. The Pileated Woodpecker who I think was the model for the cartoon Woody Woodpecker was in the same area. For the full woodpecker series click here http://vermilonriverwildlife.blogspot.com/2011/04/pileated-and-hairy-woodpeckers-of.html.


Red Wing Blackbird



Grackle

Grackle in the Sun

Pileated Woodpecker

Bufflehead Male Duck



Female Bufflehead




Male Bufflehead




Male and Female Bufflehead.


I normally don't have too much luck with ducks, but the Buffelheads were playing in the fast water just the other side of the small wetland shown below. I checked their range as this is the first time I've seen them and they are migrating or moving in as they're usually a bit north. The Wood Duck shown below which is not such a good photo was in the same area but right across the river. I'll have to figure out a way to get closer. I knew this trail would pay off as the active track cuts me off from the eastern side of the river.



Wood Duck.




Small Wetland to the East or on My Right

 The large wetland is still frozen but is home to the blackbird both Grackles and Red winged. The Pileated showed up in the frozen area also. The Wood Duck, really a colourful fellow, is a resident of the area.


Large Wetland To the West or My Left.





Lip of The Rapids.




White Water




Rapids




Close Up




This whole trail, an abandoned RR track is easy to hike as it is elevated above the river and wetlands, which makes for easy viewing but creates a difficulty in getting closer to the actual river bank as the sides are steep. The trail ends at the rapids which are spectacular at this time of year. The old bridge is gone of course. The river is wide above the rapids and then narrows to create the rapids. The wetlands are in the wide area above the rapids.

The Fox Among the Geese



Boomer My Companion












These fox shots were not used in my earlier post. If you want to see the whole sequence click below. Boomer was with me but not in the post. You can see from his eyes how interested he was.  http://vermilonriverwildlife.blogspot.com/2011/04/life-and-death-on-vermilon-river-post.html

A Post to Camera Critters @ http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/   and to Scenic Sunday @ http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

Click to enlarge all photos.

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Part One. A Hike on the West Side of the Vermilon ...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Part One. A Hike on the West Side of the Vermilon ...: "A Few Clouds, But Generally Bright  Now these Cumulus are building and Darkening.  Starting off it was a bright day with a few..."

Part One. A Hike on the West Side of the Vermilon River, along the Abanboned RR Track. A Post to Skywatch.

A Few Clouds, But Generally Bright



Now these Cumulus are building and Darkening.



Starting off it was a bright day with a few clouds, but as the day went on the clouds built up and darkened, a hint of the next few days when we actually had a rain storm warning. But we're going to continue because we've got cabin fever, and a fair distance to cover along side the west side of the river on the abandoned rail track.

The upper river.

Our Crow.



Male Purple Finch




Female Hairy Woodpecker



We were not about to leave without a fairwell to our crow. By the way the river scene is from the upper river just indicating the lack of ice. We won't be going that way today. We'll cut across an active track and use a RR maintenance road which is always good for something and sometimes a bear. This time we got the Purple Finch and the female Hairy Woodpecker, not a bad beginning. After them the trail went quiet and I thought bear, but Boom didn't pick up a scent at all.


Canada Geese In Flight




Geese in Flight






As the river was coming in sight these Canada Geese came tearing in honking all the time. 

Sparrow




Sparrow




Sparrow

 There were lots of Sparrows around. I think the one above may be an immature White-crown, while the one in the reeds, and the branches are Song Sparrows. If I'm wrong, some one will correct us.



Sparrow





Preening Ring-bill



Still Preening





Tree Fungus

The River Ring-billed Gulls are always active, and the tree fungus is a really interesting looking one.

A Post to Skywatch Friday @ http://skyley.blogspot.com/  I'll post Part 2 to Camera Critters and Scenic Sunday.

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Pileated and Hairy Woodpeckers of the Vermilon Riv...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Pileated and Hairy Woodpeckers of the Vermilon Riv...: " The Vermilon River.   Back View Pileated Woodpecker  Since yesterday was more spring like, we took off to the west side of t..."

Pileated and Hairy Woodpeckers of the Vermilon River. A Post to WBW.



The Vermilon River.




Back View Pileated Woodpecker

 Since yesterday was more spring like, we took off to the west side of the river for a tour along the abandoned RR track, which is an easy hike, even with snow traces left. It seemed to be woodpecker day as the following shots indicate. I've made more of the Pileated as its a much rarer sighting. They're about the size of a crow, 16-19 inches, hence one of the largest woodpeckers in NA.

Side View



Side View . Note the red bar from the beak to the Throat.




Note The Red Bar Again.






These two photos show the red bar well which means he's a male. He was much more co-operative than my last attempt as he posed well, but also announced himself with his wild laugh call and gave me an example of his loud drumming.


Click to enlarge any photos.


Profile




Female Hairy




Female Hairy.














As I said I don't mean to play down the Female Hairy because she is a beauty!!


A Post to WBW @ http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Various Scenes and Wildlife of the Vermilon River....

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Various Scenes and Wildlife of the Vermilon River....: "Vermilon River Wetland  Channel of the North Wetland, East Track   My Singing Sparrow   Ring-billed Gull in Flight. ..."

Various Scenes and Wildlife of the Vermilon River. A Post to My World Tuesday.

Vermilon River Wetland



Channel of the North Wetland, East Track




My Singing Sparrow




Ring-billed Gull in Flight.




Canada Goose in Flight.




Killdeer, A Member of the Plover Family.




This is a series of photos from my recent excursions. The hikes were made around the weather as winter does not leave here as quickly as in other areas. We have no moderating ocean currents or Great Lakes to influence our climate.


Canda Geese Moving Into An Icy Wetland.




Ring-billed Gull In Flight.



RedWinged Blackbird.



Hunting Fox.

All photos can be enlarged by clicking on. the photos.



A Post to My World Tuesday @ http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/