Saturday, November 21, 2020

BUSHWHACKING

     Bushwhacking is when you go off trails and make your way through the bush by going around or over anything in the way.  

     Today for birding we bushwhacked an area. It's hard going but you see some very different things. 

      We saw thousands of ducks on the river. Around every bend were hundreds of ducks. There were also many Canada geese and a few other species of duck mixed in with the mallards. The river is not frozen over but full of ice which is flowing along with the current.

      We did see and identify the following: blue jay, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, boreal chickadee, bald eagle, Canada geese, gold eye, downy woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch and a common raven. We also saw four mule deer.

      The weather was pleasant: sunny and about minus 3 C.

                 






46 comments:

  1. It sounds like bushwhacking is the way to go since you saw so many different birds and deer as well! I would think this would be the best time of the year to do this since hopefully the cold would keep insects from being a problem. I'm happy for you that you had a good day with the bird watching group!

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    1. Insects aren't a big issue with me except for ticks. We got to go to a location that e had never been to before.

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  2. That looks to me like a pretty good, almost idyllic, sort of birding outing.

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    1. Yes it was a good afternoon. We didn't see a large number of birds except for the mallard ducks.

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  3. Hello,
    Sounds like a nice bird walk, great sightings. I would like to see the Boreal Chickadee. It looks so cold there. Great photos.
    Have a happy day!

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    1. The black capped chickadees are far more abundant than the boreals. Looks don't count. At minus 3 it was a nice afternoon.

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  4. I see your snow. We are expecting snow overnight. At this time of year, it could be the one that stays until March. I hope not.

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    1. This snow will likely stay until spring.

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  5. It looks very winterly at your place!

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    1. Yes, it does look wintery with all the snow.

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  6. Sounds like a worthwhile expedition Red. How terrible that mules are evidently crossbreeding with deer in your part of the world.

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  7. What a great way to enjoy the outdoors. The magpie is unfamiliar to me and we don’t have deer either. Nothing bigger than a coyote here on the island.

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    1. Have I got a deal for you. You can have all my magpies! Magpies are corvids so are part of the crow family and are a general nuisance.

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  8. Looks like a good day spent with good friends doing what you love.

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  9. Sounds like a lovely day for bird watching there.

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  10. Replies
    1. It was a great way to spend an afternoon.

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  11. Still a lot of feathered wildlife out there, considering the temperatures!

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    1. We do have quite a few species that overwinter. Some robins overwinter.

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  12. You're intrepid! Bushwacking for me is stepping off the sidewalk and cutting across the park on the way into town!

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    1. Yes, nor much to see on those sidewalks.

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  13. Sounds like a cool (in more than one way) outing. The guy with the binoculars ... I think I recognize those binocs ... those are some of the really good ones. Does anyone on the outing write down the kinds of birds seen as you go along? How often do you guys go out?

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    1. I think his binocs are $700.00. He's a retired biology prof with a specialty in birds. He's a very good person to have in the group. Yours truly does the field notes. The sightings also go on face book and into our news letter. Check out Red Deer river Naturalists and you can link to the news letter.

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  14. Looks like a great day outside in nature. You had some wondering bird sightings to make it a successful day. It's good to be outside with friends enjoying the day together.

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    1. This is a great group to be with. Covid has put a damper on this years birding.

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  15. Nice, Red! I don't like bushwhacking much up here, our bushes are much more dense. That was quite a haul of bird sightings.

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    1. The art of bush whacking is to pick up a game trail.

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  16. You need to dress warmly and use a good hiking boot, I assume. Chilly already where you are. It looks and sounds like it was a worthwhile outing tho, as you spotted so many birds!

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    1. Well it was only minus 3 C so you don't want to wear very many clothes. We're pretty good so we get to see more than the regular person.

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  17. I was thinking what DJan said. Bushwhacking here means dense, over the head, tangled growth. You can see through your brush, which means you got to see lots of great birds. Fun.

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    1. Our bush is a tangle too with lots of dead fall. We try to pick up a game trail.

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  18. What a great day in the bush, and more power to you.

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    1. Funny but I never feel cold. If we're moving we keep warm. It's okay on the hands with cameras and field glasses and the poor guy taking notes...ME

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  19. It takes lots of energy and good footwork to do that bushwacking! Sounds like a fun day!

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  20. Well, thank you for defining bushwhacking for me - I always thought it meant killing, so at first I wondered why in the world your gentle birding group would be doing that! lol

    I'm starting to think that besides being gentle, your group is very hardy. I wouldn't be tromping through snow and brush voluntarily :) Well done on the sightings.

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  21. You don't have to persuade these people to do some tough stuff.

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  22. Such a nice outing! Nothing like being out in a natural setting.

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  23. How wonderful to see thousands of ducks! It’s a good day when you get a nice workout and see lots of birds, too. Looks like you’ll soon need your snowshoes to do your bushwhacking.

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  24. I do like the sound of your bushwacking trips, especially with the snow on the ground. Sounds like this was a very successful trip for bird watching.

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  25. it looks easy through images but being from village and having lots of tough memories about bush whacking as school going child i know it is quite hard
    hats off to you all who chose to do so when it snowed wow
    looks like an enchanting day and with so many feathery beauties around must be wonderful!

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  26. Yikes! That is COLD! My daughter just texted me that it was around that temperature today. You are very intrepid.

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