Borden Wetlands

The months of January and February have been bitterly cold in Kitchener. The last areas of free-running water were confined to the faster-moving water flowing from the Wetlands. Shallow areas that attracted song sparrows to plodge in the small trickling streams as they searched for fallen seeds. And then came the cold!  With the ground completely covered in snow and the water frozen song sparrows were left to feed on what seeds they could find on the remaining flowering stems of plants that had long withered away. American tree sparrows, with their rusty crest and bicolored bill, were also on the search for seeds. They were seen briefly, flitting from branch to branch. Redpolls appeared utterly oblivious to the freezing conditions. A female redpoll is pictured below feeding on the seeds of a goldenrod plant. When the goldenrod seeds were exhausted, the redpoll's main food source was still in good supply. The seeds of Alder trees are available only to those with a specific skillset....

Observing the mink has become something of a morning ritual. It seems almost as when you buy a new car and then suddenly become aware of all the other cars of the same model. Since my first photos of the mink, I am now quite easily able to locate the mink every morning that I frequent the wetlands. Stand still for long enough, watch for movement on the far edge of the water, and there he is. Bounding over fallen rotten tree trunks. Traversing effortlessly from the land to the water, and on this occasion, swimming under the very critical eye of the resident mallards. And back again to land. Pausing very occasionally in between the endless search for food. The mink has so much energy and apparent enthusiasm for the hunt. It really is a treat to watch. The water, as you can see, is not frozen. The temperature for November has been incredibly mild. With the water not frozen, I've been able to watch the muskrats who live under one of the small islands that dot the wetlands as they colle...