My dog, Posey, and I go to the Martensville Off-leash Dog Park almost every morning. It’s also a great place for bird watching, especially in the Spring. So far this Spring, I’ve seen the following species:

• Black-capped Chickadee (year-round residents)
• Black-billed Magpie (also year-round residents)
• Downy Woodpecker (also year-round residents)
• House Sparrow (occasional year-round visitors)
• House Finch (occasional year-round visitors)
• Raven (winter residents)
• Common Redpoll (winter residents)
• Gull species (overhead)
• Canada Goose (also overhead)
• American Crow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Western Meadowlark
• American Robin
• Red-winged Blackbird (only the males so far)
• Bufflehead (a male and a female)
• Eared Grebe (has been on the pond for 3 days now)
• Mallard
• Willet
• Common Grackle
• Killdeer
• Owl species (we startled each other so I didn’t get a close enough look to identify it, and of course it was a day when I didn’t have my camera with me)

As well, I’ve seen Mourning Cloak butterflies.

Here are a few of my photos so far:

Eared Grebe

Willet

Killdeer

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Prairie Crocus

I put up a couple of feeders at the park, but unfortunately because of concerns with Avian Flu, I will be removing them tomorrow. It’s sad, but better to be safe than sorry. As soon as I hear it’s safe to do so, I’ll be putting them back up.

But Posey and I will continue to visit the park, for the fresh air, the exercise, and the birds.