Common Goldeneye

Two days ago, on 1 March 2015, I went on part of a bird walk with friends, at the east end of Fish Creek Park. One of the things we wanted to check on was the pair of Great Horned Owls that have nested there for quite a few years. Sure enough, the male was perched high up in a tree not far from the nesting snag. The female was on the nest, but out of sight because of the deep cavity. All being well, once young ones hatch and grow bigger, she will gradually be forced higher and eventually she will be seen.

I so rarely take photos of waterfowl any more, but took a quick couple of shots of these Common Goldeneye that were swimming in the middle of the river. They just seemed so far away, but I guess it was worth at least trying to get a shot of them. I think I'm right in saying that the bird at top right is an immature male? I can never remember the difference between "immature" and "juvenile" - need to look that up again.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Goldeneye/id

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_goldeneye

The temperature today, 3 March 2015, is -10C (windchill -17C). Tomorrow morning is forecast to be -17C (windchill -23C) and soaring to 1C in the afternoon. After that, it looks like we should have a string of warmer days, unless things change. March is supposedly our snowiest month, but so far there is no sign of it for the next couple of weeks. This winter has been so incredibly mild for much of the time - wonderful!