Bald Eagle at Island Lake 2026 June13 (CJ)
Headwaters Nature members were welcomed by our field trip co-ordinator, Josh Pickering, to a beautiful and sunny morning on Saturday June 13th, 2026, for a bird outing at Island Lake Conservation Area. The group (17 people in total) was happy to note several bird species from the parking lot before we even began our trip and a few fledglings (young birds) along the trail at Rotary Park, including Common Grackle (5) and American Robin (4). Highlights from Rotary Park were a pair of Cedar Waxwing (2), a Green Heron (1), and a Bald Eagle (1), among the 18 other species within the baseball diamonds, wetland edges, and stormwater management pond at the park. Overall, we saw 49 species of birds! Josh and others have wonderful birding hearing, as well as keen eyes for spotting birds who are hiding.
Birders looking out across the lake (CW)
As we crossed Highway 10 at 4th Avenue and travelled into Island Lake CA, some of the group members at the front of the pack were thrilled to watch a whole family (8 total) of Short-tailed Weasels (also sometimes referred to as Ermine, or Stoat) cross our path as we began our travels along the Vicki Barron Lakeside Trail. The young weasels were an early indicator on our outing that the focus of ‘breeding birds’ was a worthy theme, as well as a great reminder of the life that is cultivated in the spring season amongst many species in addition to birds!
Two of the eight members of a family of Short-tailed Weasels (also sometimes referred to as Ermine, or Stoat) (CJ)
We continued our travels north along the lakeside trail and across sections of boardwalk where we observed many young birds, including four (4) cygnets (baby swans) that were feeding alongside their Trumpeter Swan parents. The pair even sounded their trumpets on occasion as we watched from the boardwalk. In addition to the family of swans, several waterfowl were noted, including Canada Goose (6), Mallard (7), Wood Duck (4), and a single male Redhead (1). We were as watchful over a couple Wood Ducks and a Mallard as we were for the swans because of a few young fuzzy ducklings that caught our attention. After viewing the ducks through binoculars and scope, we recorded seventeen (17) ducklings with 2 different Wood Duck mothers, and five (5) ducklings with a lone female Mallard amongst the wetland’s edges.
A number of other species that we observed and were of interest to the group, included a single Red-necked Grebe (1), a Caspian Tern (1), Chimney Swifts (2), a Pileated Woodpecker (1), and Baltimore Orioles (2), amongst the other more secretive birds that were mostly recorded by their calls. We also heard American Redstart (3), Northern Yellow Warbler (4), Swamp Sparrow (2), a Gray Catbird (1), and both Red-eyed Vireo (2), and Eastern Warbling Vireo (3). Lots to see and hear indeed! In total, we travelled nearly 3km over the course of 2hrs and we observed nearly 200 individual birds (194) of 49 different bird species! If interested, you can view our entire ‘checklist’ on eBird, available here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/538341
Eastern Kingbird, returning to its surveying post. (MW)
We also wanted to note that the group bumped into a few people that were also birdwatching or enjoying the wildlife at both Rotary Park, and Island Lake CA, and were excited to share observations and other points of interest with us. Thank you to Vivian, Boris, and Christina for taking the time to stop and chat, we hope that you may be reading this, and that you’ve joined us at Headwaters Nature, and if so, welcome!
We once again wish to thank everyone who attended for their engagement, kindness and stories shared, and hope that those that couldn’t attend will join us for upcoming outings as we look to get together again. Please also note that Headwaters Nature would be happy to hear from you about any ideas or opportunities for outings that you suggest. All inquiries can be addressed to Josh or Robin at our email, info@onheadwatersnature.ca
(Photographs by Carrie Jonker, Cathy Whitcombe, and Mark Whitcombe)