Wednesday Walk - A Visit to the Chapell Marsh Conservation Area

This walk was not around my home in the Boreal forest but around my niece's home who lives right beside the Chappell Marsh Conservation Area

a 148-acre conservation area which is wholly-dedicated to the restoration and conservation of prairie wetland habitat and public education on the value of wetlands.

As it was breeding season we saw a lot of pairs and some protective display as with these Canada geese with a male chasing an intruding male away from his mate.

Waterfowl on Chappell Marsh

The next photo is for the Show Me a Photo Contest with a theme of "Birds with Beaks Open" Find out details of contest here

Male Canada Goose Beak Open Chasing Away Another Male

Let's get a closer look at that action on the marsh with a powerful looking male..

Male Getting Too close to Pair of Canada Geese

Powerful Canada Goose With His Wings Spread Full Out Defending His Mate

There was another pair of Canada Geese who had made my niece's yard their territory. They liked to hang out on the roofs which made for great look out spots. The female must not have laid her eggs yet for she was often with the male, not sitting on her eggs (or something may have happened to her first batch of eggs so she could no longer sit on them)

Pair of Canada Geese Looking Out From Shed Roof

Close Up Goose Taking Flight Off Roof

At one point we found the goose on look out from the railings of the deck which was up on the second story. He stayed there until the cat came out to the deck through the cat door

Canada Goose Perched on the Deck Rail

When we were coming back from walking around the marsh the geese pair were just coming in to feed on the grass by the road at my niece's driveway. They flew right in close to us and then went on to graze on the grass. We kept walking and they were not about to leave. They honked at us and eventually moved further away from the road so we could head down the driveway.

Canada Goose Coming in for a Landing Right Close to Us

Pair of Canada Geese Grazing in the Grass and Dandelions

This character walked quite a ways down the road before he finally turned off and went into the grass. We were definitely in their territory!

Canada Goose Walking Down Road Checking Us Out

There were many other ducks at the marsh but I only got good pictures of the mallard ducks and the hooded grebe.

Pair of Mallard Ducks Sitting on Nest by Edge of Water

One part of the marsh area had dried up last year with the severe drought. With some spring rains it was starting to come back but there is still a large area of dried mud. These ducks were on the water but took off walking away on the mud when we walked close by.

Pair of Mallard Ducks on Dried Part of Marsh

Colorful Hooded Grebe

There were plenty of red-winged black birds hanging around the mash edge with their delightful call.

Red-winged Blackbirds Singing From Reeds at Edge of Marsh

Another bird there was quite a number of were the swallows. I found a pair hanging out by the nesting box so I got some close ups.

Close Up Pair of Swallows Resting on Fence

Swallow on Lookout On Top of Nesting Box

They had numerous nesting boxes all around the marsh. Here I capture a photo of a pair of sparrows who were moving in.

Pair of Sparrows Busy at Nesting Box

Back in the grass around the yard there were many other birds. I saw plenty of blackbirds as this one who was calling from the grass...

There was a pair of partridges that came by looking for food by the feed trough.

Pair of Partridges Looking for Food in Grass

The magpie was checking out the grass for food then found himself a fancy perch on top of a elk sculpture.

Magpie Searching for Food in Grass

Magpie Perched on Laughing Elk Sculpture

And the final photo is the blackbird on the treetop looking off into the distance.

Close Up Blackbird on Spruce Treetop

This is my #WednesdayWalk hosted by @tattoodjay go check out his latest post here. He collaborates with @elizacheng and her #MakeMeSmile initiative see her latest post here

Bird images are for the #FeatheredFriends community hosted by @melinda010100

The photos were taken with my Canon PowerShot SX60 HS.

Thanks for stopping by!

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