This is an exciting time of year for any wildlife enthusiast, including wildlife photographers. The migrant birds are returning to our area after spending the winter down south. Each day, new species arrive, everything from large raptors to tiny warblers — and then there are some like the tundra swans and many duck species that are just passing through on their way farther north. 

A male turkey performs its courtship display for the females in its group.

I like to head out to one of the local shorelines because one can pretty much count on seeing action there. It did not disappoint this year. Soon after leaving the house, long before I got anywhere near the shore, I already had the camera out and was shooting pictures.

As I cruised along one of the main roads, I passed a small group of wild turkeys close by in a farm field. I normally would have kept going, but at this time of year, one might get a look at a tom turkey performing courtship displays for the females. I turned around and pulled up as quietly as I could so as not to scare them off. 

Sure enough, there were a couple of the large males puffing themselves up and spreading their tail feathers to impress the females. Of course, the females continued feeding and did their best to ignore the beautiful displays. The wild turkeys are not the migrants I was looking for — they live here all year round — but it was a wonderful way to start the morning. 

An osprey speeds by carrying a small muskie that it has captured. 

The whole day was full of action. As I was shooting some ducks close to shore, out of the corner of my eye, I caught something moving low and fast over the surface of the water. I got my camera on it as quick as I could and was very glad I did. It was my first osprey picture of this year and luck was with me. The osprey was carrying a small muskie that it had captured. Muskie are up in the shallows spawning at this time of year, and the ospreys know that and target them. A muskie can make a couple of days’ meals for the hungry osprey, but this one was pretty small and will likely be gobbled down in one sitting. 

An osprey prepares to dive for a fish.

Later in the day, I went past an osprey nest and it was occupied by a pair of osprey that had just recently returned. Not far up the shoreline, I spotted my first great blue heron of the year. I was surprised that it took this long to see one. Usually I would have seen one around the first day of spring, but for some reason, I had not run into one yet this year. They were here; I just had not come across one. It is marvellous to see them at this time of year. When they arrive back here, they are already sporting their breeding plumage, which makes them even more beautiful. Their beaks get more brilliantly orange-yellow, with pink and blue highlights at the base, and they have extra lacy plumes on their chest and back. They also have a cool dark blue tassel on the top of the head. 

Of course, the turkey vultures have returned as well. They provide a wonderful service that nobody wants to do. They clean up dead carcasses, aiding to prevent disease from spreading, so we are very lucky to have them around. 

Thankfully, the turkey vultures have returned to provide their cleanup services.

All in all, it was a wonderful day out shooting. I highly recommend getting out at this time of year to enjoy the nature that is all around us!

© Peterborough Examiner