A drive through Elk Island Park resulted in a bountiful number of waterfowl sightings.  Many of the ponds along the parkway are drying up.  Those with a decent water level had some very cute babies swimming in them or lounging beside them.  

I am not an avid birdwatcher but have been paying more attention lately.  The extent of my watching has been limited to the backyard feeders until I found an extensive birding list that one could indicate sightings.  

I started tracking them two years ago and each year since have tried to find at least one more species that I have not seen before.  Given all the ponds, sloughs, lakes and treed areas in the immediate area and the fact that I've now been paying attention to who's flying or swimming about, I've been able to add a number of birds to the list.

Their humorous grooming/feeding habits, their parenting 'skills' and their calls have been entertaining.  I watched some goose parents trying to herd eight little ones across the parkway at Elk Island.  It was quite the chore to keep them all in line and going in the proper direction.  

I'm not having much luck identifying bird calls but enjoy listening to those sweet sounds coming from the tree tops.  My alarm each morning is a robin in the tree outside my window.