Hello birders. The sun was warm today, Sat. Mar. 22, but still not enough to melt much ice in Long Point bay where the temperature was about -2 degrees all day. Nevertheless, a couple thousand Tundra Swans staged in the few areas of open water east of the point, their "kow-wows" echoing over the shore. What a sight they made as small groups periodically rose and circled around, necks outstretched, their clean white forms turning and reflecting the light like crystal. Lots of visitors, die-hard birders but also families with children, came to see the swans. Just for an added bonus, some of us were thrilled to see and hear (like a screechy trumpet) three or four Sandhill Cranes during the noon hour.
Buffleheads and Canvasbacks ducks could be seen from the bridge. Heading east on Old Cut Road and driving the shore roads all the way to Port Dover, we were rewarded with the sight of more than one farmers field sheltering small groups of Tundra Swans, poking around for loose bits of corn. A lookout in Port Rowan just west of Aker's Ice Huts was a particularly good location to view ducks, but a scope would have helped a lot. Port Dover was where the real diving duck show took place. The Marina and Port Dover Harbour were warm, sheltered and sunny and the ducks were loving it. Seen were Redhead, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common and Hooded Merganser, Ring-Necked Duck, Common Golden-Eye, as well as the more common Canada Geese and a flock of at least 30 Mallards. They were on land at a spot just below the Hwy. 6 bridge at the end of the gravel parking lot near the Tim Hortons. They felt like going for a supper-time walk as a group. Comical to see. Just to top it all off, nine wild turkeys on Hwy. 5 immediately east of St. George, pecking in a frenzy at patches of exposed grass. Don't spread this location around, or those turkeys will be on someone's plate for dinner in no time! Happy Easter to those who celebrate the holiday. For everyone else, Happy Long Weekend. Carol Parafenko Guelph _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with free Messenger emoticons. Get them today! http://g.msn.ca/ca55/207_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
