The spring movement has been a surprise in more ways than one. There was a small flight of a few thousand birds early last week heading east over Cornwall with a flock reported on the ground at Westley's Point which is 5 minutes west of Lancaster on the St. Lawrence River. No birds were observed anywhere on March 15 but on March 16 the main movement involving tens of thousands pushed through. They were reported on Cty Rd. 34 south of Green Valley and at other locations on #34 between Lancaster and the flats at Riviere Beaudette.
Learning on Sunday of that sighting, I checked the entire area from there to the Quebec border. I observed none and the number of Canada Geese had fallen to a fraction of what had been present in the previous week. The hot weather and the absence of ice on the river, which seems to be an enticement for resting, may have encouraged them to move on. Even most of the diving ducks present on Thursday were gone on the weekend in the summer temperatures. In the days ahead, we'll see if any retrace their steps and head back from Quebec into Eastern Ontario which they have done in the past. All of the birds in the western portion of New York State have left so there are no more to come from that direction. Brian Morin Cornwall _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
