Winter Birding 25/26: The Visitors
Winter is one of my favourite times of year to get off the couch and get some fresh air. The birds are not as plentiful as in other seasons, but we, here in sw Ontario are treated to many Arctic species. Waterfowl and raptors that migrate here to escape the brutal winter of their Arctic breeding grounds treat us to good views if we are patient and lucky! Some people, including myself, call this 'Weird Duck Season'!
This winter especially has been extremely cold and snowy, with long durations of below seasonal temps and wind chills. Today I am sitting at -16 with a windchill of -30 with about 2 ' of snow on the ground that just came overnight with blowing snow and squalls. The 402 is closed in both directions and Hwy 21 from Grand Bend to Forest is closed, so unless I drive a sled, I'm staying in and staying local today!
Lake Huron is currently at 65% ice cover, while Lake Erie is about 94%, Lake Ontario is nearly 21%. This amount of ice cover concentrates the waterfowl to any open water they can find. The mouth of the St. Clair River at Point Edward is pretty clear with the Sarnia Bay frozen with having only a narrow current in the middle flowing down river. The ice fisherman and moto cross bikes have been having fun on the bay! This is the time of year that you see birds in distress as February is their survival month, stores of fat are low and they are just done with this winter, as we all are.
There are thousands of Long Tailed Duck (my spark bird) on the river flying back and forth diving for fish. They are such an elegant bird and their call is so cute, like a bunch of old men grumbling!
Common and Red Breasted Mergansers have been around in numbers on the river as well. They are so gorgeous and the Common Mergansers remind me of the puffins of the south with their pure white body and orange beak. If you are lucky you can see Greater and Lesser Scaup. They are beautiful in their own discreet way. We also see Redheads in great numbers at this time of year. This year I haven't seen the huge rafts that we have seen in previous years, maybe Avian Flu? This time of year you also see more Hooded Mergansers and Bufflehead in the more sheltered areas. Goldeneye are also seen, with the largest raft I've seen at Kettle Point. Canvasbacks are also starting to be seen, especially at Guthrie Park in Corunna, at the outflow from Talfourd creek. This creek is warmed from an outflow from the plants and has overwintering Belted Kingfishers, which are always a joy to see. There are also Double crested cormorants enjoying the warmer water.
Back at the Bay at Centennial Park, there is a large group of Canada Geese and Mallards that are fed. Many congregate here and for the past 2 years their has been a lone American Wigeon, which is also a joy to see. American Black Duck are also seen here amongst the Mallards. Cackling Goose, a smaller more compact Canada Goose winter here as well and can often be seen in groups with the Canada Geese. If you're lucky and look up when you see a flock of Geese fly overhead, you may see a pure white Snow Goose or Ross' Goose, they are indeed Arctic specialists. Most of the ducks and geese will breed here, except for the Arctic species of course, but you see more numbers in the winter.
One of the highlights of the winter in this region are the return of the Arctic Gulls. Many birders and photographers come from all over to view gorgeous Great Black Backed Gulls (the largest gull globally), Lesser Black Backed Gulls, Glaucous Gulls and Iceland Gulls! Year round we get Ring Billed and Herring Gulls, but during the winter they are joined by their Arctic cousins. Gulls are one of the hardest birds to identify with all of their phases and variations, I am learning through practice, and some awesome local experts!
Raptors from the north such as Rough Legged Hawks also make this region their wintering grounds. Roughies love to hunt over the farmers fields and I often see them flying over as I drive in to work. Snowy Owls are also present at times in the winter, hunting in fields and very often perching on hydro poles. I am very cognizant of keeping my distance from any owl species, and it really irks me when I hear that photographers have spent hours trying to get that one more shot of a species that is just trying to survive. These unethical photographers give birders a bad name. Shame! We have Eastern Screech Owls that are resident at Sarnia's Canatara park and environs, and in the winter they roost in the day so we may be able to see them, but again, if you must, take your shot and go! Short Eared Owls have been observed near the old Sarnia landfill, but not reported this year, the hill has been shaved and so habitat might have been disrupted. In other parts of the province there seems to be a small irruption of Great Gray Owls. Bald Eagles can be seen more at this time of the year as they are fishing on the river. They can be quite often seen sitting on the ice shelves waiting for ducks to come by. There have been 13 individuals counted on the river from Sarnia to Corunna, so there story is truly an awesome comeback story (look it up).
We also have been enjoying the many songbirds that like to winter here. Snow Buntings are one of my favourite winter species. Their gorgeous white and tan colouration along with the fact they flock in large numbers make them awesome to see. They are one of the hardiest little sparrows! You will quite often see them along country roadways gleaning corn from the sides, as well as in farmers fields. I was lucky as I observed a large flock on my way to Pinery on London Line that a flock moved to the bushes so I could get some interesting shots. Sometimes you will get Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs in the flock, but none in this one. There are still a few weeks left of the winter so maybe I'll be lucky!
According to the experts this is an irruption year for winter finches, wherein their food source is low in their breeding grounds, so they come south where there are more cone and seed crops. The stars of this winter were Pine Grosbeaks, seen at Ipperwash, Evening Grosbeak, seen at Pinery and surrounds, Pine Siskin and Redpolls as well. Bohemian Waxwings I also saw at Pinery in late fall. Some Pine Grosbeak have been observed lately, so I will make a trip to Pinery and Ipperwash soon and see if I can see them again before they are gone back up north.
Northern Shrikes are another species that are more often observed here in the winter. Last winter there was one at Suncor Nature Way that was a lifer for me. They are small little predatory songbirds that feed on other songbirds by catching them and impaling them on sharp branches to eat for later!
Sometimes we get rarities here in Lambton County. The past 2 Decembers we've had a visit from a Harlequin Duck, which is a gorgeous Arctic species that loves rough rocky shores. This season a male was seen at the Point Edward Lighthouse. King Eider can also be spotted and one was this past December, unfortunately an unscrupulous hunter shot the adult male from the american side much to the chagrin of everyone. The Toronto area with its Lake Ontario shoreline seems to get these 2 specie's more often. Rare gulls have been seen in the past, Sabine's Gull and Little Gull. Duck hybrids are always fun to see and this year we had 2 or 3 mallard hybrids.
Trumpeter Swans are still considered a rarity here, though there are usually 1 or 2 at Kettle Point that overwinter. At times you will see one or two in with the non native Mute Swans. Tundra Swans are starting to be seen on their way back up north, always a joy to see. They will stop off at Alymer and Grand Bend in open farmer fields to rest and stock up on provisions, usually starting in March.
I have covered in my earlier post about northern species that frequent our feeders, Dark Eyed Junco, White throated Sparrow, White Crowned sparrow that are welcome visitors.
To summarize, when I bird in the winter the spots I visit are very different from other times of the year. I concentrate on the Lake (Huron) and river (St. Clair), by going to Sarnia Bay, Government Docks, Pt. Edward Lighthouse in Sarnia and Guthrie Park in Corunna. When I can get to Lambton Shores (quite often the roads are closed in the winter) I go to Pinery P.P., Ipperwash and Grand Bend beach. A hidden gem is Suncor Nature way on Modeland that connects to Wawanosh Wetlands. The creek there is usually open in the winter by some outflow and mallards, geese and other waterfowl congregate there and in other connecting creeks. Last year there was a lone male Wood Duck that overwintered there with the mallards, and there is also Pintails that frequent the area. Snow Geese have been seen here as well. The back country roads of Confederation Line, London Line, Michigan, etc. can be productive for Snow Buntings, et al, as well as flyovers of Rough Legged Hawk and Short eared Owl. Sandhill Cranes have also been observed in a field out in that direction, but I haven't seen them (yet!) Canatara park is somewhat productive, especially at the beach and the Animal Farm. I have really enjoyed my feeders this year as in past years, and you can see the songbirds there. My favourite spot in all seasons is still Marthaville! It is accessible and even though the ponds are frozen, there are still some songbirds such as Golden crowned kinglets that overwinter. It is a short little loop and the birds are fed so good for feeder species, including an overwintering White throated sparrow.. My patch that is close to home (Kerrigan) has not been accessible for a while as it is not plowed, last year it was very productive, especially for hawks and owls. Hope it opens up soon! This winter has been very overcast and snowy, as my photographs suggest, hoping for more sunshine in February!
The winter is far from over, and so maybe I will be able to see some of the Arctic visitors that I have not yet this year, the Snowy Owl, Northern Shrike, Lapland Longspur and Snow and Ross's Goose, who knows? That is the fun part of birding, nothing is ever a sure thing, and sometimes you get unexpected surprises!
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