Tuesday Rambles with David - DesJardins Canal and North Shore of Lake Ontario

14 January 2020

     The day started oh so well.

     Judy and Mary arrived to carpool with us, and Judy produced a bag of six of her unrivalled cinnamon buns. The entire world should be permitted to taste these treats, unencumbered as they are by sticky, gooey over-sweet icing. She had brought them for us to eat at home, but in short order the combined appetites of Mary, Miriam and I, were doing justice to three of them - and still there were three remaining to leave in the house for later. I am seriously contemplating making this a condition for Judy to join our Tuesday walks. I will grovel if need be, prostrate myself - whatever it takes to have her bring more! As the world might note to its advantage, Judy has fine buns!

     Winter in Ontario has thus far been an up and down affair, with a few classic cold, snowy days, but more than a fair share of grey, sullen days with mist and fog, the temperature soaring well above freezing. Today was such a day, but we were not to be deterred. After all, we can't change the weather so the only solution is to make the best of it.

     I was fortunate to have the company of three attractive, intelligent women and the journey to our first stop in Dundas was over in no time at all. 

The DesJardins Canal

     The canal was remarkably devoid of birds. There were lots of Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) and Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) and really not much of anything else.

     Miriam spotted this twig looking remarkably like a bird and we had fun debating what it most closely resembled.

     The conditions were hardly ideal for photography.

     Over time this area has been converted from a grimy industrial no man's land to an attractive urban oasis, with careful planning and excellent results. This shelter is quite new.

     We cast a farewell glance along the canal before returning to the car to leave for LaSalle Park and Marina in Burlington.

All species at DesJardins Canal: Canada Goose, Mallard, Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch. 

LaSalle Park and Marina

     I have visited LaSalle for many, many years, and it has become one of my favourite spots in southern Ontario. This is a place where it is hard to have a bad day.

      It was murky! A little sun was trying to break through but that's about as lucky as we got. 

     There were many ducks out on the bay, but the combination of distance and poor light made picture-taking a challenge.

    Mallards were very common, as is always the case, joined by a Redhead (Aythya americana) in the picture below.

     Large flocks of Canvasbacks Aythya valisineria) floated on the waves much farther out. The lake was quite choppy as you will note.

     A Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbulus) nest being tossed around in a leafless tree brought back memories of last spring and reminded us that those joys await us again soon. We visualized that flash of orange and black in our mind's eye!

     This female Mallard was extremely interesting, and quite beautiful I might add, and seems to be exhibiting a good degree of leucism.

     Some of the Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) appear to have been foraging in areas where there is a considerable level of ferrous content in the soil or mud.

     In the past many of you have voiced your disapproval of the large yellow wing tags used to identify these swans, and I share your view that they are not especially attractive, but I am assured that they are effective and do not impede the bird.

     Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) are not fitted with similar adornments.

     For the most part the birds seemed to get along well together.

     But what would a day on the lake be without a quarrel or two?

     A handsome male House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) seemed to prefer his own company.

     For as long as I can remember LaSalle Park has been a reliable location for American Black Duck (Anas rubipres) and a dozen or so were present today.

     We had a quick conference and decided that we would venture a little farther than we normally do and journey on into Toronto to Colonel Samuel Smith Park. We ate our lunches in the car and headed east along the lake shore.

All species at LaSalle Park and Marina: Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Trumpeter Swan, Mallard, American Black Duck, Canvasback, Redhead, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, House Sparrow, Northern Cardinal. 

Sioux Lookout Park, Burlington, ON

     This was just a quick stop to scan the lake for Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis) and we did see a few individuals. Once again the birds were far out and there were whitecaps on the waves. No other ducks of any kind were observed.

Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Toronto, ON

     We made good time and it was an entertaining ride, especially for Judy. She knew little of the history of the various hamlets, villages and settlements that have been amalgamated into larger municipalities and cities along Lake Ontario and I was able to give her a bit of background into all of this, which she found very interesting.
     Almost as soon as we began our walk through the park we saw evidence of recent activity by American Beaver (Castor canadensis) anywhere that suitable trees were located.

     I would imagine that their winter storage is well provisioned!
    Lake Ontario was very rough and waves crashed against the shore.

     Gadwall (Mareca strepera) are usually numerous in this corner of the lake, but I suspect that the wind and waves had driven them to more tranquil and sheltered inland ponds which is where we found them.

     A Canada Goose occupied a fine perch.

     Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is a supremely attractive little duck but can be very difficult to photograph. It seems that no sooner are you focused on them than they dive out of sight. Miriam did well to get these images of a male and a pair.

     If you are like me you are always curious about the origin of birds' names, but a Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) tells the story at a glance.

     Long-tailed Ducks could be seen far out, but in nowhere near the numbers we have come to expect at this time of the year. A shot of this female is all that we managed.

     Red-breasted Mergansers (Mergus serrator) were also riding on the turbulent water and once again a distant shot of a female was the best we could obtain.

     Mute Swans were abundant at the marina, and judging from their response to humans walking by, I suspect that they are accustomed to people feeding them.

     It will not be long before this juvenile acquires the pristine white plumage of an adult bird.

All species at Colonel Samuel Smith Park: Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Ring-billed Gull, Black-capped Chickadee

Lakeshore Promenade Park

     By the time we arrived at this location, our final stop for the day, the conditions had ameliorated somewhat, especially in terms of the light, so decent photographs became more of a possibility.
     We saw more gulls in one spot than we had observed all day.

     Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) was the most numerous species, but American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) was also present, and a lone Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) is visible in the pictures below.

     It is easy to also pick out Herring Gulls in the above picture, and Ring-bills of course, and the size ranking is quite apparent - Great Black-backed Gull is the largest (it is in fact the world's biggest gull), followed by American Herring Gull, with Ring-billed Gull being the smallest of this trio.
     But in terms of sheer numbers Ring-billed Gull won the day.

     Can anyone who takes the time to really look at this bird fail to be impressed?
     Mallards were not reticent about paying a visit to creatures on two legs, hoping for a handout I am sure.

     Redheads were closer to shore than they had been at LaSalle Park.

     And so were Greater Scaup (Aythya marila).    

     What message do we take from this day, a day filled with the enjoyment of birds, the pleasure of nature, the richness of a shared experience with good friends? Whatever the weather there is fun to be had outdoors and knowledge to be gained. Don't close your door and stay at home. The world is out there waiting to be explored and each of us has only so many days to do it.

All species at Lakefront Promenade: Mute Swan, Gadwall, Mallard, Redhead, Greater Scaup. Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull.