Waterloo Region Nature Outing to Long Point, Norfolk County, ON

      It is getting hard to remember a time when COVID didn't affect almost every decision we make. In the wake of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant new provincial restrictions on assembly have been imposed on a weary populace, and there is now a limit of ten people on an outdoor gathering.

     At the last moment one participant's family contracted COVID and another had difficulty getting a caregiver for a younger family member, so we were eight that made a visit to the the Long Point area, along the northern shore of lake Erie.

     It was a cold day, but suitably dressed, we sallied forth in high spirits and with great expectations. 

     Once again, we proved the point that you can clothe yourself properly and deal with cold, yet oppressive heat is impossible to escape, especially when accompanied by high humidity.

     And by midday the temperature soared to a heady minus 9.5 degrees! No one had to worry about the mayo on a sandwich curdling in the hot sun!

     

Leader: David M. Gascoigne

Members: Miriam Bauman, Lisa Den Besten, Tina Den Besten, Bob Fraser, Angie Koch, Wendy Shaw, Zach Summerhayes.

Angie, Bob, David, Tina, Lisa, Wendy, Zach

  

   On the way down to Port Rowan, just outside the town in fact, we spotted a field with hundreds of Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) and stopped to get a scope trained on them.

     The bugling call of the cranes is as thrilling as seeing them; it is for me as evocative as the call of a loon on a northern lake. It denotes the spirit of wildness that we all cherish so much.

     There were several small flocks of swans too, almost certainly Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianius), stragglers who failed to migrate south along with their congeners in the fall. 

     While we were watching this spectacle Tina who had driven up from London to take part in the outing caught up with us. At the same time, ironically, we were talking to her sister, Lisa, who had driven directly to Port Rowan from Waterloo, and was giving us information on the thrills that awaited us there.

     At this stage, I should add a word about the pictures on this post. Either the camera was being temperamental, or the lighting was not perfect, but they are not of Miriam's normal high standard. 

     Enjoy them as they are, and relive the experience with us.

     We were all impressed with the number of cranes before us, none more than Wendy; little did we know that before the day was out we would have seen by our most conservative estimate 2,000 or so, and would repeatedly congratulate ourselves on our good fortune. 

     The other amazing aspect of the day was the sheer number of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). An immature bird was close at hand when we joined Lisa at Port Rowan, and several others were perched farther out.

      It is difficult to get an exact count since the birds move around, but I am quite confident that by the end of the day we had seen around fifteen different individuals.

     Once in a while, it's good to render homage to some of the people who come on my walks and make them so enjoyable. No one who has not been so featured should feel slighted, and spotlighting some does not in any way detract from others.

     Lisa had not been on any of my outings until earlier this year, but has been a devoted regular since. Recently on the foray down to the north shore of Lake Ontario we were joined by her sister, Tina, and what a fabulous addition to our group they have made.

     Not only are they knowledgeable, competent birders, they portray the very essence of good spirits and cooperate fully with every other participant, and demonstrate an absolute affirmation of sisterhood.

     They are sisters by birth, but good friends by choice. It is a pleasure to be around them.

     Given the recent spell of cold weather, Lake Erie was pretty much frozen over, so we were unable to enjoy the normal range of waterfowl we would expect at this time of the year.

     Several Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) huddled with Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) in a sliver of open water.

     There were a few Redheads (Aythya americana) and Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) but at too great a distance to get a picture. Lisa also saw a Canvasback (Aythya valsineria) or two. 

     The pond at Birds Canada was frozen, but at times an Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) occupies the Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) box - but not today!

     Sandhill Cranes were flying all around us.

     I thought that the weedy fields leading from the back of Birds Canada headquarters down to the lake would yield Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) and American Tree Sparrows (Spizelloides arborea) but there was nary a one. 

     A nest, the site of so much activity mere months ago, looked forlorn on a wintry day.

     Several Bald Eagles put on a show for us, with four occupying the same tree at one point.

     The bird on the left will soon sport the plumage of an adult bird, with emblematic white head and tail.

     I suspect that this male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was feeding well on juniper berries.

     We drove along Lakeshore Road to Lee Brown Waterfowl Area. I knew that the water would be frozen, but for some members of our group it was their first time at Long Point and I wanted to show them where to come in the spring.

     Sandhill Cranes were our constant companions.

     There were many Canada Geese finding food in the corn stubble too.

     It was quite remarkable that we hardly ever out of sight of cranes, with very substantial flocks at times.

     Bob remarked that at times they were so close you could observe the detail on their feet!

     What a privilege to spend time with these birds.

     We picked a handy spot for lunch surrounded by cranes, with a Bald Eagle nest off in the distance.

     Just as we finished lunch an enormous flock of Canada Geese flew into the fields, their honking almost deafening. Between the cranes and the geese we were witness to a great natural spectacle.

     Our drive along the causeway was not particularly productive due to the simple fact that there was very little open water.

     A Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) seemed intent on playing a game of chicken as it wandered into the road. 

     We were pulled off to the side, and it decided to go under my car. Zach acted as traffic warden and we finally coaxed it away from the traffic.

     A female Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) was coursing over the marsh in classic hunting mode, a particular delight for Angie for whom it was a lifer. 

     A small number of female Common Goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) were feeding where open water permitted.

     Most of the wide expanse of Lake Erie was icebound and hostile.

     Bald Eagles were stationed here and there, no doubt searching for a fish in open water, or a vulnerable, inattentive duck.

     At the Old Cut field station, headquarters of the Long Point Bird Observatory, the feeders had been filled and there was quite a bit of activity.

     This female Northern Cardinal had no doubt been banded earlier in the season.

     Dark-eyed Juncos darted under the feeders to snag seed falling from above, all the while perching patiently awaiting their turn.

     A couple of Red-breasted Nuthatches (Sitta canadensis) maintained a regular shuttle to and from the feeders.

     A few Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) are eschewing migration and opting to face the winter here.

     There have been many creative ways for organizations to alert people to social distancing requirements, and this sign is fitting for a bird observatory.

     A group of American Tree Sparrows had located a fertile feeding spot.

     The woodlot was silent for the most part, although we did hear several Golden-crowned Kinglets (Regulus satrapa) and a few of us had a brief, but unimpeded view of a Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus).

     A walk down to the entrance to the provincial park yielded little in the way of birds, but I enjoyed a great chat with Wendy,

     

     The park is closed due to COVID, so there will be no winter camping in there for a while yet.

     It was time to head for home, well satisfied with a great day of birding, despite the absence of waterfowl. 

     Let's do it again soon!