Waterloo Region Nature Outing to the North Shore of Lake Ontario

 14 December, 2024

Leader: David M. Gascoigne

Members: Miriam Bauman, Betty Brechun, Dave Collins, Mary Collins, Lisa Den Besten, Tina Den Besten, Heather DeYoe, Helen Fowler, Steve Gyorffy, Victoria Ho, Christina Koenig, Elaine La Ronde, Leon Linseman, Greg Michalenko, Roger Suffling, Selwyn Tomkun, Mary Ann Vanden Elzen, Shelley Watters

Guests: Priscilla Bliss, Mary Ann Cassidy, Don DeYoe, Nasreen DeYoe, Ellen Klein, Ruthanne Snider 

     When we left home at 07h:00 it was minus 14.5 degrees C, but the forecast was for improving temperatures and pleasant conditions so we looked forward to a great day's birding. It turned out to be a beautiful day, and other than a little wind here and there, it was classic December delight in Ontario. It was the kind of day to make us rejoice in our good fortune to be living in the north, with an exciting array of birds on our list for the day.

DesJardins Canal, Dundas, ON

     In winter, the target bird at this location is the enigmatic and beautiful Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). Even as we rounded the corner at the canal we saw a sizeable flock of them and our spirits were instantly buoyed. 

     This attractive little duck is a veritable benchmark of enchantment.

     They seemed to favour the company of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis).

     

     You will forgive me if I overload you with pictures, of these charming birds, but Dave Collins was busy with his camera, and the results are too pleasing not to feature here.

     As you will see the males were posturing and displaying, no doubt trying to impress the females, who for the most part seemed decidedly unmoved by the whole performance. Shades of hormonally charged teenaged youth perhaps?

     Okay, just a couple more; that's all, I promise.

     I bet that by now you wish you had been there with us!

     Perhaps this Canada Goose was beating its wings in enthusiastic approval of the choreographic ensemble taking place in front of it.

Photo - Dave Collins

     We walked alongside the canal with birds to see but few pictures to record the moment. 

     At the end of the canal one finds the Urquart Butterfly Garden, always worth a visit to pay homage to a true Canadian hero, and at times very productive for birds, insects and flowers.

     Some were unfamiliar with the story of Fred Urquart and I was delighted to have a chance to tell them.

     Heather has heard it before and was anxious for that perfect shot.

     The garden retained a certain appeal even during the winter when all is brown and lifeless.

     Hoar frost added its own sparkle to the brilliance of the morning.

Grindstone Creek, Hamilton, ON

     Dave worked his magic again almost immediately with this first class shot of a Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa).

     The little bird is barely bigger than a hummingbird, and if you would like a fuller understanding of the way it survives our cold winters see Winter World by Bernd Heinrich, chapter 8, The Kinglet's Feathers.

     I am not sure whether one of our group had dispersed sunflower seed along a rock, or whether other people had done so, but it was a magnet as you might expect.

     Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), both male and female, were happy to partake of the buffet.

     It was no surprise to see a bold little American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) muscle his way onto the table, driving off all competitors.

     Most White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) leave here for the winter months, but there are increasingly more frequent scattered reports of this species remaining in its breeding area. We were delighted to see this one.

    The water was frozen so the anticipated Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) did not materialize at this location, but we all chatted amiably, wandered around, cajoled chickadees to land on our hands, and generally had a good time. 

    We were strung out as we meandered back to our vehicles, but finally we all joined up again and headed to our next stop on this intrepid day of birding.

LaSalle Park and Marina, Burlington, ON

     The wind was keen coming across the bay, but there was too much action on the water for it to matter at all. 

     Large numbers of Canvasbacks (Athya valsinaria) have settled in for the winter and it was a pleasure to see so many of them dozing (and just 'hanging out') in between bouts of feeding.

     A few Ruddy Ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis) were  interspersed with the other waterfowl, none of them positioned well for a photograph, but this female was a little closer than most.

     Overhead, a small squadron of Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) was awe-inspiring to say the least.

     It reminded me that there was a time when the word "awesome" actually meant something. Now an item as trivial as your milkshake is deemed awesome. I understand that language evolves, but at times it degenerates too.

      A few Gadwalls (Mareca strepera) punctuated the flocks of Canada Geese and Canvasbacks, but mostly they were far out, partly hidden by larger birds, or shimmering in bright sunlight - or all of the above.

Dave managed this picture.

     Miriam got this nice shot of a male.

     This is THE place to see American Coot (Fulica americana) in winter and again we call on Dave for a couple of very agreeable shots.

     The ice against the shore was starting to build up, and as long as the weather remains cold it will expand outward into the lake. 

     There were a few Redheads (Ayhtya americana) in among the flocks, sometimes hard to pick out, and Miriam did well to get this picture.

     Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) was present in small numbers and Dave's camera captured this handsome male against the seawall.

     A Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) cruised overhead.

Photo - Dave Collins

     There were other species out on the water, too far for photography, but certainly stimulating much discussion about waterfowl. 

     Lisa and I were focused on a duck that looked ostensibly like a Redhead, but there were aspects of it that were not "right." Later we learned that an odd hybrid believed to be a cross between a Redhead and a Canvasback had been seen earlier in the week. We suspect this is the bird we saw.

     It was time for lunch. Even though in cold weather we often eat outdoors, the wind was a little too biting to entertain that possibility and we ate in the car. Betty Brechun had carpooled with us and she brought delicious homemade ginger cookies, and dispensed them liberally. I will insist that she ride with us forever more!

     Just to prove that we never grow up, nor should we, the inner child was in full operative mode as the sheer delight of feeding wild birds was irresistible. No comment is required.

     The feathers of this Canada Goose are frayed and worn. Spring moult will be a welcome event.

     How about a closeup?

     A pair of American Black Ducks (Anas rubipres) swam daintily just offshore.

     It is hard not to be continually impressed by the sheer majesty of a Trumpeter Swan.

     As we walked along Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) skittered in front of us.

     A female Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) is perhaps ready for a visit to the salon!

     The predominant gull was far and away Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) but we did see a couple of American Herring Gulls (Larus smithsonianus) too.

     Although the temperature overall was quite pleasant, the wind remained cruel and a head tucked under the wing seemed like a sensible thing to do.

     Just as we were leaving an adult Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucephalus) soared overhead and Miriam quickly hopped out of the car and managed to get a picture.

Paletta Park, Burlington, ON

     This is always a popular spot, especially for the ladies, for there are warm, comfortable, fully-supplied washrooms - highly desirable on a cold, windy winter's day when using Nature's Bathroom is distinctly unappealing.

     There was not much to see from a birding perspective, but we were happy to be welcomed by an American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos).

     A Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) was at the water's edge.

     There were large rafts of ducks way out across the lake, too far to identify them, let alone take pictures.

     Ice has a unique beauty all its own, sometimes harsh, but never dull.

     A Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) entertained us for a while; in fact, it was the only woodpecker of the day.

Bronte Harbour, Oakville, ON

     

     Canada Geese were resting on the ice.

     Miriam's eye was drawn to this grate and felt compelled to take a picture.

     I am glad she did. It's intricate for a utilitarian object, isn't it?

     The most exciting moment of the day, perhaps of the whole year, was the discovery of an Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus) on the harbour side of the breakwater.

     I think it was Tina who first spotted it, and we had but a minute at the most before it dived and did not reappear. I suspect it may have moved out into the open water of Lake Ontario. It dives efficiently and can travel some distance underwater. 

     This diminutive auk (family Alcidae) is a pelagic species normally found off the west coast of North America, through the Aleutian chain to eastern Siberia. It is an incredible rarity on the Great Lakes. How it found its way here is anyone's guess.

     Ironically, I have only seen this species once before, in Welland, ON about thirty years ago. I have taken pelagic trips from the west coast and have scanned the ocean off Vancouver Island, but Ancient Murrelet has eluded me in the places where one might expect to find it.

     There is no reference in the literature, at least none that I can find, that indicates that this species exhibits a proclivity for overland migration to large bodies of freshwater, so I am unable to offer any rational explanation for its presence here.

     It was an incredibly satisfying discovery and one that left us all elated.

     A female Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) seemed very pedestrian by contrast!

     We were delighted to discover a Common Loon (Gavia immer), not unheard of on Lake Ontario in winter, but far from common.

     Don and Nasreen, upon first meeting before we all carpooled to set off, expressed the desire to see Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis). We had not seen this species at any of our other likely spots, so we were delighted when we were able to satisfy their wishes.

Long-tailed Duck ♂

Long-tailed Duck ♀

     Common Mergansers and Mallards favoured a sheltered area between the outer breakwater and the harbour.

     A few Double-crested Cormorants (Nannopterum auritum) tough it out on Lake Ontario, plentiful food no doubt being a factor in their decision not to migrate.

     A striking male Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) was very pleasing.

     It was time to bid everyone farewell. It been a fine day of birding indeed, punctuated emphatically by the Ancient Murrelet.

     Thanks to everyone who joined us to contribute to the common joy of naturalists doing what they do best.

     Christina had hitched a ride with us from Waterloo and when we dropped her off Miriam noticed the commanding presence of the moon.

     Upon doing a little research we discovered that this moon appears full on 14, 15 and 16 December. It is quite unusual and was referred to by the Mohawks as the Cold Moon, since it marks the days when the weather is getting colder. It is also referred to as the Christmas Moon or the Long Night Moon.

     It seemed like an auspicious end to a wonderful day.

References:

Auks: An Ornithologists Guide, Ron Freethy, Facts on File, Inc. (1987)

The Auks, Anthony J. Gaston and Ian L. Jones, Oxford University Press (1998)