Long Point and Columbia Lake

24 April 2021

Long Point, Norfolk County, ON

     We decided that a visit to Long Point was in the cards, so armed with lunch we left for a day at Lake Erie. The weather was passable and we agreed it would be good to get away for a change of scenery.

     The last time we went to Long Point we noticed a property with many Purple Martin (Progne subis) houses in readiness for the return of the birds, and it was good to see that serious attention was now being paid to the accommodation on offer.

     If I am not mistaken all rooms are heir conditioned!

     In Port Rowan harbour there were many Bonaparte's Gulls (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) patrolling close to shore and dropping to the water to snatch fish.

     We spent much of our time along the causeway, where Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) was easily found.

     Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) seemed to be everywhere, and Miriam astutely noticed this pair when one obliging bird gave another a boost in order to see a little farther!

     No doubt the view was appealing because no sooner had the upper bird dismounted he jumped back up for a second look!

     Ah, those Killdeers!

     I am used to seeing Killdeers feed in typical plover fashion, running along and stopping to pick up prey located visually, but this individual seems to have found a choice morsel in the water.

     Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) is a handsome duck, and as the genus name implies, is equipped with a bill reminiscent of a shoveler.

     Agreeably, several pairs were dabbling quite close to shore.

     We concluded that the area must have been especially conducive to filter feeding, for several Northern Shovelers (Spatula clypeata) were present alongside the Blue-winged Teal.

     Males seemed to outnumber females by a wide margin.

     A Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) was busy feeding alongside the ducks.

     A case could be made that a male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) is a candidate for the title, "World's Most Handsome Duck". No doubt some might dispute that claim, but it would certainly rank in the top five, I would think.

     We found a very agreeable spot to park and have our lunch, looking out over a marsh.

     Way off in the distance a couple of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) were scanning the lake. It's not a great picture, but it was a long way off.

     Earlier we had seen a lone Lesser Yellowlegs, but while we ate lunch, several birds in a feeding frenzy, dashing here and there, and sieving through the water, entertained us royally.

     No trip to Long Point is complete without a visit to the Long Point Bird Observatory at Old Cut, especially during spring migration, but COVID once again exerted its evil influence.

     We had to be content with a walk down to the shore to gaze out over Lake Erie.

     It was all in all a very pleasant day.

27 April 2021

Columbia Lake, Waterloo, ON

     Our local waterways seemed to be universally bereft of gulls this year and not a single one was seen at Columbia Lake. I am not sure why this should be, but the sighting of a gull is getting to be a surprise. 

     A Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) probed the shallows for food.

     Tawny Cotton-grass (Eriophorum virginicum) looked especially attractive.

     It is also known as Bog Cotton, quite a lovely name, really.

     Common Reed (Phragmites australis) is elegant and beautiful, but highly invasive, and damaging to native vegetation in a wetland.

     Once established it is extremely difficult to eradicate.

     The star of the show was a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) at the pinnacle of its breeding plumage, and looking very handsome indeed.

     With great patience it stalked its prey.

     Is this not a study in concentration?

     With one lightening jab, we knew that fish was on the menu.

     After downing the fish in one swallow, the heron gave its plumage a good shake before flying off a couple of hundred metres along the shore to try its luck there.

     We are now into peak spring migration so we will have to see what we can bring you next time, even though we will be unable to visit some of the best hot spots - like the Long Point Observatory, they are all closed!

Another Wetland Episode

Laurentian Wetland

28 October 2014

     Although very mild for the time of year the day was wet with some heavy rain, a little drizzle and a few sunny intervals. Drawn as I am to wetlands, I decided once again to see what I could find.

     My visit to Laurentian Wetland was very satisfactory. For the most part the rain held off, although the sky was grey and overcast most of the time. Several species of duck have recently arrived and a careful search turned up a great variety of waterfowl.

     I think that Northern Pintail Anas acuta is one of the most elegant of all ducks, and I was happy to see a pair feeding together. Given the distance from the shore and the poor light the images are not great, but they serve as a record of the presence of this species on this date.

Bottoms up!

     Canada Goose Branta canadensis is resident all year at the wetland unless there is a total freeze up, when out of necessity they have to move elsewhere. In historical times this species was entirely migratory, but now whole generations accustomed to the easy life around humans, have lost the urge to migrate and spend the winter here. It is an extremely common species, very adaptable and highly successful and little attention is paid to it, other than for people who revile it, principally due to the problem caused by its droppings. It is, in fact a handsome bird indeed, and worthy of our admiration.

     Mallards, Anas platyrynchos continue to delight me, and I never tire of their stunning beauty. Often found in the company of Canada Geese, these two species share in the ignominious distinction of being almost totally ignored.

     I saw but one Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus as this male streamed by way off in the distance.

     Several pairs of American Wigeon Anas americana were present, this pair getting along amicably with Canada Geese.

    

      As might be expected Great Blue Herons Ardea herodias dotted the shallows, and this hardy species will stay until the water freezes over, when it will migrate south. 

     Northern Shovelers Anas clypeata were particularly hard to photograph and spent most of their time upended in the water. They were also distant and in poor light.

     American Robins Turdus migratorius were feeding on berries, and it seemed serendipitous that this one, as was the case yesterday, came to bid me farewell.

Least Bittern (Petit Blongios) in Toronto

Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis

Colonel Samuel Smith Park

Toronto, ON

21 September 2014

     Given its tiny stature and its ability to disappear into a wetland without a trace, any sighting of a Least Bittern is a rare and special event. Thus it was that this individual provided an enormous amount of pleasure when viewed for about ten minutes feeding at the edge of a reed bed.

     The bird measures a mere 28 - 36 cm from the tip of its toes to the end of its bill so you can well imagine that the body area is quite small, about the size of a Common Starling in fact. Its large feet are well adapted to life in dense shoreline vegetation.

     This individual (probably a female) appeared to be feeding primarily on small fish but I was never quick enough to snap a picture as it captured its prey. Many Bluets (sp. ?) were dancing above the water and mating and these too seemed to attract the attention of the bittern.

     This was my first sighting of Least Bittern in Ontario in many years.

     

     There was much else to be seen and Red-necked Grebes Podiceps grisegena seemed to have had a successful breeding season.

     These snails had worked their way up to the top of a seeding plant that obviously held some attraction for them.

     Three wing-tagged Trumpeter Swans Olor buccinator had recently arrived from their northern breeding area and were seen swimming together on Lake Ontario.

     A Green Heron Butorides virescens was stalking prey and a nearby Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias seemed oblivious to everything going on around it.

     Several Northern Shovelers Anas clypeata seem to have recently arrived from the north and doubtless it will not be long before many other waterfowl species arrive also. This female was accompanied by several males in eclipse plumage.

     As noted on earlier posts Monarchs seem to have done at least somewhat better than in recent years and there was no shortage of this species in floral meadows.