Tuesday Rambles with David - Lake Ontario Waterfowl

06 February 2018

     Franc and Carol are still in Arizona, but other than that, for the first time in a few weeks the remaining six of our regular Tuesday group were all available for our outing. 

     This is the peak time of the year for large numbers of waterfowl wintering on Lake Ontario, so we decided to visit the Hamilton area where there are large concentrations of a wide range of species, and several good vantage points to permit excellent viewing.

     As might be expected in early February the shore of the lake was characterized by numerous ice formations.

       There was an abundance of ducks on the water but they were unusually far out and not anywhere near close enough for decent photographs. We may not have gotten pictures, but we certainly enjoyed the opportunity to observe so many species, especially the diving ducks that inhabit the lake only during the coldest months of the year, having a rich food resource in the form of Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), the scourge of the Great Lakes.
     Francine and Jim arrived a little ahead of the rest of us and Francine was able to capture a couple of Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis).

     As we moved along the lake we stopped at various spots to scan the water and were rewarded with a sighting of two Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus), alas far, far out resting on the surface, and beyond the reach of our cameras.

     We eventually wound up at LaSalle Park and Marina in Burlington where, as might be expected, most species were much closer to shore, well within photographic range.

     There were many Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) and a few males were seen already starting their courtship displays.

     I can't think of anywhere that beats LaSalle for close up views of Greater Scaup (Aythya marila). Many birders, especially novices, have a difficult time differentiating Great Scaup from the very similar Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) so any chance for detailed inspection is welcomed.

Greater Scaup - male

Greater Scaup - female

   The signature species at LaSalle is the Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) and even though we have literally hundreds of pictures of this magnificent bird it is hard to resist taking more.

     Many young birds were present and it appears that it was a productive year for Trumpeter Swan.

     As you can see the ladies of our merry band of birders enjoyed being with these swans.

     I guess they forgot to read the memo about this being a serious ornithological venture and they just opted for frivolity and sheer enjoyment!

     Under most conditions when encountering Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) it is the largest bird around, but when seen alongside a Trumpeter Swan it doesn't seem so big anymore.

     Canada Goose is much maligned by people who resent their droppings, despite the fact that it is us who have encouraged them to abandon their normal migratory patterns by providing veritable smorgasbords of food for them (a golf course must be a high class restaurant for a Canada Goose), but I always enjoy this handsome, intelligent species.

     Surely the most underrated duck of all is Mallard (Anas platyrynchos). I don't know whether familiarity breeds contempt in this case, but it sure breeds indifference. If this species were rare we would all be enthralled by its sheer beauty.

     A flock of Redheads (Aythya americana) is far more likely to draw our attention.

     And a male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) will throw us into raptures (especially Francine).

     We saw a few Red-breasted Mergansers (Mergus serrator) but as best I can remember they were all females.

     A pair of Gadwall ( Anas strepera) looked positively dignified in their muted garb; fittingly it seemed, they kept to themselves.

     We saw many scoters of all three species found on Lake Ontario, but these birds never did come in close and this single photograph of a female Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) was all that Miriam was able to get.

     We went for a walk along the woodland trail.

     The walk was very productive with delightful species such as Brown Creeper (Certhia americana), Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) and Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). Mary found all three of these birds and was our Hawkeye Spotter of the day. If she keeps this up it may be Tuesday Meanders with Mary instead of Tuesday Rambles with David!

     A very large nest of paper wasp (Polistinae sp.) attracted the attention of a Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), leading me to wonder whether there were any vestiges of larval protein to be gleaned.

     As always it was a great walk filled with birds, laughter, friendship of the best kind, and we are all looking forward to the next adventure together.  

All species: Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Trumpeter Swan, Wood Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, American Black Duck, Canvasback, Redhead, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, American Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, American Kestrel, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Sparrow, Red Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, American Tree Sparrow, Northern Cardinal.   Total: 40

A Foggy, Foggy Day

22 January 2017

     It was a bit of a spur of the moment decision for Miriam and me to go down to Lake Ontario to check out its bird life. As we left it was a little foggy, and the farther we drove the foggier it got, and at some point we could not have been faulted had we turned around and returned home. But we hung in and were glad that we did, for although the weather was far from perfect, with not a ray of sunshine the whole day, we had a very enjoyable day of birding.

     It was impossible to photograph most species due to the poor light, especially small passerines, so this post relies heavily on waterbirds of one kind or another.

     Our first stop was at the DesJardins Canal in Dundas, ON where we were surprised to see four Double-crested Cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus. Given that cormorants do not have waterproof feathers and have to dry them after each feeding session underwater, a day with air so heavily moisture-laden must present difficulties for this species.

     Gulls, of course, have no such problems and there were many Ring-billed Gulls Larus delawarensis and several American Herring Gulls Larus smithsonianus, impervious to the gloom and murk of this unseasonably warm January. The following individual maintained its position as we walked by permitting a fairly decent picture under the circumstances.

     We left the DesJardins Canal and made for LaSalle Park and Marina, our principal destination for the day, where a wide variety of species is pretty much assured. Upon arrival, we stayed in the car for a while to eat our lunch, and a large raft of Greater Scaup Aytha marila swam into the small boat launch area in front of us. To capture some of our pictures we merely had to put the car window down.

Greater Scaup - male

Greater Scaup - female

     They were feeding on the endless supply of Zebra Mussels Dreissena polymorpha and were joined by a few Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula who wasted no time in joining in the feast.

Common Goldeneye - male

Common Goldeneye - female

     White-winged Scoters Melanitta fusca were also present but tended to stay out in the bay.

     It was interesting to say the least to see the incredible amount of work the American Beavers Castor canadensis had been doing. Many of the trees that still remain along the shore have now been encased in a metal mesh to prevent further loss.

     American Black Duck Anas rubipres can usually be located at LaSalle and true to form we observed several of them.

     Many Redheads Aytha americana were present but far offshore, but these two Canvasbacks Athya valsineria were snoozing close to shore.

     The only Common Merganser Mergus merganser we saw was this female.

      The surprise of the day, and a singular delight to be sure, was to spot a Great Northern Loon Gavia immer, quite far off and enveloped in mist and spray, but identifiable by its distinctive shape and posture, and by the characteristic fashion in which it launches into its dive.

     By now, Miriam was eagerly looking forward to a hot coffee so we drove into Burlington to get one. Right across from the Tim Horton's Restaurant where we got our coffee a stretch of the Waterfront Trail goes through town and we parked and explored a little. This was a new location for us and we were very happy that we decided to check it out.

     The first thing to greet us was a large raft of Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis , numbering at least a hundred birds.

     A few Surf Scoters Melanitta perspicillata were diving for food among the far more numerous White-winged Scoters.

     We had not seen a Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis at all at LaSalle and were very happy to have many close at hand in the water close to the trail. In a family of birds noted for stunning plumage, this species is surely one of the most attractive, and to hear a group of them chattering to each other is magical indeed.

     Our parking ticket was about to expire and we left for home feeling well satisfied with an excellent day of birding. I guess the moral of the story is "Never let the weather put you off!"

White-winged Scoter (Macreuse brune) and Others

Lake Ontario

7 December 2014

     Today Miriam needed to go to Carlisle and Burlington, so, since it was a fine sunny day, I decided to go along with her and we did a little birding afterwards.

     Our principal quest was for scoters which by now are starting to populate Lake Ontario, as they do each winter. We were successful in finding two species, White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca and Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata; Black Scoter Melanitta nigra eluded us, if indeed it was present. It is at all times the most difficult to locate and appears in much small numbers than the other two species.

     There are huge rafts of ducks on Lake Ontario at this time of year, some quite monumental, and today we were treated to some of these large aggregations of diving ducks. Unfortunately, they were quite far out, certainly not what one would consider within good camera range. However, when dealing with nature you cannot control the subject, and we worked with what we had.

     Scoters are among the most enigmatic of ducks, in my opinion, with their outlandish bills, as can be seen in the following pictures of a Surf Scoter which came a little closer to shore than his chums.

      The following picture will give you an idea of the variety of ducks to be found in these large concentrations and you can see Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula, Greater Scaup Aythya marila, Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis, and, up at the top left corner, a Surf Scoter.

     This picture shows male and female Greater Scaup, of which there were at least a thousand present at this location alone.

     Again I present a Surf Scoter, this time keeping company with Common Goldeneye.

      These ducks are constantly diving and rarely seem to come up without a mussel in their bill. It certainly attests to the rich feeding ground that Lake Ontario provides for these species which will spend the entire winter on the safety of its waters.

      At the Canada Centre for Inland Waters several Trumpeter Swans Cygnus buccinator were present, some with young.

     Observe the size difference between the Trumpeter Swan and a male Bufflehead Bucephala albeola.

     At least four American Black Ducks Anas rubripes were spotted, although it looks as though the top bird in this picture may be a hybrid Black Duck/Mallard.

     When we left the Canada Centre for Inland Waters we had to wait in a long line of traffic because the bridge was raised to let a lake freighter pass from the open expanse of Lake Ontario into Burlington Bay.

     It was a great couple of hours of birding. Perhaps next time that elusive Black Scoter will be top of the list.