March 25, 2025
Birding Report by Jane Burgess
We met up with Eleanor at Elmvale
Acres and as we were driving out of the shopping centre I received a
call from Ann G wondering where we were. We met up with Ann G and Guy
at Anderson and Russell Road. She had her scope up and announced 2
Greater White-fronted Geese. I love it when I get to a birding spot and
the work is done for me. Eleanor put up her scope to check out the
area and she found a 3rd GWFG. Beauty. Meanwhile I went to text Alan
and Carole, who were waiting for us on Milton Rd, about the GWFG. I
returned and they had also found Mallard, Northern Pintail, Wood Duck
and our 1st shorebird of the season Killdeer. Eleanor, will you report
the GWFG, her response was you have DISCORD, so I ended up reporting on
DISCORD while Eleanor reported on ebird.
We
drove to Milton Road where of course we saw thousands of Canada Geese,
and Alan and Carole had located 4 Tundra Swan. While we were driving
off, I saw a large bird with flat wings - Bald Eagle - as it flew over
the Canada Geese, they all flew skyward.
We
drove down Pereault in hopes of seeing Eastern Meadowlark. Nope we did
not see them. But while we were stopped the 3 Belgian horses came over
to see what we were doing. Ann, Guy and Barbara went over to say hello
and to pet them. We heard bird sounds but decided the song was
coming from European Starling..
At Giroux
pond, we were not impressed with what they have done with the pond
there. I am not at all sure if they are filling it in or just what.
Where there used to be a spit where we would see shorebirds and
waterfowl, is just no more. Progress, NOT. Further down the road we
saw a good sized flock of Wild Turkeys.
On
Dunning we saw a male Northern Harrier, then we saw another one shortly
thereafter. Ann and Guy did not see either of them but they saw a
female Northern Harrier later.
We saw a
medium sized flock of Snow Geese, a lifer for Guy. We made our way to
Cobb Creek where we saw a flock of about 8000 Snow Geese. I just love
it when they raise us and churn about and then light again. This is
what I enjoy so much and it is a truly amazing sight to see. So for a
lifer for Guy he saw at least 9000 Snow Geese, not bad. Along with the
Snow Geese there were Ring-necked Ducks and Northern Pintails.
We
decided we would go to St Isidore, on the way we stopped to see our
first Eastern Meadowlark of the season. Spotting a Meadowlark is easy,
if it is flying, watch for white outer tail feathers and listen to their
beautiful song -- spring of the yeeear. While approaching the lagoon
more Snow Geese were seen in the sky. There was really nothing at the
lagoon.
On the way to Lafleche Road we saw
Turkey Vultures and some Horned Larks. There is a sod farm there, but
today it looked like it was a peat moss farm. Disturbing. At this
point Ann and Guy left us. We proceeded to the Moose Creek Lagoon for
lunch. The lagoon was still frozen but there were many Canada Geese
flying in, After lunch we decided to head home, nothing at Crysler and
at the Embrun Lagoons just Canada Geese.
Last bird to be seen was a Black-capped Chickadee at the feeder at my place.
The
weather was cold. I had checked the forecast and it indicated the
temperature would be 1 degree with the windchill factor -3, clearly
wrong, it was much colder. Like we were back to a cold day in the
winter. I am still shivering and I got home 3 hours ago. But we did
see 28 species. Snow Geese, Killdeer, Great White-fronted Geese,
Meadowlark, Northern Harrier -- life is good.
We saw no critters today.
Species Noted
- American Robin
- Canada Goose
- Ring-billed Gull
- Rock Pigeon
- House Sparrow
- American Crow
- Greater White-fronted Goose
- Mallard
- Wood Duck
- Northern Pintail
- Killdeer
- Tundra Swan
- Red-winged Black Bird
- Blue Jay
- Song Sparrow
- Bald Eagle
- Wild Turkey
- Mourning Dove
- Northern Harrier
- European Starling
- American Tree Sparrow
- Common Grackle
- Snow Geese
- Ring-neck Duck
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Turkey Vulture
- Horned Larks
- Black-capped Chickadee
