Thank you, Anne Marie and Bob for leading us in some tough, winter conditions. Thank you for your expertise in finding and identifying some great birds for us. Thank you for your organization and warm hospitality at your home today. Anne-Marie, take it from an expert on desserts, the 4 kinds of cookies you made us were delicious, and the nice soup you provided was perfect for a cold blustery day.
The wind was about 30 to 50 K and the temperature was -5 C. Visibility at times was limited.
For details on the trip, please read Bob’s comments below.
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Hi Fred,
Here’s a bit of a synopsis of todays birding hike!
The day started out looking like a great birding day…..windy, snowy and cold…..brrrr…as long as the birds were only a few feet away we would surely see them!
Nineteen stalwart birders showed up to see what stalwart birds might show up today to be counted. These birders included: Jim Punnett, Linda Fraser-Waldmann, Judith King, Nora Toth, Judy Duncan, Fred Jazvac, James Turland, Ralph and Mary Ann Knowles, Norma Nanni, Carol Lupton, Margaret Anderton, Carrie and Stephen Cumming, Arlene Richards, Christine McMaster, Lionel Gould, and Bob and Anne-Marie J
The test started early for the birders as they stood at the pier in Southampton in the BRISK wind off Lake Huron and tried to see the birds through the snow flurries. After getting thoroughly cooled off we jumped in the cars and headed off on a short road tour ending up at Pam and Bill Binnendyks where we were treated to a warm house to watch the feeder birds from. An Oregon Junco showed up along with its other Dark-eyed Junco friends as well as several other species.Then it was off to the countryside to see if we could find a Snowy owl among the other birds of the roadside. We did indeed get to see our Snowy as the first one gave us a fly-by on the 12th of Bruce and the others played hard to get out in fields.
On we drove adding to our bird list, eventually viewing several Bald eagles in a tree near the Lake Huron shore before having a social session at Bob and Anne-Marie’s. All refreshed and warmed up we then checked out the new Bald eagle nest that a pair is building on the 6th of Bruce before braving the cold wind off the lake while we tried to check out the water fowl at Baie du Dore. More birds were added to the list and one of the last was a great view of a Little gull as it showed off its dark under wing to the group as it cruised in the breeze.
Considering how the day started out as well as how windy it was this dedicated group of birders managed to see 43 species today while driving through drifted roads and blowing snow. It was a good day for the birders but I still can’t understand how those ducks seem to enjoy diving with the icebergs so much…..BRRRR!!!
Here’s a list of the birds seen today:
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
American Black duck
Mallard
Redhead
Greater Scaup
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Wild Turkey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Herring Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Little Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Snowy Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
Snow Bunting
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow