Birding at Long Point

Fabulous neon sunset. Taken through the window as it was too cold to go outside.

 Rick and I spent a morning working in the garden. He spent the time digging up hundreds of huge weeds that had grown rapidly on the bank after it was re-landscaped last year. They were like nothing I had ever seen before and although we probably didn't get them all, we got most. It was very odd as they had not grown on either of the neighbouring properties. Rick suggested they were something left over from prior to the iceage and they had come to light because of the bulldozing. Anyway I think that eradicating them will be an ongoing spring chore. We rewarded ourselves by driving to Long Point for a walk and photography.

As we crossed on to the causeway there were 4 juvenile bald Eagles in a tree. Rick may have got a better shot in which case I will post it later.

We had planned to walk the trail in the marsh, west of the causeway, but it was barricaded. Partly I think because they are remaking some of the path and partly because the Canada Geese are nesting on the rest.

So instead we parked at the start of Hastings and walked west, with the lake lapping gently on one side and the marsh alive with birds on the other. Northern Shoveler.

Mute Swan.

Blue Winged Teal pair.

There were a few Tree Swallows swooping about. Not the masses that will be here soon but the advanced guard.

A Bufflehead pair.

The turtles were out enjoying the sun, as were the snakes but I have no photos of those. I just had enough time to say "OH" before they slithered away, hiding back under the dead leaves.

These yellow flowers were growing out of the sand.

They look similar to a Dandelion but not quite the same. A quick Google Search didn't find an identification.

This Egret was too far away to get a good picture and

he had his back to us. They are much more common here than they used to be.

Turkey Vulture. There were some in the trees and some on the ground. We couldn't see anything that could have attracted them but they were definitely congregating in the one area.

We walked all the way to the end of the road (about 3km) and on to the beach where we could see that the lake joins the marsh at times of high water and storms.

The Dogwood showed up bright red against the beiges of the marsh and the blue of the sky.

An Egret, Shoveler and Turtle in one photo!

We could hear him fishing along the lake shore and

finally he sat still long enough for me to get a picture of him. Male Belted Kingfisher.

 

It was a beautiful day for a walk, warm, very little wind, a soft sandy roadway, plenty to see and quite peaceful though we were passed by a number of cars. I suspect some were Hastings Drive residents and others, like us, out enjoying a spring day.