Spring Swans

 Huge vees of Swans are frequently flying overhead so Rick and I decided to go and search them out.

First stop was Port Dover pier just to see if there were any interesting ducks, but no, just the usual congregation of gulls.

 

Masses of them on the ice by the beach looked like piles of snowballs.

Down to the Port Rowan harbor and we were able to see the Red Throated Loon that had been mentioned on Facebook.

The red-throated loon (North America) or red-throated diver (Britain and Ireland) (Gavia stellata) is a migratory aquatic bird found in the northern hemisphere. The most widely distributed member of the loon or diver family, it breeds primarily in Arctic regions, and winters in northern coastal waters. Ranging from 55 to 67 centimetres (22 to 26 in) in length, the red-throated loon is the smallest and lightest of the world's loons. In winter, it is a nondescript bird, greyish above fading to white below. During the breeding season, it acquires the distinctive reddish throat patch which is the basis for its common name. From Wikipedia.

He has been in Port Rowan for a few days now. Maybe resting up before continuing his journey north. I have to assume that he will get his red throat when he gets there. I have never, knowingly, seen one before.

From the harbor we could see that there were Swans further east

 

so we walked over to

get a better view

Black bill and black legs could be a Trumpeter Swan or a Tundra Swan.

Seems the Tundra Swan has yellow at the base of the bill. Well they were too far away to see that. The Trumpeter honks and the Tundra whistles. The noise they were making didn't sound like either of those. Oh well, nonspecific Swans.

Down to the causeway and all we saw was a couple of Sandhill Cranes

when we walked the, rather mucky, path

around the marsh.

Out on the bay, more Swans

and a couple closer in.

Hmmm, yellow beak with a bump at the base - Mute Swan

The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is a species of swan and a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. It is native to much of Eurasia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. It is an introduced species in North America, home to the largest populations outside of its native range, with additional smaller introductions in Australasia and southern Africa. The name "mute" derives from it being less vocal than other swan species.^[2][3][4] Measuring 125 to 160 cm (49 to 63 in) in length, this large swan is wholly white in plumage with an orange beak bordered with black. It is recognisable by its pronounced knob atop the beak, which is larger in males. from Wikipedia.

The bay in front of my place in Port Dover is open water so I was surprised to see the ice mounds and ice out into the lake on Long Point Beach.

 

A short walk then back in the car

to see what was on Silver Lake. A single Mute Swan, Red Headed Ducks

and some others that I haven't been able to identify.

It was nice driving around in the spring like weather and seeing what was stirring. My feeders at home have seen Red Wing Blackbirds, Cardinals, Juncos, Chickadees, Finches, Starlings, Grackles, Mourning Doves and a Downy Woodpecker. Robins on the grass too!