3 January 2013 Hamilton Harbour. It was definitely cold today. It didn’t matter much whether you live by the Fahrenheit or Celsius scale, it was bitterly cold either way. But the sun shone brightly and I felt a need to get out and see how birds in general and waterfowl in particular are responding. I suspect that many passerines and perhaps hawks too, succumbed to the intense ice storm of two weeks ago. With all plants encased in ice and the ground sealed with a layer of ice-capped snow, food of all kinds would have been very hard to reach. We’ll probably never know the extent of the mortality. Waterfowl though may do better as long as there’s open water to swim in and, one hopes, food within reach or a quick dive away.
My first stop was at the shipping canal that links our harbour with the open waters of Lake Ontario. The canal is deep and the water within it heaves and surges in response to the mood and thrusts of the lake. The canal is evidently a food-rich place as there are often hundreds of wintering Long-tailed Ducks, Lesser and Greater Scaup, and Common Goldeneye to be found there. Today with the harbour largely frozen over and the lake clogged with plates of drifting ice, the canal was a refuge for large rafts of the above species and more besides. I didn’t stay long though, because even though I was well dressed for the cold, the cutting wind very quickly chilled me to the bone.
Admiring a group of ducks and swans milling around in a different and sheltered area of open water, I was excited and surprised to hear and see a Belted Kingfisher. It was working the edge of the harbour and perched for a minute or two, watching the ducks to see if there was anything worth waiting around for. It was undoubtedly Bird of the Day, but I hope it survives because I think its presence may be an indicator of how desperate conditions have become as reliable fishing spots freeze over.
Had I not seen the kingfisher my vote for today would have gone to a handsome Hooded Merganser who was paddling just offshore. I’m sure it would much rather have put more distance between us, but with the ice closing in there wasn’t much choice. 
