LaSalle Marina, Burlington, ON. March 10th. 2021. The retreat of the harbour ice is interesting to watch. It happens quite quickly; two weeks ago it was a thick, unmoving, white sheet; maybe safe to walk on. Although, who would? In the past 3 or 4 days as the air temperature has eased, bands of open blue water have started to appear in streaks edged with rows of rotten ice.
Waterfowl know all about this open water, it is a staging area for birds on the move northwards for the spring and summer ahead. I’ve been watching marked increases in numbers of Red-breasted, Hooded and Common Mergansers, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Greater and Lesser Scaups, Ruddy Ducks and Goldeneyes.
This is also time for the reappearance of Tundra Swans, back from their winter on the Atlantic coast. I don’t think there is any other event in the avian year quite like the Tundra Swans’ stylish return in March and I would hate to miss what can sometimes be a brief fly-by. Most pass overhead on their way to the shores and inlets of Lake Erie where they’ll rest for a few days or weeks. Then, when conditions are right, they will continue on towards the Hudson Bay lowlands to nest. Some, not many, will rest here on Lake Ontario briefly. I went out hoping to see some today.
From a rough breakwater I scanned the harbour and spotted a group of swans floating together about 200M away. Tundras, I thought and peered harder. I should take a moment here to say that there is room for confusion, the harbour is home to two other swan species: Mute Swans (an introduction from Eurasia) and Trumpeter Swans a native species that overwinters here. But the group in my sights was acting a little differently from the locals and I quickly concluded that yes, these were indeed Tundra Swans, fifteen of them.
As I watched, they paddled slowly to a nearby ice pan and eased themselves up onto it. I think they had only just landed, probably after an overnight flight of some five or six hundred kilometres. They were tired, I could see that and it wasn’t long before they settled down, heads tucked underwing, to whatever kind of sleep swans get.
As I was contemplating, with satisfaction, that I’d got my swan fix for this spring, a soft-calling V of another 20 Tundra Swans passed fairly low overhead. They seemed to hesitate as if thinking of joining those resting on the ice below and banked left flashing bright white sunlit backs. But then thought better of it and kept on going westward, gradually swallowed up in the bright sky.
Setting aside Tundra Swans who were My Birds of the Day without question, and just to round this out, below are a few photos of those ‘other’ swans photographed today. Swans on Ice.
Enjoyed reading your blog. Thx, Peter.