The birding began before dawn here at Monarch Landing as I could hear Tundra
Swans off shore in the lake and flying overhead. Yesterdays numbers had been
modest but steady. At first light I began to count flocks which passed all
through the day.
The largest and most numerous flocks were from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
and again from about 4:00p.m. to dusk, all moving west to north-west.
Throughout the day there were small flocks of redwings, robins and
grackels. I counted 5 killdeer, an Eastern Meadowlark, and a single Eastern
Phoebe.
It is interesting to observe the blackbirds and robins each spring
because at this mid-lake location the first waves of spring migrants will
either be going east to west or west to east. This spring the largest numbers
are going west to east, meaning the central continental birds beat the eastern
continental birds.
The numbers and frequency of blackbirds and robins continued to
increase just before dark with large passages of several thousand blackbirds.
It was hard to come in from outside as the temperature reached 16C here
briefly in the sunshine and it was still quite warm at dusk.
When I retreated inside after listening to a calling screech owl , my
total Tundra swan count for the day amounted to 6,485 birds. Not my highest
daily total at this location but quite a respectable passage.
I anticipate Rondeau, Aylmer Wildlife area, and Huron park to have
substantial numbers of Tundras for at least the next week.
For all those like myself who observe the spring ritual of "Tundras in
the Blue Sky" this should be your weekend. They are back in numbers! Good
birding.
Aaron Allensen
Port Burwell is located at the southern terminus of hiway 19 at lake Erie. Take
the Ingersol-Tillsonburg exit south at 401.
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