Today I did my 6th annual informal Greater Snow Goose Survey in eastern Ontario. It encompasses Ontario between Ottawa and St Lawrence rivers running east from Cornwall.
There very few geese (<1000 Canada Geese) in traditonal areas north of Green Valley. The usually very reliable extensive cornfields in the North Lancaster-Lancaster area were absent of birds except for 2 flocks of Greater Snow Geese totalling approximately 13,000 birds spread across cornfields on concession 4 east of county rd 34. The area bounded by Green river-north Lancaster-Lancaster- Williamstown is usally reliable for Greater Snow Geese in dry or wet springs. Upon checking Lake St Francis (St Lawrence river) in Lancaster my jaw dropped. There was kilometer upon kilometer of Greater Snow Geese. The birds were sitting on the ice shelf running along edge.or floating downriver on ice flows. The Greater Snow Goose Flock covered a distance of just over 8 km and consisted of approximately 118,000 birds. The flock was was located from south Lancaster eastward to Pointe Mouillee area. Among this flock I observed 4 Ross's Geese, and 14 'white' geese smaller than the greaters, but to far to give an accurate ID to species. The Blue Morph ratio in this flock was approximately 1 blue morph per 700 Greater Snow Goose The best viewing location I found to view most of this flock was from Glengarry Park. It is located on south service road east of the Lancaster- cty rd 34 ramp to the 401. The Snow Geese were not interested in the Ontario fields while I was watching. However small flocks were coming and going to areas of Quebec on the south side of lake St. Francis Also in the area there is 50-70,000 Canada Geese. This species was loafing on the river from Cooper marsh (SW of lancaster) all the way east into Quebec. Canada Geese were interested in foraging in Ontario fields and were moving back and forth between fields west of lancaster and field adjacent to the 401 east of Lancaster. Direction as per Brian Morin Directions: Take Hwy 401 to Lancaster (exit 814). You can head north (left) for a few km out of town to see if any birds are along cty rd 34 or adjacent concessions. If not, head back over Hwy 401 and head south into South Lancaster, checking the river from the community dock. Backtrack to the lights and turn right on on South Service Rd. There are a few locations to check along the way. This will take you to the Quebec border. If you are remaining in Ontario, retrace your route a short distance from the border and cross over Hwy 401 to the North Service Rd. The birds could be along here or along other concessions a few km further north. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
